KARACHI: Bay horse Club Champion came from behind to whip co-favourite bay horse Epsom by three lengths to clinch the War Heroes Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Club Champion, who was trailing behind, kicked up speed in home stretch to overcome front-runner Epsom clocking 0.53 seconds for four furlongs with rider Haider Abbas astride.

Bay horse Deewana fell third by a length-and-a-quarter while chestnut horse Faster Than You completed the frame another three-quarters-of-a-length behind among five starters.

Epsom’s stable-mate mare Zahrish and another mare Stella could not make it to the race and were scratched in the morning declaration.

In a neck-and-neck run favourite dark bay horse Robert edged bay colt Come On Cham­pion by head to win the day’s feature event.

The race was evenly contested by the quartet as the verdict was decided in a photo-finish.

The victorious horse was piloted home by rider Sohail Ahmed in 0.582/5 seconds.

Bay horse Fabulous was placed third, also beaten by head, while mare Take Care completed the frame losing by neck.

Another pair of horses — Azeem Choice and Young Gun — were scratched in the morning for being unfit.

Earlier, co-favourite bay horse Money Shower won the opening race while getting the better of dark bay mare Sweet Sonia by neck as Stifee and other co-favourite Smart Boy occupied third and fourth places on board respectively.

Money Shower, who completed the frame in his last outing last week, returned home in 0.531/5 seconds.

Mare Meri Chahat was scratched in the mor­ning declaration leaving six horses in fray.

Rank outsider chestnut mare Galileo Lady pulled off the only upset imposing to three lengths victory over mare Little Darling to grab honours in the second race. She won the contest in 0.521/5 seconds.Mare Janan was placed third edged by three-quarters-of-a-length while favourite bay horse Hi Alert completed the frame beaten by head.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2022