KARACHI: Two favourites — Business Man and Mujahid — bit the dust in a four-race card as turf accountants have a field day in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Bugash Bugash, an unknown pedigree bay colt, made it two on trot lowering the colours of fancied bay horse Business Man to land the opener.

Ridden by Asad Aksir, the victorious horse edged the favourite by neck in a closely fought race run over four-and-a-half furlongs. This was Business Man’s second run as he made his debut in the last meeting held on June 22 where he was placed fourth.

Bay horse Vieto Power finished third, beaten by 13 lengths while filly Fly Free completed the frame finishing a further four lengths away among nine starters.

Like the opener, the fourth and concluding race also created quite a stir when fast chasing bay horse Mujahid overtook front runner colt Cash The Cheque in home stretch posting two lengths victory.

National Queen and Arkadian seized third and fourth places respectively in a field of 10 hoses.

The significant thing is that both the outsiders – Business Man and Cash The Cheque – were partnered by trainer M. Mazhar.

Public fancy bay horse Lucky Lyna presented his new owner M. Tariq Aziz with a winner galloping to five-and-a-half lengths victory over Grey Song in the second race.

Another favourite that obliged punters was colt Saphire who beat Janisar by distance in the next race.

Earlier, the field was reduced to 11 following withdrawal of Sarazan Again.

Results:

THE GOLDEN PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII-UK 4 ½ F:Bugash Bugash (Mr. Faraz Ali) 8-8 Asad Aksir 1, Business Man 9-0(cr8-11) Babar Rehman 2, Vieto Power 9-0 M. Manzoor 3, Fly Free 8-11 Asad Aksir 4.

Won by Neck, 13 L, 4 L. Time: One minute 3 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

THE GOLDEN PLATE SCALE ORDER V, VI AND VII 5 F:Lucky Lyna (M. Tariq Aziz) 7-12 A. Qayyum 1, Grey Song 7-6(cr8-0) Mohammad Essa 2, Zunain Prince 7-8 Asad Aksir 3, Green Barbie (Golden Gold) 7-2 Pervaiz Ali 4.Won by 5 ½ L, 8 ¾ L, 2 3/4 L. Time: One minute 7 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

THE GOLDEN PLATE SCALE ORDER III, IV AND V 5 F:Saphire (Mr. Zaid Rahim) 7-10(cr8-0) Mohammad Essa 1, Janisar 8-1 Zaki Zakir 2, Urban Lady 9-4 M. Manzoor 3, My Qaswa 7-5(cr7-11) Wasim 4.

Won by Distance, 11 L, 2 L. Time: One minute 3 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE GOLDEN PLATE SCALE ORDER I AND II 5 F:Cash The Cheque (Mr. P. K. Ahuja) 8-4 Zaki Zakir 1, Mujahid 8-2 Pervaiz Ali 2, National Queen 9-7 Wasim 3, Arkadian 7-7 Mohammad Essa 4.

Won by 2 L, 4 L, Neck. Time: One minute 5 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2014