KARACHI: The Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup winning jockey Zaki Zakir was on song as he added another feather to his cap by guiding favourite mare Heer to victory in the New Year Cup at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Heer registered an exciting seven lengths victory over bay horse Come On Champion in a start-to-finish bid to open the new year on a high. It clocked one minute and two seconds for five furlongs distance.

Bay horse Zaheer Choice fell third two lengths behind while another bay horse Geo Jalal completed the frame edged by half-a-length among five starters.

The victorious mare belonged to the stables of Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara and partnered by trainer Mohyuddin who celebrated the New Year with a treble apiece the other two being fillies Fire Work and Silent Response.

Racegoers had a field day as all but one favourites obliged them in five races. A race was cancelled for want of competition after three of the five horses were scratched in morning declaration.

The day commenced when longshot dark bay horse Zayan galloped to a fluent five-and-a-half lengths victory over gelding Supreme Leader, returning home in 0.533/5 seconds in four furlongs sprint.

They were followed by mare Baby Champion and bay horse Maxwell as public fancy Safeer Love finished off the frame while its co-favourite Faisal Choice remained stalled in the gate.

Bay horse Kuwait Currency justified his credentials defeating chestnut horse Arsalan Choice as it pleased by seven lengths to clinch the second race. It was home in 0.521/5 seconds in the four furlongs race.

Grey horse Zabal One was placed third and followed by dark bay mare Basanti.

Filly Fire Work lived up to her billing imposing to three lengths victory over chestnut horse Meharban to annex the third race. It was piloted home by Zaki in 0.581/5 seconds for four-and-a-half furlongs race.

Chestnut horse Faster Than You and mare Princess of Hope had to be content with third and fourth places respectively.

In a one-sided affair, filly Silent Response coasted to whopping 10 lengths victory over mare Zahrish to win the fourth race in 0.562/5 seconds.

Bay horse My Boy seized third place while dark bay mare Stella completed the quartet.

ADNAN, MOHYUDDIN RECEIVE AWARDS

After the races, Rider Adnan Khan and veteran trainer Mohyuddin won champion rider and champion trainer awards respectively at the racecourse. Champion owner of the year award went to Sibghatullah.

Adnan piloted home 30 winners last year while Mohyuddin partnered 38 winning horses.

The champion horse of the year award was shared by three horses — Sweet Golden, Heer and Zahrish — who won six races apiece during the year.

Published in Dawn, january 2th, 2023