KARACHI: Rank outsider Thunder Smile came from behind to stun favourite and stablemate Thunder Crown by a length to clinch the Quetta Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting here at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Four favourites bit the dust in a five-race card on a day of upsets as riders experienced hardships while running against the strong wind.

Thunder Smile, whose winning run was interrupted by Kuwait Edition on Dec 25, was trailing front-runners Thunder Crown and Smart Girl even after the bend but in a late burst overcame them to make amends for the last loss.

Smart Girl seized third place on board falling six lengths behind while Balochistan Queen completed the frame another three-quarters-of-a-length away.

Believe In Cash could not make her debut and was scratched before coming into the gate.

The victorious horse from the stables of Ather Abbas, and was piloted home by Waheed Baran and sent by trainer M. Rashid.

Baran celebrated the day with a double as he steered another long shot Geo Channa to a length-and-a-quarter victory over Debonair in the third race.

Co-favourites Galileo Lady and Take Care had to be content with third and fourth places, respectively.

Yet another long shot Princess Maria coasted to a length-and-a-half victory over Big Faith to win the day’s feature event as public fancy Thunder Snow occupied third slot on board ahead of Young Gun.

With a win already under his belt, bay horse Desco created quite a stir by getting the better of favourite Shan-e-Sikandar by half-length to make it two on the trot.

At the outset, favourite bay horse Hello Youmzain obliged punters galloping to three lengths victory over Sheba to grab honours in the opening race.

Trainer Zia-ur-Rehman sent a brace of winners in Hello Youmzain and Desco.

Results:

THE QUETTA PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4 F:

Hello Youmzain (Ali Raza Zia) 8-10 Safdar Hussain 1, Sheba 9-1(cr8-10) Sajjad Hussain 2, Deewana 7-10(8-6) A. Raza 3, Sassy Gold 8-12 Adnan Khan 4.

Won by 3 L, 1¼ L, 3 L. Time: 0.53 3/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE QUETTA PLATE SCALE ORDER VII 4 F:

Desco (Aamir Dyer) 8-6 Zaki Zakir 1, Shan-e-Sikandar 8-10 Safdar Hussain 2, Soldier Girl 8-5 Ali Raza II 3, Little Darling 8-0 Adnan Khan 4.

Won by ½ L, 3½ L, 1½ L. Time: 0.52 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE QUETTA PLATE SCALE ORDER V & VI 4½ F:

Geo Channa (P.K.Ahuja) 8-3 Waheed Baran 1, Debonair 8-3 Safdar Hussain 2, Galileo Lady 8-0 Asad Aksir 3, Take Care 9-0 Fahad Ahmed 4.

Won by 1¼ L, 2½ L, Dist. Time: 0.59 3/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE QUETTA CUP SCALE ORDER III & IV 4½ F:

Thunder Smile (Ather Abbas) 7-12 Waheed Baran 1, Thunder Crown 8-3 Zaki Zakir 2, Smart Girl 8-1 Safdar Hussain 3, Balochistan Queen 8-12 Asad Aksir 4.

Won by 1 L, 6 L, ¾ L. Time: 0.59 seconds.

Winner trained by M. Rashid.

THE QUETTA PLATE SCALE ORDER I & II 5 F:

Princess Maria (Haji Abdul Majeed) 8-6 Asad Aksir 1, Big Faith 9-4 A. Raza 2, Thunder Snow 9-6 Zaki Zakir 3, Young Gun 7-5(cr8-1) Waheed Baran 4.

Won by 1½ L, 2½ L, 1¾ L. Time: One minute 3 1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by owner.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2022