LAHORE: In a day packed with unexpected twists, Thunder Boy was the only favourite to deliver, at the Lahore Race Club.
Despite a card stacked with strong contenders, punters were left reeling as underdogs stole the spotlight across all five races — turning the meeting into a rollercoaster of upsets, particularly at the place and third positions.
The day opened with an unexpected triumph from Sultan Again, who surged ahead as a true underdog. Raftar, backed merely as a dark horse with a fluke chance, stormed into second, while Good Boy surprised many by claiming third.
Punters who backed long-shot Mr Asia were rewarded handsomely as he galloped to victory. Bill Gates, widely supported for a place finish, met expectations with a strong second, while Thunder Man, the race favourite, could only manage third despite high hopes. Amigo remained off the mark.
Finally, some relief for the favourite-backers came in the third race, where Thunder Boy validated his top billing with a commanding win. However, the surprises weren’t over — Taj Mahal finished second in a shock performance, while Daddy Cool, considered a potential dark horse, rounded out the top three.
What began as a strong contender for a place ended with Dubawi’s Angel seizing victory. Sehar, not widely tipped, made a surprise move into second place. Meanwhile, New York City, quietly backed by sharp observers, lived up to its sleeper status by finishing third.
In the last and longest race of the day, Rakaposhi defied all odds to clinch first. Mera Gondal, expected to perform in the place category, secured second, while Yesteryear, whispered among insiders as a potential spoiler, rounded off the podium in third.
