A glittering performance of Shub Shubh enthralled the gathering when he drubbed the field in the Governor's Cup at the Delhi races on Friday. Incidentally, he became the first equine of the just eight days old season to complete a hat-trick. However, none of the professionals was able to score a double on the day.

At the outset of the day's proceedings, many had discarded Shub Shubh seeing the bar of scale going haywire to 67 kilos. Though services of five-kilo-allowance-claiming jockey were taken, yet travelling over seven furlongs with such massive weight was in consideration for the handicap followers. That’s irrespective of his earlier performance: he had gone down narrowly with 61.5 kg to Rocking Star over the mile during the last season.

As such he was not supported as heavily as was in the last two occasions. The son of Hymn and Miss Discreet, Shub Shubh broke out quickly from the other companions and chose to cut the pace of Gin and Tonic till the final furlong. Jockey Mohammed Iftiquar Qureshi released the pressure timely as if he was advised to do so.

The super hero bore the burden and galloped to a length victory over the promoted The Rock and the late-galloping Middle Man (who is knocking at the door). The favourite, Ashwa Pratap, failed to impress at the fourth position. To retain the champion sprinter title, he will once again be seen in action later this month. Sangeet Charan-trained Red Reef started the day's programme on the winning note for the favourites.

In the lower division of The First Speech Plate, the chestnut colt of Classic Tale and Red Rossette routed the field after leading from the jump. The colt, who had lost narrowly to Nonios over the mile, has the credentials to win even over longer distances. The upper division of the plate saw Dazzling Light (san Francisco – Jurassic Park) making amends.

The runner-up Absolut should also earn a bracket soon. K Ali Khan's Courage Under Fire (Major Impact – Stylish Bird) rose to occasion in The Supreme Power Plate. The five-year-old gelding was not fluent at start but was soon forced to join the leaders and forging ahead from the top of the corner. Divinegrace, who played the second fiddle, has the staying stamina and is expected to earn laurel soon.

Magan Singh's trainee Beyond Compare's strides outpaced the well-supported Ashwa Gamini. The gelding should complete an encore. HA Khan's ward Air Forse One (Bee’s Prospector – Gypsy Moth) registered a surprising victory while making every post a winning one in the seven-furlong The Tees Hazari Plate. Chandelier, who made a good rush towards the closing stages to occupy the next best slot, was stepped down by the stewards on the ground of interference during the closing stages for which the jockey of Ashwa Parwat (fourth) had plead.

The former was relegated to fourth position and subsequently placings were altered with the second and third positions going in favour of Doon Boy and Ashwa Parwat.