KARACHI: The riders and their horses will experience a new cold wave as Queen’s Best Cup features prominently in a healthy seven-race card drawn for the winter Gymkhana race meeting being held here at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

If recent form is taken into consideration, then four-year-old thoroughbred filly Silent Response is likely to reign supreme in the cup race being contested over five-and-a-half furlongs and features five contestants. She had notched up 10 lengths victory over My Boy in her last outing on January one.

Either of her two stable-mates — fillies Time Game or Cheer Leader — are on chance to follow the footsteps of Silent Response in the last race of the day.

Dark bay horse Night Vision is expected to make amends by sprinting to victory in the earlier race under top combined scale order I and II being run over five furlongs.

Night Vision was denied to perform hat-trick in her last run when she lost to Churchill by three-and-a-half lengths in the X-MAS Cup.

He is expected to be chased by mare Heer among six acceptors.

At the outset, chestnut horse Rich Striker looks fancied to dominate the opening race under scale order VIII being run over four furlongs.

In his quest to atone for last week’s loss, he has to overcome challenger chestnut mare Soldier Girl besides three other opponents.

Another five horses will face the starter in the second race under scale order VII and VIII with chestnut horse Arsalan Choice being tipped to return with flying colours.

Mare Star Queen may grab second place on board in the four furlongs race.

Bay horse Raging Comet looks poised to clinch the third race should he maintain his winning streak in a field of 10 horses under scale order VI and VII.

He may be challenged by filly Fire Work and chestnut horse Faster Than You besides mare Basanti in the four-and-a-half furlongs competition.

The fourth race under scale order V and VI appears to be a two-horse race between mares Sherzadi and Angel Love.

The pair may be followed by dark bay horse Wind Talker among 10 horses in the four-and-a-half furlongs race.

The fifth race classified under scale order III and IV may end in a blaze of glory for filly English Doll. The race which has seven acceptors will go over five furlongs.

Colt Geo Baba may grab second place on board.

The first race starts at 1:30pm.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2023