KARACHI, Nov 5: Jockey Ghulam Shabbir II, stole the limelight at the Winter Gymkhana Meeting, when he registered a splendid hat trick at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Partnering M. Shafiq’s highly bred chestnut filly Sweet Touch, Ghulam registered his first winner of the afternoon, scorching the turf in a fine time of one minute 4 1/5 seconds going over five furlongs on her maiden run.

The Flaming Arrow-Scarlet sibling Chantilly Lace, put up another fine performance to finish second, holding off a late burst put up by Prince Khurram.

Then seated upon Ismail Shah’s four-year-old colt Slim Fit in the next event, the rider rode a fluent race, coming in from behind to collar front runner Bold Commander, half a furlong from the winning post.

But the rider’s happiest moments came in the concluding event. Riding Tauseef Ali Siddiqui’s roan gelding Leo, Ghulam Shabbir II earned for himself and his charge the thunderous applause from the huge gathering, when he piloted his mount to victory, beating the raging favourite Nudrat by three and half lengths going over six furlongs.

The opening event was picked up by the 11-year-old dark bay horse Richy Rich, beating nearest rival Baby Tabassum by six lengths. Although the Stewards replaced Mujahid Ali with M. Yousuf on Law Of Nature, the bay gelding in a class of its own in this company, failed to even figure on the board.

Hamza Saheb, never gave the connections any anxious moments, sprinting to victory over five furlongs in the next event, with Raysham finishing second, three lengths behind. My Time under the whip, beat Meri Shahzadi in her last strides to pinch the third spot.

Our day’s best Shab-e-Noor with Bashir Karim in the saddle, registered a fluent victory for owner Kamal Farooq, flying in from behind in the home stretch to end the pretensions of Magyar, Pari Pakar and Feasible, with the latter finishing a very disappointing fourth.

Lucky One with Tariq Mehmood once again installed in the saddle, registered her third win on the trot for owner Qazi Asif, beating the front runners Welcome Shahtab and Be Warn by a neck.

Our racing column had five winners in a card of seven races.

After our second best Richy Rich won the opening event, Hamza Saheb, Shab-e-Noor, Lucky One, Sweet Touch and Slim Fit won the next five races in a row. In the last event, our second best Leo, came storming into the home straight to beat our fancy Nudrat by three and half lengths.

The next race meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Nov 11.

Following are the results:

HAPPY PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III 5F