KARACHI: Fancied three-year-old chestnut colt Thunder King lived up to his billing while annexing the Colts and Fillies Trial Cup in the winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The half-bred favourite horse entertained the horseracing fraternity edging filly Spirit by distance for a repeat performance in the seven furlongs term race for three-year-old Pak Colts and Fillies.

By doing so, Thunder King from the stables of Ather Abbas and sent by trainer Nazir, equalled the six-in-a-row winning feat of Queen’s Best,

Thunder King was steered to victory by efficient rider Tariq Baran.

Thunder King look destined to extend his winning run in the 2,000 Guineas of Pakistan next month to set a new course mark besides winning Horse of the Year award.

Classis Leader fell third 11 lengths away while Baba Jani completed the frame among the quartet. Princess Maria was withdrawn before the race.

In a neck-and-neck run, five-year-old horse Azeem Choice stunned favourite Gladiator by half-a-length to clinch the days feature event.

Mare Risky got the better of col-favourite mare Galileo Lady by four lengths to land the supporting event with Safdar Hussain astride.

At the outset, favourites — Princess of Arab, Soldier Star and Secret of Life — obliged all and sundry in the first three races.

Results:

THE TRIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Princess of Arab (Tariq Mahmood) 8-13, Zaki Zakir 1; Humaira Choice 8-11, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Sassy Gold 8-3, Waheed Baran 3; Well Wisher 8-3, Majid Ali II 4.

Won by 2 L, 1½ L, 1 L. Time: 0.53 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Aurangzeb.

THE TRIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER VII — 4 F:

Soldier Star (Mohammad Shakeel) 9-0, Waheed Baran 1; Meri Chahat 8-4 (cr7-13), Majid Ali II 2; Arabian Queen 8-2, A. Raza 3; Black Smoke 8-7, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 2 L, ½ L, 5 L. Time: 0.52 seconds. Winner trained by Mujahid Ali.

THE TRIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER VI — 4 F:

Secret of Life (Hamdullah Kasi) 8-4, Nazil Hussain 1; Super Quetta 9-0, A. Raza II 2, Soldier Girl 8-13, Waheed Baran 3; Justify 8-6, Latif 4.

Won by 1¼ L, ¾ L, 4 L. Time: 0.52 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Shahid Mannan.

THE COLTS AND FILLIES TRIAL CUP — A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD PAK COLTS AND FILLIES — 7 F:

Thunder King (Athar Abbas) 9-0, Tariq Baran 1; Spirit 8-2, Waheed Baran 2; Classic Leader 8-7, Asad Aksir 3; Baba Jani 8-0, A. Raza 4.

Won by Dist, 11 L, 13 L. Time: One minute 31 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

THE TRIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER VI — 4½ F:

Galileo Lady (Haji Abdul Majeed) 9-0, A. Raza 1; Risky 8-13 (cr8-8), Safdar Hussain 2; Faster Than You 8-5, Majid Ali II 3; Torrent 7-7, Yousuf Ikram 4.

Won by 4 L, 3 L, 5 L. Time: 0.56 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Shahzad.

THE TRIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER II & III — 4½ F:

Azeem Choice (Farooq Lango) 7-10, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Gladiator 8-0, Safdar Hussain 2; Abdullah Princess 8-6, Zaki Zakir 3; Sweet Victory 9-0, Wasim 4.

Won by ½ L, ¾ l, 7 L. Time: 0.58 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2020