KARACHI, June 1: Favourite four-year-old dark bay filly Bacaradi was left to bite the dust on Sunday when her winning streak was interrupted by eight-year-old chestnut Desert Hawk in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.
Desert Hawk, who has shown consistent form by finishing on the board on all but one occasions including two triumphs this season, led the pack of six horses right from the word go with Blind Date on his heels followed by Bacaradi.
However, after getting into the straight chase for home, Bacaradi with M. Nasir astride, though overtook Blind Date, was beaten by Desert Hawk by four-and-a-half lengths in the end. Filly Sweet Girl completed the frame.
Desert Hawk completed the six furlongs race in a smart time of one minute 16 1/5 seconds with Arshad in the saddle.
Five-year-old dark bay mare Spice Of Arab sent shock waves when she beat mare Stormy Kiss by a head in a photo-finish verdict to land the feature event.
Mare Afroze Jehan seized third place while public fancy filly Claim To Fame had to be content with the fourth slot.
The public felt cheated when Claim To Fame performed below the mark and the connection preferred to go by Stormy Kiss, who too was beaten.
On the whole, it was a day of upsets as outsiders and second favourites reigned supreme in a seven-race card.
Three-year-old bay filly Blassom created quite a stir when she prevailed over fancied contestants to claim her maiden win in the top division of class VII.
She posted a facile eight-lengths’ victory over bay Manan Prince under rider Tariq Baran for the honours as favourite colt Back In Action finished third. Baby John completed the board in a field of seven after the withdrawals of New Approach and Inside Story.
Earlier, jockey Ghulam Shabbir piloted colt Bam Bamm to a convincing six-length victory over public fancy Black Velvet.
Mare Eye Lady made it two wins on the trot by getting the better of Paidagiree by five-and-a-half lengths to claim the opener. She was ridden home by Mohammad Essa.
Chestnut Faith finished third while favourite Captain Cook settled for fourth place.
Eager Saint claimed the second race pushing fancied Lucky Gem to second place while The Reyan won the third race, beating public fancy filly Dilruba by two-and-a-half lengths.
Results:
THE FLOWER PLATE DIV V CLASS VII 5F:
Eye Lady (Nasrullah) 8-10, Mohammad Essa 1; Paidagiree 8-10, Sohail Ahmed 2; Faith 8-4 (cr8-6), Tariq Baran 3; Captain Cook 8-10 (cr8-3), Rehan Ahmed 4.
Won by 5 1/2L, 3L, 2 1/2L. Time: One min 7 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.
THE FLOWER PLATE DIV IV CLASS VII 5F:
Eager Saint (Syed Sadruddin Shah) 8-13, Fahim K 1; Lucky Gem 9-3, M. Yousuf 2; Mixed Blessing 8-10, Tariq Baran 3; Jaguar 8-12 (cr8-5), Farasat Khan 4.
Won by 2L, 1/2L, 5L. Time: One min 6 3/5 sec. Winner trained by S. Ehtisham.
THE FLOWER PLATE DIV III CLASS VII 5F:
The Reyan (Reyan Ahmed) 8-9, Zubair Ahmed 1; Dilruba 8-8, Mohammad Essa 2; Sonia 8-2, Tahir Ali 3; Guess It’s Me 8-1 (cr7-8), Shahzad Gul 4.
Won by 2 1/2L, 11L, 2 3/4L. Time: One min 5 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.
THE FLOWER PLATE DIV II CLASS VII 5F:
Bam Bamm (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-2, Ghulam Shabbir II 1; Black Velvet 8-2, M. Nasir 2; Kabhi Kabhi 8-2, Mohammad Essa 3; Star Of Galaxy 8-13, Kashif Qamar 4.
Won by 6L, 10L, 5 1/2L. Time: One min 3 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafik K.
THE FLOWER PLATE DIV I CLASS VII 5F:
Blassom (Zainab Ali and Kamal Farooq) 8-9, Tariq Baran 1; Manan Prince 9-1, M. Yousuf 2; Back In Action 8-10, Ghulam Shabbir II 3; Baby John 8-8, Lateef 4.
Won by 8L, 1 1/4L, 8L. Time: One min 3 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.
THE CLASSIC PLATE CLASS VI 6F:
Desert Hawk (Mir Ahmed Khan) 9-4, Arshad 1; Bacaradi 9-0, M. Nasir 2; Blind Date 8-12, Ghulam Shabbir II 3; Sweet Girl 8-1, M. Amjad 4.
Won by 4 1/2L, 2L, 7L. Time: one min 16 1/5 sec. Winner trained by G. Hassan.
THE GHARNATA PLATE CLASS III, IV AND V
DIV I AND II 6F:
Spice Of Arab (Qaiser Sultana) 7-12, Wasim 1; Stormy Kiss 8-12, M. Nasir 2; Afroze Jehan 9-6, Rehan Ahmed 3; Claim To Fame 9-6, Ghulam Shabbir II 4.
Won by S. Head, 5L, 10L. Time: One min 18 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.