LAHORE: Long shot chestnut filly Dila Awaiz scorched her way into racing history by landing the prestigious classic, the Makhdumzada Syed Hassan Mahmud Memorial New Year Cup, before a fairly large crowd here at the Racecourse on Sunday.

With Aftab Choudhry in the saddle, Dila Awaiz — owned by Hashim Ali Dogar and trained by Sohail Aziz — powered to an upset victory, clocking one minute and 25 seconds for the 1400 metrers race.

Dila Awaiz beat bay filly Verde One by four lengths while another bay filly Golden Market ended third. The 70 to 100 favourite colt Bambino put up a dismal show, edging the frame under veteran jockey Aamir Pervez.

The main supporting event, the January Cup run over 1400 metres was won by the rank outsider colt Samson, trained by Sohail Aziz and ridden by jockey Bilal Ahmad.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2024