NEWSBRIEF.

Thunder Star clinches Sky Walker Cup KARACHI: Thoroughbred chestnut horse Thunder Star kept his winning run intact while galloping to a length-and-a-quarter victory over co-favourite mare Princess Maria in the Sky Walker Cup of the Gymkhana meeting here at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

With a hat-trick already under his belt, Thunder Star defied 12-10 handicap on his back to add yet another feather to his cap after Generation Cup,

Jet Stream Cup and Sunlight Cup in first quarter of the year.

Thunder Star, from the stables of Ather Abbas, clocked 0.562/5 seconds for four-and-a-half furlongs race with rider Zohaib Qamar astride. He was partnered by trainer Nazir.

The field was reduced to five after bay horse Azeem Choice was scratched at the starting gate following injury.

Fancied filly Croissant lived up to her billing while obliging all and sundry registering three-and-a-half lengths victory over bay horse Hi Alert to extend her unbeaten run in the third race.

Having won her last three outings, she has emulated four wins on trot performance of

Thunder Star.

She was ably ridden home by former champion rider Mohammad Essa in 0.511/5 seconds in the four furlongs contest.

Bay horse Cracks Man returned to winning ways imposing to a length-and-a-half victory over co-favourite bay horse Mr. On Job to annex fourth and supporting race. He returned home in 0.572/5 seconds in the four-and-a-half furlongs competition under rider Fahim K.

At the outset, punters suffered as fancied horses bit the dust in the first two races of a five-race card.

Connections played gimmick when they went with rank outsiders instead of favourite stable mates.

Bay horse Canadian King defeated bay horse Geo Ahsan by five lengths to bag honours in the first race as public fancy Money Shower was not on job and finished fourth.

The winning horse was ridden home by Ashiq Ali in 0.534/5 seconds in four furlongs race.

Similarly, chestnut horse Arsalan Choice captured the next race while prevailing over debutant Pedro by three lengths in 0.542/5 seconds for four furlongs race with rider Waheed Baran in the saddle.

-Anwar Zuberi

Saad, Imran to lead U-19s, Shaheens

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Saad Baig and Imran Butt as Pakistan U-19 and Pakistan Shaheens' captains for the upcoming tours of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, respectively.

Players born on or after Sept 1, 2004 were eligible for selection in the Bangladesh-bound squad.

The national U-19 squad's tour...