Owner Irfan Mehdi’s Ghazan Prince lifts Karachi Gold Cup
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: Owner Irfan Mehdi’s Ghazan Prince put up an amazing display to lift the Karachi Gold Cup, run over a mile at the local racetrack on Sunday.

The horse in question had made no recent display of its intentions. As a matter of fact it had all the qualification to make a race of it. Ghazan Prince fully lived up to its challenge, and jockey Saif Mohd, a good task master, saw to it that his mount did lot more than make a race of it.

In the resulting action first favorite Fantastic Face and the rest of the field were thoroughly beaten and outclassed.

Indeed this was the second time in quick succession that Ghazan Prince had surpassed all expectations by winning a race in the most impressive manner possible.

It took a level start, forged ahead without losing time, was the first to enter the home stretch, and drew away to win by a comfortable margin of over ten lengths. In the entire action public fancy Fantastic Face was nowhere to be seen.

Shore Footed, who acted as a pacemaker, ran out of gas and completed the frame behind Safeena-e-Arab in this race.

While the connection rejoiced over the presentation ceremony, there were quite a few crest fallen faces who looked down upon it without hiding their anguish.

They were the people who had done everything they could to win this race, but somehow they were not smart enough. We also feel sorry for one of the leading contender King of Sanghar that did not get a chance to play its due role as it was withdrawn at the last minute.

In the next race Excalibur turned the table against King of Arab and Birj-ul-Arab. The Pirs with all their show of strength, and looking awesome in their challenge, were simply unable to achieve anything sensational.

The days’ racing came to a close with Pir’s Aie Bahar in full cry and doing no more than slow fox-trot to win the race. It beat Wonder Thunder and Real Gift comfortably.●