KARACHI: Long shot gelding Thunder Smile added yet another feather to its cap, posting an imposing length-and-a-half victory over bay horse Royal Command to lift the August Cup as Gymkhana race meeting resumed after three weeks at the Karachi Racecourse on Tuesday.

The races were held under light drizzle with dark clouds making visibility poor.

Having won the Quetta Cup and Kashmir Day Cup earlier this year, thoroughbred Thunder Smile justified his bloodline while upsetting the odds to clinch honours, returning home in 0.514/5 seconds for the four furlongs contest.

Chestnut colt King’s Ransom the favourite, had to be content with third place falling a length-and-a-quarter behind while mare Balochistan Queen completed the frame another three lengths away.

Rider Adnan Khan steered the horse to victory that belonged to the stables of Ather Abbas and sent by trainer M. Rashid.

The trio missed the double after public fancy bay horse Thunder Strike bit the dust as fast-chasing colt Geo Baba overtook it before the winning post, registering a length-and-a-quarter victory in the fifth and concluding race.

Geo Baba galloped home in 0.513/5 seconds. Mares New Market and Zahrish occupied the next two places on board respectively.

Earlier, Geo Baba’s stable-mate and favourite bay horse Deewana obliged all and sundry by prevailing over bay horse Epsom by a short-head verdict in the second race. It clocked 0.531/5 seconds for four furlongs.

The race saw mare Stifee occupying the third slot and was followed by bay horse Non Stop.

The triumph of Deewana and Geo Baba enabled the owner Bashir Lango and trainer Haji Abdul Majeed to celebrate the day with a double.

Rider Waheed Baran made his mark in the saddle guiding bay horses Hi Alert and Daffodles Wave besides Geo Baba to complete treble in a five-race card.

He opened the day on a winning note while piloting home Hi Alert as he won by 12 lengths over Ayyan Prince in the opening race.

His second success came in the third race when he partnered public fancy Daffodles Wave to a five-and-a-half lengths victory over Princess of Hope in 0.543/5 seconds.

A pair of horses — Soldier Girl and Baba Champion — could not make it to the competition after being scratched in the morning declaration.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Aug 29.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2022