KARACHI: The racegoers will not be able to bet on their favourites as one of the top races of the country — the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup — has been omitted and is not part of an eight-race card that was released for the Gymkhana race meeting being held here at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Earlier, the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup was exte­nded for three days from Dec 25 to 28 on the pretext that the top brass was away from the country.

“The omission of the premier event of the KRC calendar has occurred for want of competition,” an official of the institution confided to Dawn while answering a question.

Thoroughbred bay horse Pakistani Star, who arrived from Lahore in mid-September to defend his crown in the Gold Cup, will go back without showing his class. He had entered the Shah Mardan Shah II Pir Pagara VII Memorial Cup but was withdrawn by the connection at the eleventh hour.

It is pertinent to mention here that this will be the sixth time that the showpiece event will not take place since its inception in 1948, the other five occasions being 1971, 1977, 1979, 1980 and 2016.

Meanwhile, thoroughbred filly Sincere Approach seems to be the best bet in the 2000 Guineas of Pakistan race being run over a mile.

If all goes well, she will complete her hat-trick. She is likely to be chased by filly Wonder Woman while debutant colt Mehrab Prince can bring an element of surprise among half-a-dozen contenders.

Colt Prince William is expected to make it two on the trot should he repeat his form by overcoming five other opponents in the Nursery Cup for two-year old thoroughbreds and half-breds colts and fillies.

Filly Queen’s Jewel may grab second place in the six-furlong race. If on job, any horse belonging to the same connection - Mafia Style, Proud Rebel and Matter of Luck - can upset the applecart.

The X-MAS Cup appears to be a two-horse race between filly Punch Line and chestnut horse Mr Magic. A field of seven horses will feature in the six-furlong contest.

With a hat-trick under his belt, colt Ex Gambler is likely to stretch his winning run by getting the better of opponents in the Managing Committee Cup which will go over four-and-a-half furlongs. He may be followed by colt Blazing Phoenix and either of the two — Thunder Princess or Thunder Cloud.

Bay colt Mark My Words looks poised to dominate the Secretary Cup which will take place over four-and-a-half furlongs.

He has to overcome challengers namely Thunder Boy and Mr on Job in quest for a repeat finish.

Chestnut horse Touch of Gold, dark bay horse Sapphire and colt King’s Crown have bright chances to capture the other three races of card.

Approximately, a sum of Rs2.8m will be at stake in eight races of the card.

The first race starts at 12:30pm.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2024