Dubawi’s Angel gallops to LRC's Azadi Cup glory

 

Dubawi’s Angel gallops to LRC's Azadi Cup glory

Asher Butt

A day of surprises unfolded at the Lahore Race Club as Dubawi’s Angel stormed to a glorious victory in the prestigious Azadi Cup, the feature race of the Independence Day meeting. 

Tipped only for a place, the filly defied expectations by galloping home first, leaving National Colour to settle for second and Falco, considered no more than a fluke chance, finishing third. The performance not only crowned Dubawi’s Angel as the star of the day but also underlined racing’s thrilling unpredictability.

Earlier, the opening race set the tone for what was to come. Awais Prince, backed only as an outsider, delivered a surprise victory, while Shahanshah, the pre-race favourite, could manage only second. Daisy Macs, also underestimated, clinched third to round off the upsets. 

In the second race, Raftar proved to be the only favourite who lived up to its billing, storming home as the winner. Behind him, Gennie surprised with a strong second-place finish, while Amigo, another fluke entry, came in third.

The trend of unexpected outcomes continued in the third race. Lucky Macs pulled off another upset, crossing the line ahead of Rashid Prince, who performed as expected but had to settle for second. Macs, to the surprise of many, found his way into third position. 

Then came the headline act—the Azadi Cup—where Dubawi’s Angel’s brilliance stunned the bookmakers and delighted racing enthusiasts. It was a run that transformed her from a place contender into the talk of the paddock.

The final event of the day brought yet another twist. Thunder Boy (Krc), initially tipped for no more than a place, produced a superb run to clinch victory. Deep Seek, backed as a fluke, surged into second, while Song Bird made it to third, completing a day that saw favourites consistently outshone by outsiders.

For punters, it was a challenging afternoon, with upsets overturning many betting slips. But for racegoers, the Azadi Cup meeting was a spectacle brimming with unpredictability and drama. Dubawi’s Angel’s triumph will likely go down as one of the season’s defining moments—a vivid reminder that in horse racing, no favourite is ever guaranteed, and no outsider can be dismissed.The Azadi Cup once again lived up to its billing—not only as a celebration of Pakistan’s independence but also as a showcase of racing unpredictability. For punters, it was a bruising day, but for racing enthusiasts, it was a spectacle brimming with surprises.

Dubawi’s Angel’s performance may well be remembered as the defining upset of the season—a reminder that at the races, no favourite is safe, and no outsider should be underestimated.