KARACHI: Fancied grey horse Flag of Champion won the Splendid Cup as favourites swept a small three-race card in the Gymkhana race meeting here at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The fourth race was cancelled for want of competition.

Two riders namely Waheed Baran and M. Amjad fell from their mounts Geo Ahsan and Daffodles Wave respectively while riding in the cup race. The former suffered fracture in one of his shoulder and finger and was admitted in a nearby hospital while the latter escaped major injuries.

Making his second appearance of the year, Flag of Champion justified his billing while getting the better of gelding Supreme Leader by three lengths to oblige owner and punters alike.

He was piloted home by rider Fahim. K in 0.522/5 seconds in the four furlongs race that featured nine horses. The victorious horse which belonged to the stables of Qamar Abbas and Haider Abbas, was sent by trainer Amjad Ali.

Mare Stifee and bay horse Desco claimed third and fourth places respectively on board.

A race earlier, rider Fahim steered bay horse Mandi Choice to maiden victory of the year defeating bay horse Mastana as he pleased by 10 lengths that enabled him to celebrate a double.

The winning horse clocked 0.522/5 seconds for four furlongs among seven starters.

Mare Money Heist fell third by two-and-a-half lengths and was followed by another mare Baby Champion further three lengths away.

Chestnut mare Fiona was on song galloping to half-a-length victory over mare Zahrish to complete hat-trick.

She returned home in 0.513/5 seconds under rider M. Manzoor in the four furlongs contest that featured half-a-dozen horses.

Mare Meri Chahat settled third edged by distance while filly Believe In Cash completed the frame another three-and-a-half lengths behind.

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana meeting will be held on Monday (April 24).

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2023