KARACHI, Jan 5: Four-year-old bay filly Fly To The Sky obliged racing fans, sprinting to victory over six furlongs at the Winter Gymkhana Meeting held on Sunday at the Karachi Racecourse.

Partnered by Najam Iqbal, the winner lying third behind stable companion The Champion Strides and Guarantee approaching the bend, took over the lead when heads turned for home and beat The Champion Strides by one length, with Guarantee and Wing Commander completing the frame.

Fly To The Sky tipped in our columns as our day’s best, is owned by M. Ateeq and trained by A. Waheed Siddiqui.

The duo went on to finish the afternoon’s programme with a brace of winners, when the bay four-year-old colt The Speed Star ridden by jockey Shahzad, won the concluding event in a blaze of glory, leaving the rest of the field in his wake, scorching the turf in a smart time of one minute 15 seconds sprinting over six furlongs.

But the handling of M. Ateeq’s bay colt Micky Mikado II by Shahzed in the fourth event left much to be desired.

The raging favourite Micky Mikado II left the paddock for the start of the six furlong encounter minus blinkers. Yet when he reached the starting gate, the connections put blinkers on the colt.

Something seemed to be terribly amiss, suddenly the rate of Micky Mikado II climbed higher and now a place chance could be had for 50/100.

When the race began, Micky Mikado II was left behind and running in a zig zag manner, never even figured on the board. Many racing fans were amazed to see the colt return back to the unsaddling enclosure with blinkers on. Why was no message sent out to the racing fraternity over the address system that Micky Mikado II, blind in one eye, would be running with blinkers, is anybody’s guess.

The race was won by Wonder Thunder, another column fancy, thundering in from behind to collar Donatello a few yards from the winning post. X’tasy after a promising start, finished third ahead of the front runner Baby Face.

The first race of the afternoon was won by the bay gelding Just In Fun, partnered by M. Yousuf. Reincarnated bagged the second spot from Shah Rose, with Prism Of Life completing the frame.

Owner-trainer M. Rafiq’s bay filly Superb Star partnered by Tariq Mehmood, grabbed the honours in the next race in a pillar to post victory, holding off the belated challenge of Power Plus and the late appearing Flying Bird.

Tariq also went on to complete a brace of winners. He rode the chestnut filly Jugni to victory in the Christmas and New Year’s Cup, making every post a winning one, while sprinting over five furlongs in the fifth event.

Faisal Farooq’s chestnut colt Captain Crash missing the jump when the race began, came in with giant strides to finish second, with the rest of the field left wallowing in the far distance.

In the third event, the bay mare Rashmee scored another victory for owner Kanwal Amir with champion rider M. Nasir in the saddle, beating Aziz Love and Snake Eyed in a smart time of one minute 4 2/5 seconds going over five furlongs.

In this race, the handling of Sapno Ki Rani by riding boy Naveed was indeed an absolute disgrace, throttling the poor mare throughout the race. Even in the straight, when Sapno Ki Rani tried to make her move, Naveed who took the mare wide while turning for home, was seen practically standing in the stirrups while hooking the poor animal.

Surprisingly with the Stewards and racing fans looking on aghast, no action was taken against Naveed. Another rider would certainly have had his license revoked.

Our racing column had four winners, predicting the winners in six out of the seven events.

Just in Fun in the opener, Rashmee in the third, Wonder Thunder in the fourth and our day’s best Fly To The Sky in the sixth event, obliged our readers.

In the second race our fancy Power Plus finished second, a length behind Superb Star.

The next race is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan 8.

Following are the results:

NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F