KARACHI, Aug 14: Favourite seven-year-old chestnut horse Lava Man justified the confidence reposed in him while galloping to a third straight victory in the Gymkhana race meeting that was partly marred by rain at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Lava Man, the Dawn’s day’s best horse, gets the better of colt Star Champion by half-a-length to win the third race with seasoned jockey Ghulam Shabbir II in the saddle.

Filly Lucky Ticket was placed third 10 lengths behind while bay horse Extra Power completed the board finishing further three lengths away.

Shabbir went on to add another feather to his cap when he powered public fancy four-year-old bay colt Lajawab to a five lengths victory over Hit The Heights to land The Independence Day Cup in the sixth race.

Filly Hit The Heights led the bunch of six horses when the race commenced with Lajawab on his heels. Another filly National Lady surged in front after negotiating the turn for home but was soon overtook by Lajawab who won as he pleased to complete hat-trick.

The race was held under light drizzle which later picked up momentum and compelled the KRC officials to shift the prize distribution ceremony from paddock to the main building.

Earlier, two-year-old bay colt Letay Jao made an impressive debut registering a fine nine lengths victory to claim The Kingree Lodge Performance Cup. He beat filly Black Caviar for the honours in the four furlongs race which featured nine maiden two-year-old colts and fillies.

In a late burst, four-year-old bay colt Shan-e-Mukadar came from behind beating front runner filly Lady Gaga by four lengths to lift The Freedom Fighter Cup.

At the outset, champion jockey Mohammad Essa stormed home favourite colts Thief Of Baghdad and Royal Hero to complete a back-to-back double.

The former overcame Aar Paar by five lengths to win the opener while the latter gets past Phenominal by same distance to annex the next.

Four-year-old bay colt Re-Set was declared winner of the seventh race following an objection against colt Yes Master that was upheld by the KRC stewards.

Earlier, Yes Master had won the race beating Re-Set but the latter lodged an objection of ‘crossing’ in the home stretch. After reviewing the video, the officials reversed the positions besides suspending rider Waheed (Yes Master) for two weeks and imposing a fine of Rs5,000. Dilruba and Star Quest followed the two in same order.

A late replacement enabled upcoming rider Rehan Ahmed to complete a double while guiding mare Target Money to three-quarter-of-a-length victory in the concluding race his earlier winner being Re-Set.

MNA Nabeel Gabol, who graced the prize distribution ceremony, awarded the cups to the winning owners.