KARACHI, April 7: Smiling Senorita, stormed to her fourth successive victory, winning the concluding race at the Summer Gymkhana Meeting Sunday.
Ridden once again by Mujahid Ali, the four-year-old bay filly never let her large band of supporters down, sprinting over the five furlongs in one minute six seconds, leaving the crowd fancy Queen Of Hearts and Inferno in her wake.
It was indeed a disastrous day for the favourites. Five of them bit the dust in a card of six events. The only favourite to oblige was the bay three- year-old filly Fly To The Sky, ridden by Ashiq Ali in the fifth race.
The winner owned and trained by Mohammad Rafiq, won comfortably from Aziz Love, with Quick Mover and Blue’s Night completing the frame.
Jockey M. Yousuf registered a splendid double. Taking over the reins from Gulbaz astride Edward Chou’s bay horse Mark, Yousuf with his mount near the railings, improved his position from sixth near the bend to fourth, turning for home.
Lawrence Of Arabia partnered by riding boy Kashif Ali turned for home first with the favourite Noor-un-Nisa in close pursuit. But Lawrence Of Arabia urged on by his rider went slightly wide which enabled Mark to squeeze through to a splendid victory.
Yousef completed his fine double astride his older brother’s bay gelding Janisar, in the following event, beating Satellite Star by a short head. The favourite Guarantee was third, a further 3/4 lengths behind, with Bach Fly completing the frame.
In the opener, Spring Fair with M. Nasir astride in the saddle, beat Sher Khan by 11 lengths with Vicky Jee third, a distance away. The favourite Smart Boy failed to complete the frame, stranded halfway through the race after the saddle straps snapped and nearly sent rider Taj Mohammad crashing to the ground.
Sajan Black installed as the firm favourite in the next event, also met his doom, beaten soundly by Wondering Eyes, after Tehseen Hussain took over the reins from M. Akram astride the bay mare.
The race meeting began nearly 90 minutes late as the bookmakers refused to operate their books. However after deep discussion with the Stewards, six bookmakers finally decided to operate and although five favourites were doomed for defeat, the racing programme was keenly and fairly contested.
Following were the results:
HYDERABAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-IV 5F
Spring Fair (Syed Ali Ghour Shah) 8-0 M. Nasir 1, Sher Khan 7-11 Zubair Ahmed 2, Vicky Jee 7-13 N.A. Ghafoor 3, Black Gift 9-0 Arshad 4.
Won by 11L, Dist., 4 1/2L. Time 1 min 11 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Asghar.
HYDERABAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III 5F
Wondering Eyes (Syed Hashim Abbas) 8-12 Tehseen Hussain 1, Sajan Black 8-3 M. Faiz 2, Simple Prayer 9-5 Saif Mohammad 3, Baby Tabassum 8-0 Yousuf Ikram 4.
Won by 1 1/2L, 2L, 1/2L. Time 1 min 9 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Sohail Qamar.
HYDERABAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F
Mark (Mr. Edward Chou) 8-7 M. Yousuf 1, Lawrence Of Arabia 8-1 Kashif Ali 2, Noor-un-Nisa 8-7 M. Mazhar 3, Even Top 7-11 Naveed 4.
Won by 1L, 6L, 3/4L. Time 1 min 9 sec. Winner trained by Sadiq Hussain.
HYDERABAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F
Janisar (Mr. M. Hanif) 8-8 M. Yousuf 1, Satellite Star 8-4 M. Bashir 2, Guarantee 8-10 M. Mazhar 3, Bach Fly 9-0 M. Nasir 4.
Won by Sh-hd., 3/4L, 4L. Time 1 min 7 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Owner.
HYDERABAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 5F
Fly To The Sky (Mr. M. Rafiq) 7-8 Ashiq Ali 1, Aziz Love 8-5 Kashif Ali 2, Quick Mover 8-2 Abdul Rahim 3, Blue’s Night 7-10 Najam Iqbal 4.
Won by 6L, 5 1/2L, 2 1/2L. Time 1 min 5 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Owner.
HYDERABAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV VI 5F
Smiling Senorita (Mr. Shahrukh) 8-12 Mujahid Ali 1, Queen Of Hearts 8-12 Abdul Rahim 2, Inferno 8-12 M. Nasir 3, Rehmat Ka Phool 9-0 Muzaffar Hussain 4.
Won by 2L, 8L, Dist. Time 1 min 6 sec. Winner trained by Iftikhar Ali.