KARACHI, May 8: Former champion jockey Ghulam Shabbir II, excelled in the saddle riding home four winners out of the seven events chalked up for the Winter Gymkhana Race Meeting held on Sunday afternoon at the Karachi Racecourse. Ghulam registered his first winner in the third event, piloting home Syed Sadruddin Shah’s thoroughbred chestnut filly Blind Date to a smashing victory, beating Arab Hi Arab by three and half lengths going over five furlongs.

His second success came in the very next race, helping the bay three-year-old filly Voodoo Doll to a well deserved hattrick of winners, beating top weight Sonia by one and quarter lengths, with Flying Bird and Dinoo Makrani completing the frame.

Ghulam then himself registered his hattrick of triumphs, riding home the top weight bay horse Bahar-e-Arab to a comfortable victory over Summer Wine, with Deniro grabbing the third spot from Jan-e-Arab.

Not content with his hatrick of wins, Ghulam added one more to the tally for good measure, guiding home the bay horse Safeena-e-Arab to a fine victory, getting the better of stable companions Birj-Ul-Arab and Noor-e-Arab, with Sweet Grandy filling in the fourth spot after the chestnut horse Sarazen backed for a song for a place berth, played truant with the racing fans once again, trailing behind in the far distance.

But this time the crooked offenders were out getting away in a hurry as they did so last time out. Riding boy Mazhar Ali and veteran trainer Karim Bachoo were each fined Rs.10,000. But one is deemed to ask why was there no fine issued against the owner. After all it is the owner who calls the cards, if his horse should win, lose or secure a place berth.

After Ghulam Shabbir II blazed himself to glory, it was jockey Arshad’s turn to bask in glory.

Arshad rode home the highly bred Key Guy-Radcliff sibling Excalibur to another thumping victory, getting the better once again of M. Yaqoob Butt’s Wonder Thunder by 3 ½ lengths after Killer Instincts with apprentice rider Waheed Baran tried runaway tactics, only to be collared a furlong from the winning post, presenting owner Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah with another splendid success. The colt is a product of Mrs. Syeda Abida Hussain’s Shah Jewana Stud in the Punjab.

Rank outsider Roop Ki Rani, a habitual bad starter, surprised many racing fans in the opener, taking a fluent start and galloping to victory with riding boy Sohail Ahmed astride.

Royal Wisdom and top weight Afzaal Prince chased the winner all the way past the winning post.

The second event on the afternoon’s programme was bagged by they bay horse Gold Disc, sprinting to victory with M. Amjad in the saddle, ahead of Sea Biscuit, Jet Zone and Tag Team.

Trainer Ghulam Channa saddled home a brace of winners through Bahar-e-Arab and Safeena-e-Arab respectively.

The next race meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 15.

Following were the results.

KHUSHALL PLATE CLASS VII DIV V & VI 5F

Roop Ki Rani (Syed Mansoor Ahmed) 7-12 Sohail Ahmed 1, Royal Wisdom 8-3 M. Manzoor 2, Afzaal Prince 9-2 Bahar Ali 3, Baby Tabassum 8-10 Raees Ahmed 4.

Won by 4L, 5L, Dist. Time 1 min 7 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

KHUSHALL PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV 5F

Gold Disc (Malik Abdul Haleem) 8-1 M. Amjad 1, Sea Biscuit 8-2 M. Yousuf 2, Jet Zone 8-6 Sheraz Ahmed 3, Tag Team 8-7 Ali Ehsan 4.

Won by 4L, Head, 1 1/2L. Time 1 mi 7 3/5 sec. Winner trained by A. Hannan.

KHUSHALL PLATE CLASS VII DIV III 5F

Blind Date (Syed Sadruddin Shah) 7-8 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Arab Hi Arab 9-5 A. Aziz 2, Power Of Tiger 7-9 Zaki Zakar 3, Silent Angel 8-13 LATIF 4.

Road Fighter was withdrawn from this five furlong sprint before coming under the starter’s orders.

Won by 3 1/2L, 3/4L, 1 1/2L. Time 1 min 4 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Allah Judrio.

KHUSHALL PLATE CLASS VII DIV DIV II 5F

Voodoo Doll (Mr. Ghulam Dastigir Rajar) 8-11 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Sonia 9-1 Nisar Ahmed 2, Flying Bird 8-8 Dilshad 3, Dinoo Makrani 8-13 Shafi Mohammad 4.

Won by 1 1/4l, 2l, Dist. Time 1 min 5 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

KHUSHALL PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 5F

Bahar-e-Arab (Syed Nadeem Anwar) 9-3 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Summer Wine 8-5 Waheed Baran 2, Deniro 8-0 Bahar Ali 3, Jan-e-Arab 8-2 M. Manzoor 4.

Dr. Good Head was withdrawn from the race before coming under the starter’s orders.

Won by 3L, 1L, Dist. Time 1 min 4 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

FARAH PLATE CLASS VI 6F

Safeena-e-Arab (Syed Nadeem Anwar) 9-5 Ghulam Shabir II 1, Birj-Ul-Arab 8-12 M. Manzoor 2, Noor-e-Arab 8-9 Arif Nazir 3, Sweet Grtandy 8-13 M. Sohail 4.

Won by 2 1/2L, 1 1/2L, 12 1/2L. Time 1 min 16 4/5 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

NOOR PLATE CLASS V DIV I & II 6F

Excalibur (Mr. Ghazanafar Hussain Hidayatullah) 8-2 Arshad 1, Wonder Thundeer 8-9 A. Aziz 2, Killer Instincts 8-1 Waheed Baran 3, Sharp Cat 8-1 M. Yousuf 4.

Won by 3 1/2L, 1 1/4L, 1/2L. Time 1 min 16 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Mohammad Rafiq Karim.