September 02, 2007	Sunday	Sha'aban 19, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 1: A seven event card, featuring six cup races, highlights the Lahore race meeting being held in connection with the Defence Day at the Racecourse on Sunday evening.

Four cup events bear the names of national war heroes, the recipients of the highest gallantry award Nishan-i-Haider, while two are named War Heroes Cups.

The main event, the J.S. Investment War Heroes Cup, a class IV and III combined handicap race to be run over 1,400 metres has eight acceptors, provided if there are no last-minute withdrawals. The contestants are from among the top thoroughbreds racing in Lahore at present.

If one follows runners on handicap, past performance and track work, only three come into reckoning. They are the four-year-old gelding Zanjeer, three-year-old colt Kiss Of Luck and seven-year-old horse Lucky Winner.

Kiss Of Luck is in great form these days. The colt showed great potential in winning a race on Aug 12 last. He should win again today. On classification Lucky Winner is a better class horse but has no recent form to seek approval. He last ran in the Neelum Cup over 1600 metres and was placed behind Grecianette, Miss Thailand and Total Surprise a long time back. This will be the sixth race of the day.

The fifth and supporting event, the J.S. Investment War Heroes Cup for class five to be gone over 1,200 metres has thirteen runners barring last-minute withdrawals.

This looks like a match between two contenders — Baker’s View and Simbi. The former looks better.

Two colts Magic Stone and Gulf Line belonging to one owner and Miss Play are the pick of the18-strong field to vie for the Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed (N.H.) Cup, over 1,200 metres. The owner’s fancy Magic Stone and Miss Play are to fight for the top honours. This will be the fourth race in the racing order.

Ahsan The Great and Pretty Princess are the outstanding performers in the Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed (N.H) Cup. Pretty Princess is the faster of the two and a little slackness by the rider may cost him the race and the cup.

Three-year-old filly Toyota looks a cut above in class and form vis-à-vis her 11 rivals in the Major Mohammad Akram Shaheed (N.H) Cup, over 1000 metres. Blues Wendy, Love Minister and Shah Rani would be fighting for places.

Exactly a dozen runners have been accepted for the Capt Sarwar Shaheed (N.H) Cup to be contested over 1,000 metres. Of them Company, Weldon Dhogun and Issabella look on chance to fight for the spoils. This will be the first race of the day.

Four races will be contested over 1,000 metres, two over

1,200 metres and one over 1,400 metres. The first race will be held at 5:00pm.

The following are the fields and our selections:

CAPT MOHAMMAD SARWAR SHAHEED (N.H) CUP CLASS VII DIV III 1000M:

Company 9-0 Black Leopard 9-0 Weldon Shogun 9-0 Titan 9-0 Yard Arm 8-10 Cannon Queen 8-10 Lucky Star 8-8 Mere Lal 8-2 Pukar 7-10 Issabella 7-10 Three In One 7-10 and Mosaic 7-10.Win: Weldon Shogun.

Place: Company and Issabella.

MAJOR MOHAMMAD AKRAM SHAHEED (N.H) CUP CLASS VII DIV II 1000M:

Sweet Lady 9-0 Big Choice 9-0 Shah Rani 9-0 Toyota 8-12 Bird Fly 8-12 Love Minister 8-8 Welcome Mayla 8-6 Blu’s Wendy 8-4 Speed Gun 8-4 Dashing Paradise 8-0 Black King 8-0 Dogar Gift 8-0.

Win: Toyota.

Place: Shah Rani and Blu’s Wendy.

MAJOR RAJA AZIZ BHATTI SHAHEED (N.H) CUP CLASS VII DIV I 1000M:

Hero’s Hope 9-0 Rana Choice 8-10 Ahsan The Great 8-9 Zohra Jabeen 8-6 Pretty Princess 8-4 Owais Dream 8-2 and First Dream 7-12.

Win: Pretty Princess.

Place: First Dream and Ahsan The Great.

MAJOR SHABBIR SHARIF SHAHEED (N.H) CUP CLASS V DIV II 1200M:

Handsome Hope 9-0 Magic Stone 8-13 Cross Ruff 8-12 Miss Play 8-12 Gulf Line 8-11 Aaja Bulbul 8-10 Darnaz 8-10 Lucky Cat 8-10 Volcano 8-8 Re-Born 8-7 Happy Dancer 8-6 New Bhakkar 8-6 Stride To Moment 8-6 Mannan Prince 8-4 Sohna Billoo 8-2 Koshalia 8-2 Lead Story 8-2 and Shah Pari 7-12.

Win: Magic Stone.

Place: Gulf Line and Miss Play.

J.S. INVESTMENT WAR HEROES CUP CLASS V DIV I 1200M:

Simbi 9-2 Azam Love 9-0 Royal Destiny 9-0 Red Hot Fire 9-0 Baker’s View 8-12 Great Bulbul 8-6 Untar 8-6 Sher-I-Punjab 8-4 Hallen Of Troy 8-2 Rough Tough 8-1 Ward 8-0 Deja Vau 7-12 and Sharp Burg 7-10.

Win: Baker’s Biew.

Place: Azam Love and Simbi.

J.S. INVESTMENT WAR HEROES CUP CLASS IV & III 1400M:

Zanjeer 9-8 Kiss Of Luck 9-5 Lucky Winner 9-4 Wendy Trace 8-10 Noor 8-8 Royal Fish 8-4 Harry Can Run 8-0 and Lovely Gate 7-11.

Win: Kiss Of Luck.

Place: Zanjeer and Lucky Winner.