KARACHI, April 15: Angry race-goers resorted to stoning to protest the result of a race thus tarnishing the otherwise calm atmosphere of the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

It all happened the moment the sixth race of the programme was cleared after being run and the stunning results provoked the fans to create hue and cry.

As expected, public fancy four-year-old bay colt Laat Sahib was installed favourite and backed down heavily when the betting commenced. However, the situation reversed shortly before the race after public had invested their money and chestnut Thanks Naeem came down to odds on.

This led to frustration among the race-goers but the high ups pay no heed and let the race go as per schedule.

Ridden by M. Yousuf, Thanks Naeem posted a three-length victory over bay mare Princess Rozi in mediocre time of one minute 13 sec with Killer Instincts occupying third slot. Mare Sweet Grandy completed the frame.

Laat Sahib, who belonged to the stables of Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara, failed to figure on the board.

Failing to get refund the punters, who were at the receiving end, burst by stoning in the betting ring with bookies running for shelter. They didn’t turn up for the last race which was held without them.

A similar situation was averted last Sunday following cancellation of the ninth race after it was run.

Rider M. Yousuf ended the day with a treble including a back-to-back win as he galloped bay horse Lucky Friend to half-a-length victory over Arab Hi Arab in the concluding race. His other winner was mare Sonia in the fourth race. He had replaced M. Wasim II on Sonia following his suspension in the second race.

Rider Rehan Usman steered eight-year-old chestnut Welcome Pachino to two-and-a-half lengths victory over favourite filly Gul Bano to land the opener.

Joint favourite Tom Cruise atoned for an earlier loss when he outpaced Lucky View by three-and-a-half lengths in the next race. They were followed by Breaking News and Annaba.

With no form worth, five-year-old bay horse Baap Re Baap created quite a stir when he posted maiden victory in the third race out of the blue. He beat colt Check Mate by three lengths.

The running of hot favourite bay filly Friendly Fire under rider M. Nasir in the fourth race left much to be desired. It requires an inquiry into the matter as it was because of him the race was cancelled last week.

Rider Ghulam Shabbir II, who replaced Asghar Ali, piloted mare Forget Me Not to victory over odds on favourite Khyber.

Results:

THE USMANI PLATE

DIV V CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Welcome Pachino (Augustine Thomas Pereira) 9-0(cr8-7) Rehan Usman 1, Gul Bano 8-5 Nasim Ahmed 2, Afzaal Prince 8-5(cr8-0) Fateh Mohammad 3, Fizza 8-8 M. Nawaz Bilal 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 11L, 2 1/2L. Time: 1 min 1 3/5 sec.

Winner trained by owner.

THE USMANI PLATE

DIV IV CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Tom Cruise (Mohammad Khalil) 8-2 M. Rehman 1, Lucky View 9-0(cr8-7) Hamid H.K. 2, Breaking News 7-12 Rehan Usman 3, Annaba 8-12 Nasim Ahmed 4. Won by 3 1/2L, Dist, 8L. Time: 1 min 2 3/5 sec.

Winner trained by owner.

THE USMANI PLATE

DIV III-B CLASS VII 5F:

Baap Re Baap (Zulfiqar Ali Qureshi) 8-3 Arshad 1, Check Mate 8-4 Pervaiz Ali 2, The Choice Of The Day 8-4 Asghar Ali 3, Jan-e-Mir 8-5 M. Waseem II 4. Won by 3L, 4L, 3/4L. Time: 1 min 4 sec.

Winner trained by M. Aslam Khan.

THE USMANI PLATE

DIV III-A CLASS VII 5F:

Sonia (Rafiullah) 8-6 M. Yousuf 1, Hamza Joy 8-13 Ashiq Ali 2, Ho Ho Ho 8-2 Waheed Baran 3, Azam The Great 9-0 Zulfiqar Ali 4. Won by 5L, 8L, 6L. Time: 1 min 5 3/5 sec.

Winner trained by Ramzan A.

THE USMANI PLATE

DIV II-A CLASS VII 5F:

Forget Me Not (Zainab Ali and Iman Ali) 8-10 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Khyber 9-0 Fahim K 2, Donatello 8-8 Faisal Qamar 3, Samra Love 8-11 Raeesmed 4. Won by 3/4L, 9L, Dist. Time: 1 min 6 sec.

Winner trained by Taj Mohammad.

THE USMANI PLATE

DIV I CLASS VII 5 1/2F:

Thanks Naeem (Nawab Jawaid) 9-0 M. Yousuf 1, Princess Rozi 8-9 M. Nasir 2, Killer Instincts 8-5 Nazil Hussain 3, Sweet Grandy 7-13 M. Rehman 4. Won by 3L, 1/2L, 4L. Time: 1 min 13 sec.

Winner trained by M. Khalil.

THE SHANGHAI PLATE 5 1/2L:

Lucky Friend (Adnan Azam Khan) 8-8 M. Yousuf 1, Arab Hi Arab 9-0 Kashif Qamar 2, The Concord 8-13 Zulfiqar Ali 3, Patricia 8-11 Arshad 4. Won by 1/2L, Neck, 5L. Time: 1 min 11 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Hussain.