KARACHI, Jan 25: Living up to his top billing, fancied five-year-old bay horse, Lucky Step, sprinted to victory to complete hat trick in the Winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Wednesday.

As predicted, his victory was never in doubt due to his outstaning form and with last year’s champion jockey Muhammad Essa in the saddle.

In fact, in the previous two outings, he was smartly ridden home by Riaz Muhammad who this time was replaced by Essa.

In achieving the feat by five lengths, he also bettered his previous two timings in the five furlongs race clocking one minute 4 1/5 seconds.

Copper Fields beat Haseena-e-Arab by a head to occupy second slot while Countess Mah Again completed the frame.

Khas-ul-Khas, a nine-year-old bay horse, also obliged the punters with his winning streak in the opening event. He was home by seven lengths. Dhoom Machade was beaten to second spot while Hot Strides was placed third.

Seven-year-old mare, Royal Beauty, ridden by Waheed Baran, overcame her bad patch by picking up spoils in the third race.

Trained by the owner, Talib Hussain, she beat her closest opponent Khush Nazar by four lengths.

Smashing Arrow pulled off an upset by pocketing the next event by a wide margin of eight lengths. He led the pack of 13 horses right from the word go and completed the race in style. He was followed by Super Time and Gold Tip.

Soon after start of the race, Victory Moon fell on the track after colliding with King Of The Field and failed to make it. He was later destroyed.

The triumph earned a double for Muhammad Essa as he had rode home Lucky Step earlier.

Mare Sonia also delighted the racing fraternity with her splendid run when she eased to five lengths victory in the fifth race.

After being placed third on Jan 8, she failed to even earn a place in the following two events.

Lucky View and Double Deal had to be content with second and third places while initial leader Tom Cruise completed the frame.

Desperado once again failed to prove his potential and was among those who also featured.

The triumph of Canon Ball by three lengths in a start-to-finish bid gave Syed Ali Gohar Shah a deserved victory.

Filly Goldi Locks was second while Sweet Mover beat New Ferrrari in a photo finish to get the third place.

The concluding race ended in a glory for Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara’s mare Aie Bahar who outpaced Bilal Choice by five lengths. Fight For Fame earned third place.

Second favourite, four-year-old colt, Victory Symbol, ridden by Nasim Ahmed, angered racegoers as he failed to be among the top three finishers.

Results:

PLATO PLATE DIV 11 5F

Khas-ul-Khas (Mr. Rahat Sultan) 8-13 M. Nasir 1, Dhoom Machade 8-0(cr8-1) S. Khan 2, Hot Strides 8-0 M. Amjad 3, Rat Ki Rani 8-7 M. Barani 4.

Won by 7L, 2 1/2L, 1 1/2L. Time: 1 min 6 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by Mumtaz Ali

LAHORE PLATE 5F

Lucky Step (Raja Rehmatullah Khansatti) 8-3 Muhammad Essa 1, Copper Fields 8-11 Abdul Rahim 2, Haseena-e-Arab 8-6 Kashif Qamar 3, Countess Mah Again 8-3 Zulfiqar Ali 4.

Won by 5L, Head, 1 3/4L. Time: 1 min 4 1/5 sec

Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman

PLATO PLATE DIV V 5F

Royal Beauty (Mr. Talib Hussain) 7-10(cr7-12) Waheed Baran 1, Khush Nazar 9-0(cr8-9) Fateh Muhammad 2,Samroon 7-10(cr8-0) Asif Nazir 3, Jaguar 8-9 Faiz Muhammad 4.

Won by 4L, Neck, 4L. Time: 1 min 7 sec.

Winner trained by the owner

PLATO PLATE DIV 1V-B 5F

Smashing Arrow (Mr. G. Murtaza) 8-8 Muhammad Essa 1, Super Time 8-11 M. Amjad 2, Gold Tip 8-12 Taj Muhammad 3, Jeo Rahil 9-0(cr8-7) Zulfiqar Ali 4.

Won by 8L, 1/2L, 3L. Time: 1 min 6 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by the owner

PLATO PLATE DIV 1V-A 5F

Sonia (Mr. Rafiullah) 8-13 Abdul Rahim 1, Lucky View 8-1 M. Alam 2, Double Deal 9-2 Faiz Muhammad 3,Tom Cruise 8-1 S. Khan 4.

Won by 5L, 2 1/2L, 3L. Time: 1 min 6 3/5 sec.

Winner trained by Ramzan A

PLATO PLATE DIV 111 5F

Canon Ball (Syed Ali Gohar Shah) 8-4 Sheraz Ahmed 1, Goldi Locks 8-7(cr8-4) Arif Nazir 2, Sweet Mover 7-12 Asghar Ali 3, New Ferrari 9-0 Fahim K 4.

Won by 3L, 1/2L, 1/2L. Time: 1 min 5 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Talib Hussain

PLATO PLATE DIV 1 5F

Aie Bahar (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-7(cr8-0) Zaki Zakir 1, Bilal Choice 9-0 M. Manzoor 2, Fight For Fame 8-5 M. Amjad 3, Sweet Grandy 8-7 Dilshad 4.

Won by 5L, 5L, 2 1/2L. Time: 1 min 6 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Mumtaz Ali.