LAHORE, March 19: The contest for prestigious event, Pepsi Eclipse Stakes Of Pakistan, a class I, II and III combined handicap race, to be run over 2000m looks like a battle royale between two Pakistan Derby winners and a brother of South African Derby winner when the Lahore Winter Meeting gets under way at the Racecourse on Sunday.

Though there are seven contenders for this term race for four-year-old and above, males and females both entitled, but interest of the racing connoisseurs revolves round the Derby 2004 winner, Naseeb (Sheikh Albadoo-Coxswain), the Derby 2005 winner Moment Of Love (Sisco Well-Madhubala) and South African Derby 2001 winner Timber Trader’s brother Al Hattab (Woodman-Nothing To Do).

Naseeb was the biggest money spinner during the last season winning rupees over 1.5 millions in stakes.

He won six races and remained unbeaten. He however, did not show up his real prowess when taking part in the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup at Karachi last year. Five-year-old Naseeb won the Lahore Classic Cup defeating Al Hattab by four lengths but was disqualified on a technical objection for using prohibited shoes (Jumping plates) on March 6.

The use of ‘jumping plates’ is prohibited in races under the racing rules of LRC and the Jockey Club Of Pakistan (JCP).

He is carrying 8-5 weight in the handicap. Four-year-old, Moment Of Love won the Pakistan Derby in a fastest timing on March 6 last.

Before that he had been very prominent colt matching strides with imported horses. He has been assigned 8-0, a very light weight worth posing a big challenge to all.

Al Hattab is an imported horse and has won six races and beaten twice — once to third place and then to second place.

He is carrying a top weight of 9-7 which puts him in an awkward position against those placed at lighter weight.

The handicap favours Moment Of Love, who will be carrying the lowest weight and will be partnered by leading jockey Shahid Rehman. Naseeb is too well-placed in the handicap and will be partnered by Faisal Tahir.

Al Hattab will be ridden by his regular partner in the saddle jockey Aamar Parvaiz. Since trainer Khadim Hussain parted his ways with Al Hattab’s connections, Al Hattab seems to be missing him much and not putting up that performance which he had shown under Khadim’s training.

If he puts up his performance of earlier days on Sunday, he will be making the task of both Naseeb and Moment Of Love very difficult.

On breeding and bloodline though Naseeb and Moment Of Love are from top most stallions, who need no introduction but Al Hattab is far high.

This makes the event, the spectacle of one of racing’s most dazzling thoroughbred event in the height of spring season in Lahore. This will be the seventh race of the day and most interesting of the season.

The sixth and supporting event, the Mountain Dew Cup to be gone over 1600m , has a dozen runners. Four of them look on chance.

They are: Tora Bora, Trace Charm, Young Emperor and Brave Majesty. On classification Tora Bora looks a cut above in class. The bay filly Memo, a progeny of Sisco Well-out-of-Let Get Going, seems well-placed in the handicap to pick up the spoils in the fifth race.

She should be followed by Best Trace, Blu’s Wendy and Stereo Nation.

A card of nine races has been drawn up for the day. The first race will be held at 11.30am.

Fields and our selections:

SIBBI PLATE CLASS V DIV II-B 1300m.

Ghoray Wah 9-0 Thinkable 8-12 Royal Fish 8-12 Rising Sun 8-10 Dancing Star 8-10 Baba Jani 8-10 Ministry 8-10 Nawai Sahar 8-10 Royal Destiny 8-10 Love Moon 8-10 Raad 8-9 Bulbul-i-Baghdad 8-6 Savera 8-6 and Qandhar 8-3.

Win: Rising Sun.

Place: Love Moon and Qandhar.

SIBBI PLATE CLASS V DIV II_A 1300m.

Morning Bird 9-0 Little Hut 8-10 capeletti 8-10 Well Minister 8-10 Mutyar 8-8 Wah Sisco Wah 8-8 May May 8-8 High Command 8-6 Mystic 8-6 Miss Bank Bank 8-6 Royal Kingdom 8-6 Flaming Star 8-6 Key Luck 8-2 Zardan 8-2 and Squash Ball 8-2.

Win: Morning Bird.

Place: Squash Ball and Mutyar.

SIBBI PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1300m.

Ceanu Reeves 9-2 Puma The Great 9-1 Mera Chandiwala 9-1 Shannel 9-0 Copper Field 8-13 Royal Winner 8-8 Royal Command 8-5 Murad Love 8-4 Blessing Indisguise 8-4 Dambo 8-4 Prema Dona 8-4 Lucky Mayla 8-2 Fidel Castro 8-0 High Tiger 8-0 Chici Chitta 8-0 and Red Knight(formerly U R G) 8-0.

Win: Shannel.

Place: Murad Love and Mera Chandiwala.

Kalam Plate Class IV Div III 1300m

Welcome Boss 9-4 Gujrat Love 8-10 Better case 8-10 Charming King 8-8 Newton 8-8 Aces High 8-8 Trace hut 8-4 High Dream 8-4 Run And Win 8-0 On On 8-0 Oath 8-0 Beena Rai Baby 7-12.

Win: Welcome Boss.

Place: Gujrat Love and Beena Rai Baby.

KALAM PLATE CLASS IV DIV II 1300m.

Best Trace 9-4 Stereo Nation 9-0 Thrill 8-8 Blu’s Wendy 8-4 Druree 8-0 Native Force 8-0 Sea Of Love 8-0 Scarlet Empress 8-0 Memmmo 7-11 and Green Street 7-8.

Win: Memmo.

Place: Stereo Nation and Blu’s Wendy.

Mountain Dew Cup Class IV Div I 1600M.

Sea Wave 9-3 Tora Bora 9-2 Fakhar Bhakkar 89-2 Running Stage 8-12 Trace Charm 8-9 Young Emperor 8-4 Black House 8-4 Super Mayla 8-0 Lucky Winner 7-13 Pawan 7-13 Brave Majesty 7-13 and royal Fantasy 7-9.

Win: Tora Bora.

Prace: Young Emperor and Trace Charm.

PEPSI ECLIPSE STAKES OF PAKISTAN.

A term race for four-year-old and above 2000m.

Al Hattab 9-7 Penny Pie 8-13 Hidden Cave 8-13 Ranny 8-13 Golden Drift 8-8 Naseeb 8-5 and moment Of Love 8-0.

Win: Moment Of Love.

Place: Naseeb and Al Hattab.

Kaghan Plate Class VII Div 1 1200m.

Bill The Great 9-0 Royal Impala 9-0 Penalty Corner 9-0 Fly Baby 9-0 Cross Ruff 9-0 Lakhat-i-Jigar 8-9 Asif Love 8-7 Stride To Moment 8-7 Daring Bulbul 8-6 Smart Fighter 8-5 Remember You 8-0 and Rasputin 8-0.

Win: Cross Ruff.

Place: Lakhat-i-Jigar and Stride To Moment.

KAGHAN PLATE CLASS VII DIV III AMD II 1200M.

Jago 9-0 Oscar 9-0 Amsterdam 9-0 My Shanga 8-12 Sohna Malook 8-8 Beautiful Bee 8-6 Iram State 8-6 and Easy Come Easy Go 7-5.

Win: Easy Come Easy Go.

Place: Oscar and My Shanga.