KARACHI: Defying handicap, thoroughbred chestnut horse Thunder Star prevailed over public fancied bay horse Night Vision by half-a-length to lift the Sunlight Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

By doing so, Thunder Star completed his hat-trick, his two previous triumphs being the Generation Cup and Jet Stream Cup.

The victorious horse who was 26 pounds over Night Vision in handicap, led the quartet from the front and romped home in one minute two seconds in the five-furlong race.

Mare Princess Maria had to be content with third place edged by head while bay horse Robert completed the frame a length away.

Owned by Ather Abbas, Thunder Star was partnered by trainer Nazir with rider Zohaib Qamar astride. All-in-all, four favourites obliged punters in a five-race card.

Mare Stifee opened her account by getting the better of another mare Baby Champion by five lengths to clinch the opening race.

She clocked 0.533/5 seconds for four furlongs under rider M. Asim among nine starters.

Bay horses Canadian King and Zayan occupied third and fourth places, respectively.

Similarly, dark bay horse Abdullah Prince coasted to four lengths victory over chestnut horse Faster Than You to clinch his maiden race of the year.

He was piloted home by M. Sajjad in 0.503/5 seconds for the four furlongs contest.

Chestnut horse Arsalan Choice fell third by two-lengths-and-a-quarter while bay horse Epsom was placed fourth by further three lengths.

In a repeat finish, bay horse Raging Comet defeated bay horse Golden Step as he pleased by 10 lengths to land the third race in convincing fashion.

He sprinted to victory in 0.552/5 seconds in the four-and-a-half furlongs competition that featured half-a-dozen horses.

Bay horse My Boy seized third place edged by neck while mare Zahrish completed the frame another two lengths away.

Mare Angel Love was on song while galloping to a fluent three-lengths-and-a-quarter victory over bay horse Come On Champion to make it three in a row.

She was home in 0.561/5 seconds in the four-and-a-half furlongs supporting race with rider Sohail Ahmed in the saddle.

Colt Geo Baba and mare Jugni followed the two in the same order respectively.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2023