KARACHI, Sept 20: Racing fans suffered heavy losses as outsiders reigned supreme in three of the six races in the Gymkhana race meeting, the last of the holy month of Ramazan, at Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.
The first three races witnessed surprise results and following jugglery unfancied horses prevailed over favourites to the satisfaction of their owners.
The beneficiaries were the turf accountants who have a field day as public in an outside the betting ring kept gossiping of foul play.
Three-year-old bay filly Princess Zara surprised all and sundry by landing the opener beating odds-on-favourite debutant Silver Prince by six lengths to post her maiden win. She was piloted home by Fahim K. Princess and Ghabra completed the board.
Similarly, seven-year-old bay Haroon Prince toppled favourite New Ferrari by three-quarters-of-a-length to register her maiden win in the next race.
In yet another surprise result, filly Lady Clever who has appeared on the board once, stormed to five lengths’ victory with rider Tauheed Ali astride to claim her maiden win after filly Sugar Sweet and mare Princess Rozi came under heavy betting.
Racing public alleged that Sugar Sweet and Princess Rozi were not allowed to run on merit.
After losing much of their money the racegoers finally heaved a sigh of relief when favourite colt John Player picked up spoils in the fourth race by making amends.
Owned and trained by Sher Mohammad, the colt was galloped home by half-a-length by jockey Mohammad Essa.
The two were followed by Canon Fire and Prince Salman.
Favourite four-year-old bay filly Diamond In Dust added another feather to her cap by getting the better of her rival mare Stormy Kiss by four lengths to land The September Cup which was also the day’s feature event.
Diamond In Dust who had won The Defence Day Cup earlier this month, edging Stormy Kiss, was ridden home by Shabbir.
Former champion jockey Essa completed a double when he stormed favourite Sindh Malook to a three lengths’ victory over Die-Na-Might in the concluding event.
Meanwhile, the next gymkhana race meeting will be held after Eid-ul-fitr on Oct 5.
Results:
THE JURAT PLATE DIV V CLASS VII 5F:
Princess Zara (Mr. Murtaza Mirza)8-3 Fahim K 1, Silver Prince 9-0 Raees Ahmed 2, Princess 9-0(cr8-11) Pervaiz Ali 3, Ghabra 7-10(cr8-0) Abdul Hafeez II, 4.
Won by 6L, 2L, 1 1/2L. Time: One min 8 4/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.
THE JURAT PLATE DIV IV
CLASS VII 5F:
Haroon Prince (Mir Ahmed Khan)8-5(cr8-0) Zulfiqar Ali 1, New Ferrari 9-0 Fahim K 2, Qandhar 8-4 M. Amjad 3, Spanzer 8-6(cr7-13) Tauheed Ali 4.
Won by 3/4L, 5L, 1 1/2L. Time: one min 8 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.
THE JURAT PLATE DIV III
CLASS VII 5F:
Lady Clever (Mr. Abdul Rafay Farooqi)7-10 Tauheed Ali 1, Trust Again 8-3 Naseem Ahmed 2, Princess Rozi 9-2(cr8-13) Pervaiz Ali 3, Paidagir 8-9 Riaz Ahmed 4.
Won by 5L, 2L, 10L. Time: one min 7 sec. Winner trained by Aurangzeb Khan.
THE JURAT PLATE DIV II
CLASS VII 5F:
John Player (Mr. Sher Mohammad) 9-0 Mohammad Essa 1, Moon Dazzler 8-10 Ghulam Shabbir II, 2, Canon Fire 8-9 Ghous Bux 3, Prince Salman 8-8 Fahimuddin 4.
Won by 1/2L, Dist, 7L. Time: one min 5 4/5 sec. Winner trained by owner.
THE SEPTEMBER CUP CLASS III,
IV AND V DIV I 6F:
Diamond In Dust (Syed Ismail Shah)9-0 Ghulam Shabbir II, 1, Stormy Kiss 7-13 Zulfiqar Ali 2, Taizper 7-6 Mohammed Essa 3, Afroze Jehan 7-9 Waseem 4.
Won by 4L, 2L, 4L. Time: one min 16 4/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.
THE JURAT PLATE DIV I
CLASS VI AND VII 5F:
Sindh Malook (Mr. Ghulam Dastagir Rajar) 8-0 Mohammad Essa 1,Die-Na-Might 9-0 Ghulam Shabbir II, 2, Thanks Naeem 9-5(cr8-12) Ashiq Ali 3, Inside Story 8-6 Lateef 4.
Won by 3L, Dist, 11L, Time: One min 4 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.