October 07, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 24, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 6: A strong turnout is all set for the pre-Eid-ul-Fitr Lahore Winter Meeting when a seven-event card featuring a cup race gets under way at the Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

In all, 77 acceptors are expected to line up for the events with a good response from horse-owners, who have fielded quality thoroughbreds for the festive occasion.

The feature event, the Vision Group Cup, a class five-handicap race to be gone over the sprinting distance of 1100m has nine acceptors, if there are no last-minute withdrawals. On recent form and performances it looks a showdown between a trio of sprinters, namely, Royal Destiny, Run And Win and Reborn. On classification, the mare Royal Destiny has an edge, the distance favours Run And Win and the handicap gives advantage to Reborn. This will be the fifth race in racing order.

The supporting and seventh race, the Bhalwal Plate, a class four handicap race to be contested over 1100 metres has only six runners.

On chance are: Nosheen, Charismatic and Headingly. Nosheen and Headingly are contesting after a long absence from the track while Charismatic is an in form colt. The main contest, however, should be between in form Charismatic and the Headingly, who is placed low in weight-scales. The former gets an advantage.

Lovely Gate, Volcano and Chill look good in the sixth race, the lower division of Bhalwal Plate over 1100 metres. Lovely Gate and Chill belong to one owner, hence one of the two will be on the job and should win.

Volcano at best can be a good second. In the Vision Group Plate, a class five division one handicap race over 1100m there are 15 runners, some of them very speedy contenders.

On top is Toyota, a filly who have won two back to back races and will be on the course to complete a hat trick of victories. She may find Magic Stone, Lucky Cat and Baker Love, constant thorns in her side all the way home. This will be the third race in racing order.

The gelding Cross Ruff and the filly Love Affair and Shah Rani are the speedy animals in the fourth race, a class seven division one handicap race to be gone over 1000m.

Cross Ruff showed a tremendous improvement last Sunday when finishing second and should make amends this time. The dark-bay Love Affair is a fine pedigreed filly but is still maiden after six running, never figuring on the board for once even.

Perhaps that was the reason the Lahore Race Club (LRC) chairman, Tariq Aziz had sold out Love Affair, a couple of months back.

Meanwhile the LRC has notified for the information of owners/trainers that the events for two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies would begin after the Eid as a permanent feature till the dawn of the new year, they turn three-year-old.

It was further notified that from now onward race meetings will be held on both tracks, the dust track as well as the grass track. This is interesting to note here that to certain horses, like the soft going of dust track while it has a negative impact on some others.

Three events meant for class seven horses will be held over the distance of 1000m while those of class five and four will be gone over 1100 metres. The first race will be held at 1pm.

Following is the field and our selection.

BAHAWALNAGAR PLATE

CLASS VII DIV III 1000M.

Dillagi 9-2, High Hope 9-0, Bone Crusher 9-0, Cheeta Aya 9-0, Armida 8-13, High Quality 8-10, Malika 8-8, Yard Arm 8-2, First Passion 8-2, My Princess 8-8, Leader’s Wing 8-0, Titan 7-12 and Weldon 7-12.

Win: High Hope.

Place: Bone Crusher and Armida.

BAHAWALNAGAR PLATE

CLASS VII DIV II 1000M.

Weldon Shogun 9-4, Jewna 9-2, Iconic 8-12, God Dust 8-6, Dogar Gift 8-0, Bird Fly 8-0, Dashing Paradise 7-10 and Welcome Mayla 7-10.

Win: Jewna.

Place: Gold Dust and Bird Fly.

Vision Group Plate Class V Division II 1100M.

Toyota 9-0, Happy Bear 9-0, Lovely Dunit 9-0, Mirana Choice 8-12, Happy Life 8-10, Magic Stone 8-9, Dazzy Against All 8-7, Al Murad 8-6, Eve 8-6, Tyson 8-4, Lucky Cat 8-2, Stride To Moment 8-0, Baker Love 8-0, Royal Victory 7-10 and Big Power 7-10.

Win: Toyota.

Place: Lucky Cat and Magic Stone.

BAHAWALNAGAR PLATE

CLASS VII DIV I 1000M:

Cross Ruff 9-2, Faryal 9-0, Ikon 9-0, Billoo The Great 9-0 ,Sher-e-Lahore 9-0, Murad King 8-12, Honest Minister 8-10, Sohna Billoo 8-10, Shah Pari 8-8, Stage Gift 8-6, Shah Rani 8-6, Chinkara 8-6, Rana Choice 8-6, Ice Burg 8-2, Dam Dama Dam 8-0, Love Minister 8-0 and Gold Round 7-10.

Win: Cross Ruff.

Place: Shah Rani and Love Affair.

Vision Group Cup Class V

Division I & II 1100M.

Julia Robert 9-4, Royal Destiny 9-0, Janu 9-0, Munsaf 8-10, Run And Win 8-10, Queen Of Music 8-6, King Of Murad 8-0, Reanushaky 7-12 and Reborn 7-10.

Win: Royal Destiny.

Place: Run And Win and Reborn.

BHALWAL PLATE CLASS IV

DIV II & III 1100M:

Herry Can Run 9-4, Discovery 8-12, Lovely Gate 8-10, Herry Can View 8-6, Volcano 8-0, War Admiral 7-12, Zoaq 7-10 and Chill 7-10.

Win: Lovely Gate or Chill.

Place: Volcano.

BHALWAL PLATE CLASS IV

DIV I & II 1100M.

Nosheen 9-4, Charismatic 8-12, Wendy Trace 8-6, Headingly 8-4, Royal Fish 8-0 and Quwat 8-0.

Win: Charismatic v Headingly.

Place: Nosheen.