KARACHI: Rank outsider thoroughbred chestnut colt American Gangster lowered the colours of favourite filly Blazing Arrow to lift the Colts and Fillies Trial Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Making amends, the three-year old colt won the seven-furlong race as he pleased by whopping nine lengths clocking 1 min 31 sec with rider Sohail Ahmed in the saddle.

Fillies Trouble Princess and English Doll occupied next two places edged by half-a-length and distance, respectively among four starters.

A race earlier, the Fantastic Face Stakes ended in a blaze of glory for co-favourite bay colt Sand Man which registered a length-and-three-quarters victory over another colt Valentino to open his account in second outing. He romped home in 1 min 3 sec in the five-furlong contest.

Filly Time Game fell third, beaten by four lengths while another co-favourite colt King Pin completed the frame further three lengths away among seven contestants.

All in all, three favourites and a co-favourite returned victorious in the six-race card.

Bay horse Baraco pulled off the day’s first upset while getting the better of public fancy mare Little Darling by a length-and-a-half.

Baraco, who completed the frame in his last two outings, sent shockwaves capturing his maiden four furlongs race in 0.532/5 seconds.

Bay horses Money Shower and Zayan followed the two in the same order.

Favourite filly Flaming Ember recorded a length victory over bay horse Faisal King in the second race. She won the four furlongs competition in 0.522/5 seconds.

Faster Than You seized third place edged by neck while Achilles completed the frame further pushed by two lengths.

Favourites Victor and Zaheer Choice returned with flying colours in the third and fourth races, respectively. Owner Irfan Mehdi and his trainer Yousuf S. celebrated the day with a treble — Flaming Ember, Victor and Sand Man — while riders Waheed Baran and Asad Aksir won a brace apiece.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2022