October 21, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 8, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 20: A long awaited classic duel between two thoroughbred fillies that has aroused greater interest among racing connoisseurs reaches a fitting climax on Sunday when the 8th Lahore Winter Meeting gets under way at the Racecourse.

Sohail Aziz trained Discovery takes on Princess Of Gujrat in the Khanewal Plate, a class IV handicap race to be gone over 1400 metres. The pair had earlier met once and is due to clash again at the weekend.

The daughter of Cisco Wells out-of-Dante Again, Discovery had beaten Princess Of Gujrat (Groom Dancer-Champaign Party) on Sept 23 when Discovery got home by a neck in a thrilling neck-to-neck encounter.

However, now they are meeting with a reverse handicap. Discovery has spurred into action since then and won yet another race. She had been upped in the weight scale, tilting advantage to Princess Of Gujrat, who did not race after her defeat. But the over all supremacy is far from certain, and whatever the race result may be because there are 30 more meetings in which they may be having chance of more contests ahead.

The race distance goes in favour of Discovery, who has shown vast improvement, speed and stamina and is in top gear. Princess Of Gujrat, who is placed at seven stones 10 pounds has handicap advantage but may find some difficulty to settle over 1400 metres. The colt Headingley and the mare Royal Fish should fight for the frame among six runners barring last-minute withdrawals. This will be the main and fifth race of the day.The supporting and third event, a class IV division III handicap race, had a tiny field of five runners, none of them having gone over 1400 metres race distance.

On form and handicap Perfect Promise and Herry Can View are the pick with the latter enjoying advantage with staying ability.

Miss Play, Sharp Burg and Lovely Dunit are the form contenders in the fourth race, the Kasur Plate, a class V division I handicap event over1100 metres. The trio should fight for the top honours. Miss Play, is a speedy filly while her rivals are a bit slow starters.

The first race, the Kasur Plate class V division II to be contested over 1100 metres has the largest field of 15 runners, if there are no last-minute withdrawals. Of them Mirana Choice, Last Option (ex-Helen Of Troy) and Chakori Jaisa look good. The winner should be from them.

Lucky Cat, who still wears a maiden’s cloak, should pounce over her 14 rivals to take victory slice in the seventh and last race of the day to be run over the sprinting distance of 1000 metres. Her close rivals could be Shim Jim, Shah Pari and Rana Choice.

The card also features a race for two-year-old half-bred colts and fillies to be gone over 900 metres. The result of such events is normally beyond expectations because they have no experience to race in a group. The first race will be held at 12.30pm.The following are the fields and our selections:

KASUR PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1100M:

Black House 9-2, King Of Murad 9-2, Willhewish 9-0, Cross Ruff 9-0, Reanushky 9-0, Shah Pari 8-10, Batista 8-10, Mirana Choice 8-8, Last Option (ex-helen Of Troy) 8-8, Chakori Jaisa 8-6, Dazzy Against All 8-3, Chandi 8-2, Prince Salman 8-2, Happy Life 8-2, Stride to Moment 7-10.

Win: Mirana Choice. Place: Shah Rani and Chakori Jaisa.

Rawalpindi Plate, a term race for two-year-old half-bred colts and fillies (Maidens) 900M:

Magic Strides 8-8, Dream Catcher 8-8, Karam Pe Karam 8-8, Valenday 8-8, Shakalaka 8-5, Pick Of The Day 8-5, Bahar-e-Bhakkar 8-5, Arzoo 8-5.

Win or Place: Watch the ring.

KHANEWAL PLATE CLASS IV

DIV III 1400M:

Intikhab-e-Bhakkar 9-0, Perfect Promise 8-10, Herry Can View 8-10, Julia Robert 8-0, Zoaq 7-12.

Win: Perfect Promise. Place: Herry Can View.

KASUR PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1100M:

Run And Win 9-0, Lovely Dunit 8-11, Jo Jo Gift 8-11, Miss Play 8-10, Munsaf 8-10, Janu 8-6, Richy Dancer 8-6, Sharp Burg 8-6, Great Bulbul 8-6, Queen Of Music 8-2.

Win: Miss Play. Place: Lovely Dunit and Sharp Burg.

KHANEWAL PLATE CLASS IV

DIV I & II 1400M:

Charismatic 9-6, Headingley 8-4, Wendy Trace 8-0, Discovery 8-0, Princess Of Gujrat 7-10, Royal Fish 7-10.

Win: Princess Of Gujrat. Place: Headingley and Discovery.

MULTAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 1000M:

Love Minister 9-2, Dillagi 9-2, Wah Bhai Wah 8-10, Ai Ain 8-10, Armida 8-4, Great Rythym 8-2, No Appologies 8-2, Blu’s Wendy 8-2, Big Choice 8-0, Bone Crusher 8-0, Gold Dust 8-0, Dogar Gift 7-10.

Win: Big Choice. Place: Dillagi and Blu’s Wendy.

MULTAN PLATE CLASS VI DIV I 1000M:

Lucky Cat 9-0, Eve 9-0, Big Power 8-10, Honest Minister 8-10, Shim Jim 8-10, Shah Pari 8-7, Warid 8-6, Sohna Billoo 8-6, Sher-e-Lahore 8-6, Remember You 8-6, Ikon 8-6, Dam Dama Dam 8-5, Murad King 8-4, Extravagent 8-0, Rana Choice 7-10.

Win: Lucky Cat. Place: Shah Pari and Shim Jim.