July 29, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 13, 1428

LAHORE, July 28: The feature event looks a battle between three contenders when the 13th day/night Lahore Winter Meeting gets under way at the Racecourse on Sunday. There are only seven runners for the Gujrat Plate, a handicap race of class five division one to be gone over the sprinting distance of 1000m

Of them on form three come into reckoning. They are: Royal Fish, Simbi and The Senator.

Six-year-old bay mare Royal Fish, who ran fourth in the same class race last Wednesday when she failed to put a performance that was expected of her. Perhaps the reason was that she was tried after a long time.

Three-year-old filly Simbi, was beaten by Gujrat Princess on July 15 in the Jhelum Plate class five ran over 900m. In the same race The Senator finished fourth, two lengths behind Simbi. The three-year-old colt The Senator had remained off the field since winning a two-year-old maidens race in March last. He ran only twice this season on July 1st, finishing off the frame and then on July 15 hitting the frame impressively. On handicap, The Senator stands a good chance against Royal Fish and Simbi. If all three on job, they will make the race competitive and worth seeing. But it all depends upon the rider.

Bay gelding Volcano, who was beaten on Wednesday by another gelding Philosopher, should make amends this time and win the fifth and supporting event over 1000m.

Volcano has got a good try out running and should have the better of Gulf Line, who won a race on last Wednesday.

Pretty Princess, First Dream, Blu's Wendy and Run For Dollar come into reckoning in the fourth race. On form the race should be between the first named two while the remaining two will be fighting for a place.

Cheeko Khan, Black King and Dogar Gift are the pick of the dozen acceptors for the third race barring last-minute withdrawals. All the three are placed very low in the handicap and are speedy animals. They should decide about the winner.

The bay filly Tosca was very unlucky to be beaten by Dashing Paradise on Wednesday The filly is running very well after Zaheer Aslam purchased her and since then is performing consistently well and should pick up spoils this time. My Shanga and Issabella may be her closest rivals.

The six-event card also features a pony race in which 18, mostly unknown pedigree animals, are to take part, if there are no last-minute withdrawals. In this event apprentice riding boys, who are under training at the Lahore Race Club riding schools are provided a chance to ride. The field comprises over half-a-dozen runners making debut on the track and nothing can be said how they will perform. Among the rest Miss Mano, Leader's King, Mere Lal and Mosaic stand out on their past performances. They should fight for the spoils.

For punters it is most important to know that horseracing is a sport of “glorious uncertainty”. Sometimes even the best chance horse do not win or figure on the board.

While betting, they must study who are the chance ones and the particular horse they fancy is being fancied to win by connections, trainer and the jockey because a laps on one's part can upset the result. One glaring example in this respect is of the favourite Toru Khan in the biggest classics, the Pakistan Derby 2007 in March last.

The horse was fit, fancied by the owner and the trainer but the jockey Aamir Parvaiz played the trick and pulled him.

It is very interesting to note that the owner of the colt, Lahore Race Club (LRC) chairman, Tariq Aziz had been deprived of the Pakistan Derby by the same rider earlier in 1995, when his mount Miss Malook won the Derby ridden by Aamir Parvaiz and Mr Tariq Aziz's filly Native tune ran second. Miss Malook was an imported filly but fraudulently registered as Pakistani bred filly. Under these circumstances what could be the fate of an ordinary owner at the hands of riders?

The Sunday's card consists of six races. The first event will be gone over 900m while the rest will be decided over 1000m. The first race will be held at 5.30pm.

The following are the fields and our selections.

CHAKLALA PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV 1000M.

Mahima 9-0, Kundan 9-0, Three In One 9-0, Nigar 9-0, Sona 9-0, Chander Mukhi 9-0, Daewoo 9-0, Kum Kum 9-0, Mere lal 8-11, Leader's Wing 8-8, Miss Mano 8-4, Mosaic 8-0, King Cobra 7-8, Usman Prince 7-8, God Gift 7-6, Sabzazaar 7-6, Golden Queen 7-4 and Prema Dona 7-0.

Win: Miss Mano.

Place: Mosaic and Leader's wing.

CHAKLALA PLATE CLASS VII DIV III 1000M.

Royal Palace 9-0, Tosca 8-10, Simoom 8-10, My Shanga 8-8, Titan 8-6, Shah Rani 8-4, Nawa-I-Sehar 8-2, High Hope 7-12 and Issabella.

Win: Tosca.

Place: My Shanga and Issabella.

CHAKLALA PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 1000M

Wah Bhai Wah 9-0, Ahsan The Great 9-0, Weldon Shogun 8-10, Love Minister 8-8, Lucky Coin 8-8, Sher Khan 8-6, Hermatic 8-2, Royal victory 8-2, Bird Fly 8-0, Cheeku Khan 7-10, Black King 7-4 and Dogar Gift 7-0.

Win: Cheeku Khan.

Place: Black King and Dogar Gift.

CHAKLALA PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 1000M.

Big Choice 9-0, Great Rythym 9-0, Striker 8-10, Sweet Lady 8-10, Princess Afaq 8-6, Ice Burgh 8-6, Pretty Princess 8-4, Royal Deal 8-2, Armida 8-0, Valentino 8-0, Kind Minister 8-0, Tallal The Great 7-12, Run For Dollar 7-12, First Dream 7-10, Dam Dama Dam 7-4 and Blu's Wendy 7-4.

Win: Pretty Princess.

Place: Blu's Wendy and First Dream.

GUJRAT PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1000M.

Tyson 9-0, Moj Mayla 8-10, Mama Mia 8-10, Volcano 8-10, Do Or Die 8-10, Big Power 8-6, Never Fail 8-6, Sapna 8-0, Gulf Line 8-0 Jewna 7-10, Sundri 7-8 and Shah Pari 7-4.

Win: Volcano.

Place: Sapna and Gulf Line.

GUJRAT PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1000M.

Simbi 9-0,Great Bulbul 8-10,Royal Fish 8-8,The Senator 7-12,Dazzy Against All 7-10,Lucky Murad 7-8 and Philosopher 7-4.

Win: The Senator.

Place: Simbi and Royal Fish.