KARACHI: Public fancy half-bred filly Queen’s Pride obliged all and sundry by getting the better of bay horse Zaheer Choice as it pleased by 10 lengths to annex the First Lady Cup in the winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

With two wins, including November Cup, already under it’s belt, it earned distinction of completing hat-trick as all but one favourites returned with flying colours in a five-race card.

The victorious horse was ably ridden home by M. Sajjad in the five furlongs contest in one minute one second.

Bay horse Gold Company settled third four-and-a-half lengths behind and was followed by another bay horse Geo Jalal a length-and-three-quarters away among half-a-dozen starters.

Long shot chestnut mare Galileo Lady who finished off the frame in its last two outings, lowered the colours of fancied filly Regardless registering two lengths victory to clinch the fourth and supporting race.

Rider Adnan Khan who celebrated the day with a double, steered the victorious mare home in 0.572/5 seconds in four-and-a-half furlongs race.

Adnan’s first success came in the opening race when he partnered mare Bangash Queen to a facile four-and-a-half lengths victory over mare Basanti to set the winning trend.

The victorious horse clocked 0.532/5 seconds for four furlongs.

Gelding Faisal Choice fell third beaten by two-and-a-half lengths while mare Baby Champion completed the board edged by head among seven contestants.

Colt Al Sabah lived up to its billing while imposing to a fluent four lengths victory over bay horse Faisal King to win the second race and open its account.

It sprinted to victory in 0.511/5 seconds in the four furlongs race with rider Fahim K. astride.

Bay horse Baraco and chestnut horse Faster Than You followed in the footsteps of top two horses in same order in a field of 11 competitors.

Bay horse Cracks Man atoned for successive losses while prevailing over chestnut colt Eye Of The Tiger by five lengths to clinch the third race.

The winning horse was ridden home by Mohammad Essa in 0.571/5 seconds in four-and-a-half furlongs race. This was Essa’s first triumph after a long layoff.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2022