KARACHI: Long shot mare Baby Champion lowered the colours of public fancy bay horse Desco galloping to three lengths victory to clinch the Rainfall Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting here at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Baby Champion, who was running on the heels of Desco, displayed speed and overcame the frontrunner in home stretch to create quite a stir.

While doing so, the victorious horse who finished third in her last outing, returned to winning ways.

She was piloted home by Asad Abbas II in 0.54 seconds in the four furlongs contest that featured five horses following scratching of gelding Big City in the morning declaration.

Gelding Faisal Choice seized third place edged by neck and was followed by mare New Market another 10 lengths away.

Owned by Ghulam Mustafa, the winning horse was sent by trainer Zia-ur-Rehman.

Co-favourite mare Bangash Queen, who finished off the frame in her last two outings, edged mare Basanti by a length-and-a-quarter to reclaim honours in the opening race.

Her last success came three weeks ago when she got the better of Thakur by three lengths.

She returned home in 0.542/5 seconds with rider Aashiq Ali astride.

The other co-favourite bay horse Faisal King had to be content with third place edged by head while chestnut horse Arsalan Choice completed the quartet another three-quarters-of-a-length away.

Favourite bay horse Royal Command bit the dust as bay horse Geo Jalal coasted to a length-and-a-quarter victory to claim the third race.

He clocked 0.513/5 seconds over four furlongs under rider Asad Abbas II who ended the day with a double.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2023