February 25, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 26, 1427

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LAHORE, Feb 24: At least 16 runners are likely to contest for the Pakistan Derby 2006, a term race for four-year-old Pakistani colts and fillies, to be held at the Racecourse on March 5.

They are the final of a total of 53 contestants, after the first and second forfeit.

The majority of the listed runners for this premier Classic of the racing calendar of the country consists of colts.

The colts will carry nine stone weight in handicap while the fillies will be entitled to three pounds allowance.

The names of the probable runners barring last-minute withdrawals are (in alphabetic order): Achilles, Alexander, Decent Proposal, Fajr, Fidel Castro, Gujrati Babu, Key Guy Doll, Miss Pole, Newton, Owais Prince, Poly Dunit, Swing, Thrill, Trace Hit, Valentine and Victory Road.

All the owners and trainers are hopeful in their bid to enter racing’s history book.

The luckiest among them will be awarded a handsome purse in prize-money, the amount of which is yet to be announced.

Barring the prized filly , Victory Road, who is owned by a Karachi race-horse owner, the rest of the runners are owned by locals.

The Pakistan Derby is a showpiece event which attracts racing connoisseurs from all over the country.

Apart from the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup at Karachi, no other race in Pakistan provides a great spectacle which takes place for the 58th time.

Meanwhile the Derby contenders are going through final round of preparation for the big race.

The Derby Trial held last Sunday brought three colts Zoro, Swing and Gujrati Babu in limelight.

But this race was held over 2000 metres and the Derby will be run over 2400 metres.

The owners and trainers are now focussing on the additional 400 metres distance which the contenders will have to go in the Derby race and training their charges accordingly.

The main contenders, however, is Victory Road, who had strengthened her claim after her astounding win in the 2000 Guineas Of Pakistan run over 1600m along with Derby Trial winner Zoro, second placed Swing and third placed Gujrati Babu.

Victory Road (Re Play-Coxswain) and Swing (Stranger In Paradise-Rosina Folly) are trained by A. B. Malik and Zoro ( Harib-Zahida) by Memraiz Khan.