KARACHI: On a day of upset galore, rank outsider filly Spirit pulled off a major shock by galloping to a fluent six-length KRC Spriner’s Cup win over favourite colt Torrent in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.
Spirit, whose last victory came in the June Cup, went on to add another silverware. She led the field of seven horses and kicked up speed in home stretch to win the day’s honours with rider Riaz Ahmed in the saddle.
Gift Of Gold, who had a brisk start, fell third by three lengths while debutant Churchill completed the frame, another two lengths behind.
Another debutant Warrior’s Call could not make it to the race as he was scratched in the morning declaration.
In yet another upset, rank outsider filly Queen’s Retort overcame front-running Risky by two lengths to win the fourth and supporting race.
It may be mentioned that Queen’s Retort had finished off the frame in her maiden appearance a fortnight ago.
Smoke Screen and Smart Girl occupied third and fourth places on board respectively.
Mare Star Queen defeated co-favourite Non Stop by two-and-a-half lengths to win the opening race.
Long shot Victor created quite a stir by getting the better off favourite Rocket Fire with a margin of length-and-a-quarter to seal the second race.
Another long shot Geo Jalal made it two wins on the trot whilwe registering three-and-a-half lengths sucess over public fancy Lucky For Me in the third race.
Rider Waheed Baran shown in his cadre by piloting home a double — Star Queen and Queen’s Retort.
Results:
THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:
Star Queen (Mohammad Shakeel) 8-6, Waheed Baran 1; Non Stop 8-11, Mohammad Qais 2; Race 8-7, Mohammad Ramzan 3; Gladiator One 8-10 (cr8-3), Mohammad Asim 4.
Won by 2½ L, ½ L, 6 L. Time: 0.53 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mujahid Ali.
THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER VII — 4 F:
Victor (Irfan Mehdi) 8-4, Mohammad Manzoor 1; Rocket Fire 8-11, Mohammad Qais 2; Geo Channa 9-0, Waheed Baran 3; Stifee 8-12 Mohammad Sajjad 4.
Won by 1¼ L, 2½ L, 7 L. Time: 0.52 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.
THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER V, VI & VII — 4½ F:
Geo Jalal (Ghulam Mustafa) 9-0, Asad Aksir 1; Lucky For Me 7-6, Latif 2; Airborne 8-3, Mohammad Sajjad 3, Soldier Girl 7-10 (cr7-12), Waheed Baran 4.
Won by 3½ L, ½ L, 4 L. Time: 0.59 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Haji Abdul Majeed.
THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER III & IV — 4½ F:
Queen’s Retort (Rana Javed Sarwar) 8-1, Waheed Baran 1; Risky 8-2, Zaki Zakir 2; Smoke Screen 8-6, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Smart Girl 9-0 (cr8-7), Mohammad Asim 4.
Won by 2 L, 1 L, 4 L. Time: 0.57 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Owais Abro.
THE KRC SPRINTER’S CUP — A HANDICAP RACE FOR THREE & FOUR YEARS OLD AND ABOVE THOROUGHBRED AND HALF-BRED HORSES —5 F:
Spirit (M.R. Hussain) 7-8, Riaz Ahmed 1; Torrent 8-8, Waheed Baran 2; Gift Of Gold 8-12, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Churchill 7-4, Mohammad Sajjad 4.
Won by 6 L, 3 L, 2 L. Time: One minute 1 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by S.A. Zaidi.
Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2021