October 31, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 18, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 30: A mediocre card of five events has been drawn for Lahore Gymkhana’s midweek races at the Racecourse on Wednesday.

All the races will be held over 1000 metres with 59 runners, barring last-minute withdrawal.

There seems to be more emphasis on the first two races, subscribed completely by unknown pedigree horses, which are available at much cheaper prices as compared to thoroughbreds, whose prices range from Rs300,000 to Rs600,000. Moreover, expenditure on unknown pedigree horses’ maintenance is far less.

The number of such horses is swelling every day because some of them have performed well in the lowest divisions of the class-VII and made every race-day’s card look respectable in terms of the number of races without spoiling the quality of the sport.

There are seven horses likely to run in the fifth and feature event, a class-VI division-I handicap race. Five of them have limited experience on the dirt track and are still maidens.

While two of them have the experience of running on the dirt as well as grass track, and have won races or placed many a times on the board. They are bay filly Shah Pari and chestnut horse Sohna Billoo. If form is any yardstick, they should decide about the winner.

Bay filly Creek Cat and bay colt Scooby Do are the contenders with good pedigrees but without practical significance on the course.

It is stated they are tracking well, particularly Scooby Do, who ran on Sunday to finish off the frame in a bit stiff company and the first outing after four months’ lay off.

This was the main element of consideration by the Lahore Race Club, for not changing the rider of Scooby Do as demanded by a small section of race-goers on Sunday.

High Quality, Shikari and Cheeta Aya are prominent contenders for the supporting event –– the fourth race.

All the three are in good form and have equal chances of winning. Filly High Quality will be going to make it two in a row to prove her worth, which will be at stake.

The third race comprising a dozen runners is a mixture of pedigrees and non-pedigreed horses.

The selected ones are non-pedigreed. They are Sona and God Gift. It will be interesting to see how they fare against the pedigree challenge of Great Rhythm, Bird Fly and Malang Aya.

The opener and the second race comprise unknown pedigree horses. Some of them have been beating one another previously. But, by and large, they are inconsistent performers, may be due to improper training.

For the punters, the risks involved in these events are great but it will be good to watch these events for love of sport.

The declaration of riders will be held at 12noon and the first race will start at 2pm.

Following is the field and our selection:

MIAN MIR PLATE CLASS-VII

DIV-II-B 1000M:

La Rosa Negre 9-0, Mah-e-Noor 9-0, Super Style 9-0, Sohna Bhakkar 9-0, Billal Love 9-0, Pukkar 9-0, Scented Dust 9-0, Badal 9-0, Pattola 9-0, Waqas Prince 8-10, Aya Bhakkar 8-10, Pind De Kuri 8-10, Pretty 8-6, Ahsan Love 8-0, Sohna Noor 8-0.

Win: Pukkar

Place: Waqas Prince and Billal Love

MIAN MIR PLATE CLASS-VII

DIV-I (A) 1000M:

Malika 9-2, Miaa Mano 9-0, Mahima 9-0, Leader’s Wing 9-0, Magic Dream 9-0, Hit Song 9-0, Good Action 9-0, Dimple 9-0, Farjan Prince 9-0, Sajju The Great 9-0, Mosaic 8-11, Sohni Noor 8-10, Brave Heart 8-10, Kiss Of Love 8-10.

Win: Sajju The Great.

Place: Leader’s Wing and Malika.

MULTAN PLATE CLASS-VI

DIV-III 1000M:

Kotli 9-0, Malang Aya 8-11, Mantar Prince 8-10, High Hope 8-10, Sher Khan 8-10, Great Rhythm 8-8, Chander Mukhi 8-5, Tosca 8-3, Bird Fly 8-3, Sona 8-2, God Gift 8-2, Yard Arm 7-10.

Win: Sona.

Place: God Gift and Great Rhythm.

MULTAN PLATE CLASS-VI

DIV-II & III 1000M:

Dillagi 9-4, Murad King 9-2, Shikari 9-0, Ahsan The Great 9-0, Jattan Wala 9-0, Just My Luck 8-12, High Quality 8-10, Wah Bhai Wah 7-12, Dogar Gift 7-10, Gold Dust 7-10, Cheeta Aya 7-10.

Win: High Quality.

Place: Shikari and Cheeta Aya.

MULTAN PLATE CLASS-VI

DIV-I 1000M:

Shah Pari 9-0, Creek Cat 9-0, Scooby Do 9-0, Happy Life 8-10, Eve 8-6, Big Power 8-2, Sohna Billoo 7-13.

Win: Shah Pari.

Place: Sohna Billoo and Scooby Do.