LAHORE: Bay colt Pakistani Star pulled off an upset as he beat favourite colt Sea Bird to clinch the The Ravi Cup, the longest race of the current season to be contested over 1,800 metres, in a record fastest time during the Lahore Winter Meeting held here at the Racecourse on Sunday.
Pakistani Star, ridden by Safdar Hussain, galloped to the finish line in one minute 50 3/5 seconds — nine lengths ahead of the 50 to 100 favourite Sea Bird — to break the previous record of 51 2/5 seconds set by bay colt Big Bash in 2017. Bay colt Lucky Sohna, a stable-mate of the winner finished third a street distance ahead of filly Electra which completed the frame another eight lengths away.
This victory gave jockey Safdar a fine double when he had romped home bay colt, Olympus in the fourth race. Safdar completed the hat-trick of triumphs when he rode home the big striding and imposing bay colt, Persian Pearl to a two-length success over filly Summer Beauty to earn the rare distinction.
Fillies-Jashan-e-Baharan and Husn-e-Baharan also won their respective events.
Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2023
