KARACHI: Long shot chestnut horse Thunder Star overcame co-favourites mares Heer and Spirit to upset odds and clinch the Jet Stream Cup in the winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Thunder Star galloped to a length-and-three-quarters victory over Heer but on completion of the race, rider of the latter Sohail Ahmed took an objection against the former for ‘bumping and pressing’ which was rejected by the committee after reviewing the race video.

Thunder Star, who had won the Generation Cup earlier this month, returned home in a minute and two seconds in five furlongs race with rider Zohaib Qamar in the saddle.

Spirit fell third three lengths behind and was followed by mare Princess Maria another three-and-a-half lengths away among five starters.

Thunder Star, which belongs to the stables of Ather Abbas, was sent by trainer Nazir. Overall, three favourites bit the dust in a five-race card of the day.

Mare Sherzadi created quite a stir while getting the better of bay horse Mr. On Job by two-and-a-half lengths to win the fourth and supporting race as public fancy Geo Jalal had to be content with third place six lengths behind. Mare New Market completed the frame among half-a-dozen starters.

The winning horse was piloted home by Zaki Zakir in the four-and-a-half furlongs race in 0.564/5 seconds.

In yet another upset, chestnut filly Hessa opened her account defeating mare Zahrish as she pleased by eight lengths to annex the third race.

She clocked 0.561/5 seconds for four-and-a-half furlongs competition that featured seven horses. She was guided to victory by rider M. Sajjad and sent by trainer Ghulam Shabbir II who both ended the day with a brace with the other winner being Croissant.

Favourite bay horse My Boy occupied third place beaten by two-lengths-and-three-quarters while mare Take Care completed the quartet another four lengths away.

Favourite mare Bangash Queen and gelding Supreme Leader shared the honours in the opening race after being engaged in a dead heat. Both the horses clocked 0.532/5 seconds for four furlongs.

Bangash Queen was partnered by M. Asim while Asad Abbas II steered Supreme Leader to joint triumph.

Gelding Faisal Choice and dark bay horse Zayan followed in same order respectively.

In a repeat performance, favourite filly Croissant made it two on trot while registering a fluent five-and-a-half lengths victory over bay horse Baraco to land the second race. She returned home in 0.571/5 seconds for four-and-a-half furlongs.

Faster Than You grabbed third place and was followed by Arsalan Choice.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2023