KARACHI: Co-favourite colt Valentino made his mark while getting the better of grey horse Flag Of Champion by three lengths to clinch the Prime Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting here at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

It is pertinent to mention that Valentino was among those who also ran in his maiden outing of the season last week.

By virtue of this success, the winning horse denied the other co-favourite to extend his winning run. He was piloted home by rider Asad Aksir in 0.512/5 seconds in the four-furlong cup race featuring half-a-dozen horses.

Chestnut Wapiti fell third a length behind while bay horse Golden Step completed the frame another length-and-a-quarter away.

A favourite and two longshot horses won in other three races of the day.

Making his first appearance under a new name and ownership, public fancy gelding Big City (formerly Supreme Leader) obliged all and sundry galloping to three-and-a-half lengths victory over bay horse Faisal King to claim the second race.

He was ably ridden home by ace rider Zaki Zakir in 0.55 seconds in the four furlongs contest with a quartet in the fray.

Another gelding Faisal Choice, stable mate of Faisal King, was placed third beaten by nine lengths and was followed by mare Stifee further 12 lengths away.

Earlier, race goers suffered when rank outsider mare Bangash Queen pulled off an upset victory while registering a fluent three lengths victory over bay horse Thakur to annex the opening race.

Bangash Queen, who was placed fourth last week, clocked 0.534/5 seconds with rider Aashiq Ali astride. Favourite mare Basanti had to be content with third place by four lengths and was followed by another mare Safoora Queen being edged by distance.

The field was reduced to four horses after mare Money Heist was scratched in the morning due to lack of fitness.

Mare Meri Chahat sprang a surprise while lowering the colours of public fancy chestnut mare Sweet Golden by a length-and-a-quarter to win the fourth and concluding race.

The eventual champion, who was placed second in her last run, retuned home in 0.524/5 seconds under rider A. Qayyum.

Bay horse Desco, who was on course of a hat-trick, seized third place edged by distance while the fourth horse Achilles remained stalled in the gate.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2023