KARACHI: Favourite horse Albania coasted to a facile six-and-a-half lengths victory over Soldier Queen to clinch the Attitude Cup in the winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The victorious horse from the stables of Hamdullah Kasi was piloted home by rider Nazil Hussain and trained by Shahid Mannan.

Parachuter was placed third further beaten by six leng­ths while Smasher completed the frame among six starters. The field was reduced to six competitors after Soldier Girl was scratched at the starting gate with the permission of stewards.

Champion rider Safdar Hussain who was suspended under inquiry for alleged unfair riding on his mount Who Is Next last week, created quite a stir by guiding rank outsider bay horse Royal Duke to a three-and-a-half lengths victory over Golra Pride as favourite New Class had to be content with third place. Haseena-e-Arab completed the board.

Second favourite Soldier Star finished off the frame.

Safdar was pardoned earlier in the day.

At the outset, Who Is Nextmade amends capturing the opening race imposing to two-and-a-half lengths victory over Usman Chandiwala while Prncess of Arab pulled of upset defeating favourite Black Smoke by four lengths in the next.

Meanwhile, the KRC has increased the stake money by 15 percent from Jan 10.

Results:

THE ATTITUDE PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Who is Next (Ali Raza Zia) 9-0, Mohammad Manzoor 1; Usman Chandiwala 8-1, Riaz Ahmed 2; Public Fancy 8-0, Ali Raza II 3; Sassy Gold 8-0, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 2½ L, Neck, 3 L. Time: 52 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE ATTITUDE PLATE SCALE ORDER VII & VIII — 4 F:

Princess of Arab (Tariq Mahmood) 8-13, Zaki Zakir 1; Black Smoke 8-12, Asad Aksir 2; Princess of Hope 8-12, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Hawwaam 8-12, Riaz Ahmed 4.

Won by 4 L, 1 L, S. Head. Time: 53 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by .Nazir.

THE ATTITUDE CUP SCALE ORDER IV & V — 4½ F:

Albania (Hamdullah Kasi) 7-13, Nazil Hussain 1; Soldier Queen 7-11, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Parachuter 9-2, Adnan Khan 3; Smasher 9-0, Mohammad Sajjad 4.

Won by 6½ L, 6 L, 4. Time: 58 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Shahid Mannan.

THE ATTITUDE PLATE SCALE ORDER V, VI & VII — 4½ F:

Royal Duke (Rana Jawwad Sarwar) 8-7, Safdar Hussain 1; Golra Pride 7-9, Mohammad Ramzan 2; New Class 8-13, Asad Aksir 3; Haseen-e-Arab 8-3, Adnan Khan 4.

Won by 3½ L, 2½ L, ½ L. Time: 57 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Irfan.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2021