KARACHI, Oct 23: Rocket Fuel, with jockey Shehzad once again in the saddle, romped home to his fourth straight victory, coming from behind to collar front runner Blue’s Night, while coasting to a fluent victory over five furlongs, at the Winter Gymkhana Race Meeting held Wednesday at the Karachi Racecourse.

Competing in the sixth event with a big field of 18 runners Rocket Fuel lying with the bunch near the bend, came in with a electrifying run a furlong from home, to beat stable companion Never Band by four 1/4 lengths.

In the opener, Syed Ali Gohar Shah’s bay mare Royal Promise ridden by apprentice rider Naveed, scored a popular victory over Abr-e-Noor, with The Messenger and Millennium Era completing the frame.

Ali Gohar Shah had the distinction of finishing the afternoon’s programme with a brace of winners, when his bay filly Noor-un-Nisa piloted by Kashif Qamar, beat the fancied Silent Fire and Sarafan by two lengths in the third race.

Talib Hussain, who trained both the winners, also shared in the jubilations.

Another outsider Striker, a seven-year-old gelding, owned by Pervaiz Khan and ridden brilliantly by M. Kashif, shocked the raging favourite Royal Wisdom, backed for song, in the second race of the afternoon.

The most impressive winner of the afternoon however, was the chestnut colt Shining Steel from trainer Taj Mohammad’s yard.

Partnered by M. Nasir, a leading rider vying for this year’s jockeys championship, Shining Star left the rest of the field cold over the five furlong sprint, finishing the race on tight reins in smart time of one minute 4 2/5 seconds, in the fourth event.

Nearest rival Black Door Man finished the race 10 lengths behind the winner, with Great Banquet third, a further nine lengths behind.

The honours in the next race was bagged by Golden Voice. With jockey Arshad astride. Golden Voice held off the challenge of Reincarnated splendidly ridden by jockey M. Yousuf with Neelam Taab and Quick Mover completing the frame.

Nihal Pervaiz’s bay horse Wonderful Peace having A. Rahim in the saddle, never gave the connections any anxious moments in the concluding event, winning the five furlong engagement with plenty to spare from X’tasy. Fire Of Desire was third and Prince Of Arabia, had to be satisfied with the fourth spot.

The next race meeting is scheduled for Sunday.

Following were the results:

CHINA PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-V 5F

Royal Promise (Syed Ali Gohar Shah) 8-6 Naveed 1, Abr-e-Noor 9-3 Nadir Abdullah 2, The Messenger 8-10 Asghar Ali 3, Millennium Era 8-10 Bashir Karim 4.

Also ran: Lucky One, Hira, Fast ‘N’ Easy and Sana Loves Jango.

Won by 3 1/2L, Dist., 1/2L. Time 1 min 13 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Talib Hussain.

CHINA PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III & IV 5F

Striker (Mr. Pervaiz Khan) 9-0 M. Kashif 1, Royal Wisdom 9-0 M. Nasir 2, Lawrence Of Arabia 8-8 Kashif Ali 3, Major Dandy 8-6 Kashif Qamar 4.

Also ran: Shehroz-e-Sehar, Jubilant Action, Century, Pearl, Royal Honest, My Baboo, Dunlop, Sunday Silence, Sher Khan. Super Boy, Darbari Malang and Royal Beauty.

Won by 1 3/4L, 3L, 2L. Time 1 min 10 1/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Hanif H.

CHINA PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III 5F

Noor-un-Nisa (Syed Ali Gohar Shah) 8-9 Kashif Qamar 1, Silent Fire 8-10 Zahoor Ahmed 2, Sarafan 8-11 M. Yousuf 3, Millennium Magic 8-11 Tariq Mehmood 4.

Also ran: Clever Cat, Defence Academy, Miss Ruby, Tipu Fight, Show Stopper, Lord Of Lords, Genuine Risk, Venturis Arrow, Lightening Arrow, Rukhsar, Big Star, Gharnata and Powerful Tarzan.

Won by 2L, Head, 2L. Time 1 min 8 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Talib Hussain.

CHINA PLATE CLASS IX DIV II 5F

Shining Steel (Mr. Shoukat Awan) 8-2 M. Nasir 1, Black Door Man 8-4 Muzaffar Hussain 2, Great Banquet 8-4 Tehseen Hussain 3, Prism Of Life 8-9 Zahoor Ahmed 4.

Also ran: Law Of Nature, Lucky Prince, Bull Dancer, Gold Money, Sajan Black, Small Wonder, Candle Light, Much Better, Royal Romance, High Speed, Mark, Trust Again and Ford Mustang.

Won by 10L, 9L, 1/2L. Time 1 min 4 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Taj Mohammad 4.

CHINA PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F

Golden Voice (Mr. Irfan Mehdi) 7-12 Arshad 1, Reincarnated 8-7 M. Yousuf 2, Neelam Taab 9-1 Inayat II 3, Quick Mover 8-0, M. Iqbal 4.

Also ran: Tennyson, Knight Gambler, Rajwar, Kiev, Winning Streak, Shah Rose, Just In Fun, Satellite Star, Racing Leader, Black Magic, Be Warn, Even Top and Recent Command.

Won by 1 1/4L, 2L, 4L. Time 1 min 6 4/5 sec. Winner trained by G. Hassan.

CHINA PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 5F

Rocket Fuel (Syed Tasawer Hussain Shah) 9-0 Shehzad 1, Never Band 8-4, Tehseen Hussain 2, Blue’s Night 8-0 M. Bashir 3, White Falcon House 7-12 Khalid Nawaz 4.

Also ran: Razdan, Royal Falcon, Snake Eyed, Sweet Emotions, Little Sunny, Lovely Love, Regal, Shandar, Knight Fighter, Minnie Me, Greek Baron, Your Excellency, Slim Fit and Your “R” Highness.

Won by 4 1/4L, 1 1/4L, Dist. Time 1 min 7 3/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Sharif.

CHINA PLATE CLASS IX DIV VI 5F

Wonderful Peace (Mr. Nihal Pervaiz) 8-11 A. Rahim 1, X’tasy 9-0 Zahid Faiz 2, Fire Of Desire 8-13 Ghulam Shabbir II 3, Prince Of Arabia 9-0 M. Hussain 4.

Also ran: Sarazen, Ray Of Light, Deniro and Sherganzer.

Won by 2L, 3L, Neck. Time 1 min 5 sec. Winner trained by Ibrahim.