KARACHI, March 12: Mare Bank On Target returned to form by sprinting to victory to win the feature event in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.
Predicted to win in these columns, she set the pace right from the word go and enhanced her lead after getting into straight outpacing chestnut Moon Raker by three lengths.
Finishing further five lengths behind was Captain Crash while Excalibur completed the frame.
She was off colour after crowning the New Year Cup earlier this year and the triumph in the concluding event with jockey Mohammad Essa aboard, is an indication of her attaining form.
By winning honours owner Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara completed a fine double as rider Shafi Mohammad galloped three-year-old bay colt Laat Sahib to maiden victory in the fifth race.
Filly Bright And Early and colt Baba Jani settled for second and third position.
As for riders, Essa excelled in the saddle with a magnificent double. He started the day by piloting home Jaguar in the opener by a wide margin of seven lengths. He accomplished the feat by riding Bang On Target to win.
Five-year-old mare Princess Ridda picked up spoils in the second when she edged out New Ferrari by nine and a half lengths.
Riding boy Latif presented owner S. Ehtisham H. Rizvi with a winner in the next race when Eager Saint got the better of four-year-old sibling Super Salute by nine lengths.
Ehtisham stole the limelight among trainers by sending a brace of winners in back to back races. In addition to Eager Saint, his other winner was Iztrab who was ridden home by M. Yousuf.
Four-year-old filly Closing Argument came under heavy backing in the initial stages but suddenly the situation changed and Iztrab became fancied. This led to a protest by the race goers.
In a late burst, chestnut Bilal Choice outclassed favourite Miss Milee by half length to pull off a major upset.
Five-year-old Lucky Step annexed the seventh race of the programme. He was chased by Arab Hi Arab and Aie Bahar.
Results:
SINDH PLATE DIV V 5F
Jaguar (Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Qureshi) 7-12 Mohammad Essa 1, Royal Beauty 9-1(cr8-12) Waheed Baran 2, Taneez 8-0(cr7-7) Zaki Zakir 3, Ultimate Victory 8-6(cr8-1)Ghous Bux 4. Won by 7L, 1/2L, 1 1/4L. Time: 1 min 6 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by Sher Mohammad
SINDH PLATE DIV 111 5F
Princess Ridda(Mr. Amir Ahmed) 8-7 Riaz Mohammad 1, New Ferrari 9-4(cr8-11) Nazil Hussain 2, Raat Ki Rani 8-13 Khalid Amin 3, Auzy 9-0 Aashiq Ali 4. Won by 9 1/2L, S. Head, 1L. Time: 1min 6 sec.
Winner trained by the owner
SINDH PLATE DIV 11 5F
Eager Saint (Mr. S. Ehtisham H. Rizvi) 9-0 Latif 1, Super Salute 8-4 Aashiq Ali 2, Fascinate 8-4(cr8-0)Ghous Bux 3, Qandhar 9-3 Sohail Ahmed 4.Won by 9L, 3/4L, 1 3/4L. Time: 1 min 5 sec.
Winner trained by the owner
SINDH PLATE DIV 1V 5F
Iztrab (Syed Akber H. Rizvi) 9-0 M. Yousuf 1, Laurel 8-11(cr8-8) Mumtaz Ali 2, Mera Jugnoo 9-1 M. Amjad 3, Azam The Great 9-0(cr8-7) Zulfiqar Ali 4. Won by 9L, 1 1/2L, 5L. Time: 1 min 6 sec.
Winner trained by S. Ehtisham
SINDH PLATE DIV 1 5F
Laat Sahib (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-8 Shafi Mohammad 1, Bright And Early 8-2 Amir Ali 2, Baba Jani 8-9 Fahim K 3, Yes Naeem 8-6 Latif 4. Won by 2L, 3 1/2L, 2 1/2L. Time: 1 min 4 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by Allah Judrio
JHANG SHAHI PLATE 6F
Bilal Choice (Mr. Imran Ahmed) 8-2 Fahim K 1, Miss Milee 8-2 Mohammad Essa 2, Smiling Face 8-2 M. Nasir 3, Victory Symbol 8-3 Khalid Amin 4. Won by 1/2L, S. Head, 2 1/2L. Time: 1 min 19 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by Ghulam Channa
JHAMPIR PLATE 6F
Lucky Step(Raja Rehmatullah Khansatti) 8-6 Mumtaz Ali 1, Arab Hi Arab 8-7 M. Manzoor 2, Aie Bahar 8-4 Mohammad Essa 3, Adaab Arz 9-2 M. Amjad 4. Won by 2L, 1 1/4L, Dist. Time: 1 min 18 2/5 sec.
Winner trained by Ziaur Rehman
PIPRI PLATE 6F
Bang On Target (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-4 Mohammad Essa 1, Moon Raker 7-11 M. Manzoor 2, Captain Crash 8-5 Waheed Baran 3, Excalibur 8-9 M. Yousuf 4. Won by 3L, 5L, Dist. Time: 1 min 16 2/5 sec.
Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.