Maradona upsets pair of favourites to claim Kashmir Cup.

Byline: Anwar Zuberi

KARACHI -- Rank outsider dark bay horse Maradona lowered the colours of a pair of favourites - Sweet Mover and Black Gold - while galloping to four-and-a-half lengths victory in the Kashmir Cup during the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse here on Sunday.

With the Teamwork Cup and the Upbeat Cup already under its belt, Maradona made trio of owner, trainer and rider (Adam Khan Lango, Mohammad Shahzad and Zaki Zakir) proud by completing a magnificent hat-trick. This race was also day's feature event, combined top scale order II, III and IV and contested over four-and-a-half furlongs.

Black Gold had to be content with third place behind Maradona and second-placed Sweet Mover, after being edged out by short head and followed by Victor who completed the board beaten, a further eight lengths behind among half-a-dozen starters after bay horse Mohallaydar was withdrawn.

This was the only exception in the five-race card as favourites dominated the other four races.

Unknown pedigree bay horse Sultan justified his credentials after registering two-and-a-half lengths victory over mare Pari in the next race to make it two wins on the trot.

Bay horse Native Prince fell third, a length and-a-quarter away and was followed by Shining Arrow.

Having placed second in the last outing, chestnut horse Secret Of Life won the opening race by getting better of mare Aas Pass by two lengths and-a-quarter.

In a repeat performance, unknown pedigree bay horse Royal Champion obliged all and sundry with an authoritative six-length success over Public Fancy to win the second race.

Chestnut horse Lahori Saeen, who made a winning debut last weekend, came up with another fine performance by claiming the third race. He defeated Faster Than You by four-an-a-half lengths for the honours.

Trainer Zia-ur-Rehman excelled in his cadre with a treble in Secret Of Life, Lahori Saeen and Sultan.

Riders Zaki Zakir and Riaz Ahmed shared riding honours with a brace of winners apiece. While Zaki partnered Secret Of Life and Maradona, Riaz piloted home Lahori Saeen and Sultan.

Results:

THE KASHMIR PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII - 4 F:

Secret Of Life...