KARACHI: As expected, co-favourite filly Queen of Spades stretched its winning run galloping to three-and-a-half lengths victory over bay horse Churchill to clinch the Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara Memorial Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

It was ably piloted home by rider Zaki Zakir in the one-mile contest clocking one minute 43 seconds.

Other co-favourite colt Raksh fell third two lengths behind while chestnut horse Thunder Star completed the frame another three-quarters-of-a-length away among 10 starters.

Punters, meanwhile, had a field day as five favourites and a co-favourite emerged victorious in a seven-race card.

In the only upset, debutant colt Majistic Warrior stunned public fancy debutant colt King Pin imposing to four lengths victory to annex the Kingree Lodge Performance Cup.

It was steered to success by rider M. Manzoor in the five furlongs competition in one minute five seconds.

Fillies Time Game and Love Story occupied third and fourth places respectively on board among six contestants.

Owners Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara and Irfan Mehdi were on song capturing four and three races respectively. Mohyuddin partnered horses of Pir Pagara while Yousuf S. sent the winners of Irfan.

Riders Sohail Ahmed and Zaki ended the day with a treble and double respectively.

At the outset, mare Sherzadi defeated Arsalan Choice by 12 lengths returning home in 0.513/5 seconds.

Chestnut horse Victor won the second race edging Faster Than You by head. He clocked 0.524/5 seconds for four furlongs contest.

Filly Trouble Princess made it two on trot while getting the better of bay horse Desco by 10 lengths to annex the third race in 0.582/5 seconds.

Having completed a hat-trick in its last outing, mare Heer kept its winning run intact notching up a whopping 11 lengths victory over Geo Baba in the fourth race.Colt Night Vision registered a facile eight lengths victory over Gold Company to bag honours in the fifth race. It clocked one minute one second for five furlongs.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2022