KARACHI: Exhibiting awesome form and fitness, rank outsider chestnut horse Mind Of Promise came from behind to edge frontrunner Torrent by short head to clinch the Leader’s Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Mind Of Promise who finished off the frame in the last two races was trailing behind Torrent, Gift of Gold, Thunder Star and Spirit when he kicked up speed and overtook all of them one by one in the home stretch to pull off the biggest upset of the day.

The victorious horse clocked smart time of one minute 16 1/5 seconds for six furlongs round bend race.

Mind Of Promise was backed by connection for place but he shocked all and sundry by returning to the winning ways after double failures.

Colt Gift Of Gold seized third place a length behind while favourite colt Thunder Star completed the frame, another two-and-a-half lengths away.

Rider Zohaib Qamar piloted home the winner to the delight of owner Ali Raza Zia and trainer Zia-ur-Rehman.

Racegoers suffered as turf accountants had a field day when four favourites bit the dust in a five-race card.

In an earlier race co-favourite mare Sher Garh Queen atoned to her last defeat overtaking frontrunner Jugni to post a length victory.

Choice Of The Day who was joint favourite with Sher Garh Queen finished third beaten by a length-and-a-quarter while Wild Fire completed the frame.

At the outset, Lahore-based bay horse Asad Choice made an impressive debut at the KRC when he edged Thunder Time by neck to create quite a stir.

Bay horse Punjabi Munda sprinted to three lengths victory over Meri Chahat to land the second race.

Mare Starka stunned public fancy Saghir Prince by neck to grab honours in the third race.

Trainer Zia-ur-Rehman earned a double by partnering Asad Choice and Mind Of Promise.

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Aug 29.

Results:

THE LEADER’S PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Asad Choice (Mohammad Yousuf Khan) 8-4 (cr7-11), Kashif Arshad 1; Thunder Time 8-2 (cr7-13), Adnan Khan 2; Sassy Gold 8-12, Waheed Baran 3; Star Queen 9-3, Wasim 4.

Won by Neck, 4 L, ½ L. Time: 0.53 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE LEADER’S PLATE SCALE ORDER VII — 4½ F:

Punjabi Munda (Ehtisham Malik) 8-2, Mohammad Qais 1; Meri Chahat 8-5 (cr8-2), Ali Ehsan 2; Little Darling 8-2, Ali Raza II 3; Watch Me 7-10, Latif 4.

Won by 3 L, ¾ L, 2 L. Time: 0.58 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Naseem.

THE LEADER’S PLATE SCALE ORDER V & VI — 4½ F:

Starka (Waqas), 8-6, Mohammad Asim 1; Saghir Prince 8-7, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Faster 8-4, Safdar Hussain 3; Recovery 8-4, Riaz Ahmed 4.

Won by Neck, Neck, 3 ½ L. Time: 0.58 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE LEADER’S PLATE SCALE ORDER III & IV — 4½ F:

Sher Garh Queen (Noorullah Zafar Dehraj) 9-4 (cr9-1), Adnan Khan 1; Jugni 8-0, Riaz Ahmed 2; Choice Of The Day 8-1, Waheed Baran 3; Wild Fire 8-2, Mohammad Sajjad 4.

Won by 1 L, 1¼ L, ½ L. Time: 0.57 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Shahid Mannan.

THE LEADER’S CUP SCALE ORDER I & II — 6 F ROUND BEND:

Mind Of Promise (Ali Raza Zia) 9-0, Zohaib Qamar 1; Torrent 8-2, Safdar Hussain 2; Gift Of Gold 7-13, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Thunder Star 8-4, Adnan Khan 4.

Won by S. Head, 1L, 2½ L. Time: One minute 16 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2021