KARACHI, April 2: Following her failure at Pakistan Derby, four-year-old bay filly, Victory Road, finally shone when she galloped to victory to land the Sprinter’s Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday. With 2000 Guineas of Pakistan 2005 title under her belt, she returned with a smart timings of 1 min 1 2/5 sec to win the five furlongs race with ease by six lengths thus denying mare Bang On Target a hat trick.

Belonging to the stables of M. Shahrukh, she was ridden home by Arshad and trained by S. Ehtisham.

After the race, the owner received the glittering Cup and the stake money of Rs 100,000.

Chestnut Colt, King Of Kings finished two and a half lengths behind to secure third place while filly Fantasia completed the frame.

Horse trainer Ehtisham and jockey Arshad were the pick of the day. The former sent four winners in Eswarah, Iztrab, Victory Road and Eager Saint while the latter returned with a hat trick.

As predicted, Lovely Concept, a nine-year-old bay horse, with Asghar Ali aboard, made amends by picking up the opener in a field of 10 contestants. Owned and trained by M. Tufail, he outpaced Ladla by seven lengths. First Shot settled for the third place.

New Ferrari, a four-year-old bay colt, picked up spoils in the second race edging out fancied mare, Princess Ridda, by half a length. Fascinate secured third place.

Arshad’s other success came when he sprinted three-year-old filly, Eswarah, to victory enabling her to make it two in a row. She was chased by Kicking King and Sweet Grandy.

Four-year-old filly, Closing Argument, justified her top billing when she was piloted home by Ghulam Shabbir 11 in the fourth race. Mera Jugnoo and Tom Cruise had to be content with second and third positions.

Fancied mare, Iztrab , made it three in a row obliging the punters by grabbing the fifth race.

License of rider My Boy, Nadeem Akhtar, was withdrawn while a fine of Rs5,000 was imposed on its trainer M. Rafiq K in the same race for ‘unsatisfactory riding’.

Six-year-old mare, Eager Saint, with Arshad in the saddle, proved her mettle grabbing the seventh race. This was Eager Saint’s fourth victory in succession.

In a late burst, three-year-old bay colt, Shan-e-Arab, ridden by Zaki Zakir, pulled off the biggest upset of the day beating Bilal Choice by neck in a photo finish.

Favourite Fakhre Sanghar could not start the race at the gate. He has been barred from next three races and will undergo gate practice on three Sundays.

Results: