KARACHI: Bay horse Come On Champion edged another bay horse Robert by short head in a photo-finish verdict to upset the applecart and clinch the March Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Running in a pack of five horses, Come On Champion came from behind before the winning post in the four-and-a-half furlongs race to end the victory jinx as public fancy colt Geo Baba had to be content with third place by a length-and-a-half. Come On Champion romped home in 0.564/5 seconds with ace rider Zaki Zakir in the saddle.

The victorious horse from the stables of Haider Abbas was sent by trainer Amjad Ali.

Earlier, the fifth and supporting race was cancelled at the starting gate on the orders of stewards for want of competition.

Fancied bay horse Golden Step was declared winner of the fourth race after stewards upheld the objection taken by its rider Pervaiz Ali against Wasim, rider of bay horse Thunder Strike for bumping between 100 yards to winning post.

Wasim was penalised and suspended for two weeks besides a fine of Rs.5,000.

Golden Step who returned to winning ways, clocked 0.571/5 seconds for four-and-a-half furlongs race. He was followed by chestnut colt Joint Affair and bay horse My Boy respectively.

At the outset, longshot gelding Faisal Choice created quite a stir galloping to a length victory over mare Sana Again to win the four-furlongs opening race in 0.543/5 seconds under rider Wasim. Mare Basanti occupied third place three lengths behind.

Bay horse Epsom obliged all and sundry imposing to a fluent four-and-a-half lengths victory over chestnut horse Geo Channa to land the second race. He was home in 0.521/5 seconds and partnered by rider Pervaiz who completed a splendid double.

Another fancied filly Croissant lived up to her top billing defeating bay horse Hi Alert as she pleased by six lengths to complete hat-trick in the third race. She won the start-to-finish four furlongs race in 0.511/5 seconds with rider Lateef in the saddle.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2023