KARACHI, May 20: Favourite filly Friendly Fire maintained her winning streak when she won hands down to complete hat-trick in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

As predicted, running like a champion she again impressed with her speed edging past the closest opponent chestnut colt Shiracco by nine lengths in a pillar-to-post victory. Saddled by Sufi M. Ayub, she was smartly ridden home by M. Nasir in one min 2 4/5 secs.

Securing third place two lengths away was filly Janu Love Inshu while mare Sonia completed the frame, beaten by another six lengths.

Another favourite five-year-old chestnut mare Patricia made a last burst to edge past colt Red Rufus by half-a-length in a photo-finish to land feature event. The filly from the stables of Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara was piloted home by rider Ghulam Shabbir II.

The triumph enabled the owner to complete a double as outsider Al Zarrar who finished off the board in the previous runs beat the field with rider A. Qayum astride in the third race.

Prediction about five-year-old bay Powerful Gambler also came true when he galloped to half length victory over fighting filly Gul Bano in the opener.

Second favourite bay Rokara claimed his maiden victory, beating favourite Hal Chal by three lengths with M. Nasir aboard. The rider returned home with a brace of winners (Rokara, Friendly Fire).

Four-year-old bay colt Laat Sahib who was backed heavily had to bite the dust as rider Nazil Hussain stormed chestnut filly The Princess Arab to four lengths victory over Trust Again. Laat Sahib had to be content with third place followed by Jawan Bakht.

Results:

THE SAHIBA PLATE DIV V

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Powerful Gambler (Mohammad Rafiq Siddiqui) 9-3 Riaz Mohammad 1, Gul Bano 8-5 Naseem Ahmed 2, Genius Lady 7-10 Haider Ali 3, Captain Cook 8-4 Zaheen Ahmed 4. Won by Dist, 3 1/2L, 5 1/2L. Time: one min 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Mumtaz Ali.

THE SAHIBA PLATE DIV IV

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Rokara (Raja Sajid M. Abbasi) 8-11 M. Nasir 1, Hal Chal 8-0 Lateef 2, Fascinate 8-10(cr8-7) Mumtaz Ali 3, Jan-e-Mir 8-12 Naseem Ahmed 4. Won by 3L, 4L, 5L. Time: 59 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Tufail.

THE SAHIBA PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5F:

Al Zarrar (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-9(cr8-2) A. Qayum 1, Hi Darling 8-9(cr8-6) Mumtaz Ali 2, Taneez 8-12(cr8-9) M. Wasim II 3, Love Pakistan 8-7 Ghulam Shabbir II 4. Won by 1 1/4L, S. Head, 1L. Time: One min 5 4/5 sec.

Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE SAHIBA PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5F:

Friendly Fire (Ali Gul) 9-0 M. Nasir 1, Shiracco 9-0 Ghulam Shabbir II 2, Janu Love Inshu 9-4 Kashif Qamar 3, Sonia 8-2 Zaki Zakir 4. Won by 9L, 2L, 6L. Time: One min 2 4/5 sec.

Winner trained by Sufi M. Ayub.

THE SAHIBA PLATE DIV I

CLASS VII 5F:

The Princess Arab(Syed Nadeem Anwar) 8-6(cr8-5) Nazil Hussain 1, Trust Again 8-7(cr8-4) Sohail Ahmed 2, Laat Sahib 8-3(cr7-12) Zaki Zakir 3, Jawan Bakht 9-2 Abdul Rahim 4. Won by 4L, 1 1/2L, 1 1/2L. Time: One min 4 4/5 sec.

Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE SINDH PLATE CLASS VI 5F:

Patricia (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-9 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Red Rufus 8-8 Waheed Baran 2, Sharp Cat 9-1 Ashiq Ali 3, Thanks Naeem 8-7 Faisal Qamar 4. Won by 1/2L, 8L, 1/2L. Time: One min 4 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Aslam.