November 07, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 25, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 6: The bay mare, Royal Victory, looks a better proposition on classification to have the better of her rivals in the feature event during the midweek Lahore Gymkhana races at the Racecourse on Wednesday.

She is contesting in the fifth and last race, the Bhakkar Plate class VI division 1 to be gone over the sprinting distance of 1000m. She has come down from class V division 11 when beaten by the filly Richy Dancer on Aug 19. Since then she took a U-turn and ran off the frame in three outings, demoted to class VI at present.

She will, however, have bay filly Shah Pari and the chestnut colt Chinkara constant thorns in her side in a stiff competition between classification and form over 1000 metres sprint.

The bay filly, Pind De Kuri owned by the Lahore Race Club (LRC) and trained by Qaiser is a speedy filly from unknown pedigree, looks set of stealing the honours in the fourth race to make it two in a row.

Pind De Kuri had mauled her rivals, winning by a distance over 1000 metres on Oct 31. She, however, may face some stiff resistance from Sher Khan, God’s Gift and Bird Fly.

In the third race dark-bay colt Rose, finishing third in his last outing should provide owner-trainer Qaiser with a much awaited victory. When Rose was beaten by Al Dar and Sajju The Great to third place on Aug 19, poor Qaiser, who is a controversial figure, was seen virtually in tears suspecting some foul-play behind colt’s defeat. But this is all part of racing and people laying traps for others are trapped themselves.

Leaders Wing, Good Action and Mah-e-Noor may fight for less remunerative positions.

Racing fans should witness keen contests and may be there some surprises in the first and second race, solely subscribed by unknown pedigree horses.

In all, 49 horses are taking part in the five events drawn for the afternoon with a record number of about three-dozen unknown pedigree horses. There seems a stampede by such horses to compete, waiting in line their turn.

The LRC decision of making unknown pedigree horses eligible for races has invoked mixed reaction from owners, trainers and race-goers.

Expressing the owners’ view, Mahmood Khan while talking to Dawn was critical of LRC step saying it would be detrimental to thoroughbred racing and breeding. If it is realized that ultimately majority of owners shift to unknown horses then what would happen to thoroughbred industry?

Simply chaos when already thoroughbred industry is passing through a phase of economic stress, he added.

Some stud-owners have already stopped stamping their half-bred bloodstock to show them unknown because it is easy to win races in the company of unknown rather than half-bred and thoroughbred, Mahmood said.

There is ample evidence that majority of owners and trainers have been much more inclined to refrain from competing in unknown horses because it is most reprehensible. Perhaps the paucity of runners have forced LRC to resort to such an unhealthy practice which may ultimately ruin valuable thoroughbred breeding industry.

He said the future of country is in agriculture and racing lies in our exceptional qualifications for breeding thoroughbreds and nourishing quality horses to strengthen traditions. Production of unknown horses will undermine their bloodline. Some owners endorsed these views on the assurance of anonymity.

However, there are some owners and trainers, who have welcomed the introduction of unknown horseracing terming it a step towards ameliorating the lot of less privileged owners. Surely now is a good time to start innovations towards progress and improvement to make the Racecourse flourishing with dimensional sporting activity for all sections of the society.

They advocated for staging once a week-All unknown horse racing on Wednesdays for less privileged and All half-bred cum thoroughbred racing on Sundays for affluent owners.

A small card of five events, first three to be gone over 900 metres and the remaining two over 1000 metres will be decided on Wednesday. The first race will be held at 2pm.

The following are the fields and our selections:

SOHAWA PLATE CLASS VII DIV I-C 900M:

La Rosa Negre 9-0, Kiss Of Love 9-0, Super Style 9-0, Gold Venture 9-0, Sohni Noor 9-0 (correct) Sohna Noor 8-5 (correct) Ahsan Love 8-5 and Pretty 8-5.

Win and place: Watch connections.

SOHAWA PLATE CLASS VII DIV I-B 900M:

Reema 9-0, Billal Love 9-0, Miss Mano 9-0, Dimple 9-0, Magic Dream 9-0, Badal 9-0, Sajju The Great 9-0, Sohna Murad 8-12, Pattola 8-10, Pukkar 8-10 and Mosaic 8-10.

Win: Billal Love.

Place: Dimple and Mosaic.

SOHAWA PLATE CLASS VII DIV I-A 900M:

Cash Deposit 9-0, Rose 9-0, Mah-e-Noor 9-0, Dil Bahar 9-0, Hit Song 9-0, Black Narcissus 9-0, Roshan Chiragh 9-0, Lal Pari 9-0, Leader’s Wing 9-0 Malika 8-12 and Good Action 8-10.

Win: Rose.

Place: Good Action and Leader’s Wing.

BHAKKAR PLATE CLASS VI DIV III 900M:

Wah Bhai Wah 9-0, Dogar Gift 8-10, Kotli 8-10, Gold Dust 8-10, Sher Khan 8-10, Pind De Kuri 8-7, Malang Aya 8-7, Sona 8-2, Bird Fly 7-12 and God’s Gift 7-10.

Win: Pind De Kuri.

Place: Sher Khan and God’s Gift.

BHAKKAR PLATE CLASS VI DIV 1 1000M:

Royal Victory 9-0, Shah Pari 9-0, Arsome Prince 9-0, Never Fail 9-0, Chinkara 9-0, Happy Bear 9-0, Cheeta Aya 9-0, Chandi 8-12 and Creek Cat 8-10.

Win: Royal Victory.

Place: Shah Pari and Chinkara.