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KARACHI: Bay mare New Market edged co-favourite mare Take Care to clinch the Karachi Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting here at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.
Punters meanwhile suffered as four favourites bit the dust in a five-race card.
New Market and Take Care fought neck-and-neck before the former managed to beat the latter to return to winning ways after June 5. Owned by S.M.Razi and Nadim Ahmed with rider Sohail Ahmed in the saddle, New Market returned home in 0.512/5 seconds in the four-furlong contest. The victorious horse was partnered by trainer Mohammad Usman Sadiq.
Mare Little Darling grabbed third place falling three lengths behind while bay horse Daffodles Wave completed the frame another length-and-three-quarters away.
Faster Than You was scratched in the morning declaration leaving 10 horses in fray.
Chestnut horse Faris, who was relegated to second place after completing a hat-trick, atoned to his last defeat, lowering the colours of favourite bay horse Shahbaz to win the day’s feature event. He was home by a length in the four-and-a-half furlongs race clocking 0.572/5 seconds.
Bay horse Geo Jalal who had won his last race, occupied third slot beaten by four lengths and was followed by bay colt Torrent by another five-and-a-half lengths among five contestants.
Royal Duke, another rank outsider gelding, coasted to victory over public fancied chestnut horse Marvellous by short head verdict in a thrilling fashion to win the fourth and supporting race.
He clocked 0.581/5 seconds for the race run over four-and-a-half furlongs.
This is Royal Duke’s maiden victory in three outings.
Mares Balochistan Queen and Zahrish followed the top two in the same order, respectively.
Bay horse The Duke won the opening race imposing to two lengths-and-a-quarter victory over bay horse Arkedian while mare Stella overcame bay horse Epsom by neck in a photo finish to land the second race.
Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Aug 14 which will feature the Independence Day Cup.
Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2022
