KARACHI: Favourite mare Sweet Golden performed exceptionally well to clinch the Challenge Cup and completed double hat-tricks in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The meeting saw cancellation of fourth and supporting race for want of competition as three horses namely Marvellous, Royal Duke and Lady Challenger were scratched in morning declaration leaving only two of the same connection in fray.

With five wins already under her belt, Sweet Golden justified her credentials defeating chestnut horse Faris as she pleased by six lengths recording 0.572/5 seconds for four-and-a-half furlongs contest.

Sweet Golden has won her third cup in six triumphs, the previous two cups being May and June Cups respectively. By performing the feat, first by any horse in the year, has become a hot contender for winning Champion Horse of the Year award at the fag end of the ongoing season.

Mare Balochistan Queen fell third by a length-and-a-half and was followed by bay horse Geo Jalal by a length-and-a-quarter among five starters.

Golden Arrow was scratched in the morning declaration.

Owned by Mohammad Sumair, Sweet Golden was piloted home by M. Manzoor and partnered by trainer Shahid Mannan.

The day commenced on a sour note for punters when long shot gelding Smart Boy lowered the colours of public fancy bay horse Non Stop by a length to annex the opening race. He clocked 0.531/5 seconds for four furlongs sprint.

Stayin’ Alive had to be content with third place by a length-and-a-half away while Sheba completed the frame finishing another length behind among eight horses as Soldier Girl was scratched in the morning.

The evenly contested second race ended in a dead heat between rank outsider Baba Champion and favourite Faster Than You. The two horses galloped home in 0.523/5 seconds. Stifee seized third place ahead of Little Darling.

Rider Adnan Khan excelled in the saddle by guiding a brace of winners in Smart Boy and Faster Than You while trainer Zia-ur-Rehman also ended with a double by partnering Smart Boy and Baba Champion.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2022