November 25, 2007	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 14, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 24: Three-year-old bay colt, Manu Janu, will be on the trot to register his third victory in a row during the 13th Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.

He is contesting in the feature event, the Dewan Petroleum Cup, a class IV and III combined handicap race to be gone over 1,200m.

This son of imported sire, Tripple Eight, Janu Manu has earlier won two back-to-back races on Oct 15 and Oct 28 to establish some credibility of the bloodline. But the real test of his inherited ability will be revealed during this race in which he is to measure strides with some seasoned contestants. Much will also depend as to who is the rider and the condition he is sent to grapple.

Among his close rivals, the filly Discovery and the colt Intikhab-i-Bhakkar are prominent, whom Janu Manu has already beaten but at different weight-scales in the handicap on varying distance besides the colt Motivator. Interestingly the field includes some fine thoroughbreds, who at times have been stealing the limelight by their superb performances, but a couple of them are adversely placed in handicap and if any of them wins, the victory door for them will be closed for quite long. Will the owner take this risk? This will be the fifth race of the day.

In the supporting and fourth race, the Khalid Bin Waleed Cup, a class V handicap race to be contested over 1300m, are 13 contestants. Of them three are in good form. They are Reborn, Iconic and Lucky Cat. By virtue of her good placing in the handicap at 7-13, Lucky Cat, a filly from Baker’s Gate out-of-Lucky Jabeen, gets an advantage over the distance. The way she ran over 1000 metres on Oct 21 last, the Haji Fazal Hadi trained filly should encompass her lethal force to get on top and win the cup for owner Malik Hamid Ali Noon.

Reborn and Iconic are speedy colts but for them the task of over 1,300 metres seems rather difficult.

Three-year-old filly, Chenela, looks a cut above in class vis-à-vis her rivals in the sixth and last race of the card.

This filly from Fox Hound out-of-Search Warrant, Chanela had raced three times, was placed second twice and won once in as many outings last season. She did not race, maybe was not racing fit and will be on the track after over eight months. If fit she will be a hard nut to crack. On present form Mythical is the next best. This filly is also owned by Malik Hamid Ali Noon and trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.

There is another interesting event, a term race for two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, still maidens, to be gone over 1,000m.

There are a dozen runners, half have appeared on the track earlier while the other half are on debut run. Among the experienced the filly Dixie looks good while among the debut openers, Armaan, Heaven Heart and Tripple Star attract on track work. But track work is often deceptive.

Horseracing and politics are alike, in the sense the people look for honest and outstanding performers in both. In racing their money is involved while politics affect their generations. And when a thoroughbred performs outstandingly, they not only appreciate the performance and feel the current crop is worth something taking pride. They are hurt when they notice some people involved in malpractices and stooping so low in their lust for money.

Sunday’s card comprises many thoroughbred, if on the job will be making the card interesting and enjoyable for fans.

A card of six events divided in three race-distances has been drawn for the afternoon. The first two races will be held over the sprinting distance of 1,200 metres, the next two over 1,300 metres and the last two over 1,200 metres. The first race will be held at 1:00pm.

The following are the fields and our selections.

PATTOKI PLATE CLASS VI

DIVISION I 1000M.

Extravagent 9-0, Jung Ju 9-0, Sohna Billoo 9-0, Royal Command 9-0, Striker 8-10, Shah Pari 8-6, Weldon Shogun 8-4 and Creek Cat 8-2.

Win: Extravagant.

Place: Sohna Billoo and Weldon Shogun.

KHUSHAB PLATE, A TERM RACE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBRED COLTS AND FILLIES (MAIDENS) 1000M.

Emperor 9-0, Armaan 8-8, Cut throat 8-8, Cut Throat 8-8, Pak Edition 8-8, Heaven Heart 8-8, Heaven Heart 8-5, Magic Queen 8-5, My Delilah 8-5, Dixie 8-5, Tripple Star 8-5, Dream Act 8-5, Diamond Sky 8-5 and Supersonic 8-5.

Win: Dixie.

Place: Heaven’s Heart and Armaan.

KHALID BIN WALEED PLATE

CLASS V DIV II 1300M.

Munsaf 9-0, Queen Of Music 9-0, Gulf Line 8-12, Charming King 8-10, Legen Settar 8-10, Mannan Prince 8-9, Shim Jim 8-8, Desert Glow 8-6, Chimera 8-6, Rough Tough 8-6 and Armida 7-10.

Win: Gulf Line.

Place: Mannan Prince and Rough Tough.

KHALID BIN WALEED CUP

CLASS V DIV I 1300M.

Reborn 9-2, Bold Act 9-0, Empire Maker 8-12, Cross Ruff 8-10, Apex 8-10, Mirana Choice 8-8, Iconic 8-6, Red Hot Fire 8-2, Zoaq 8-2, Run And Win 7-12, Lubna 7-12, Lucky Cat 7-10 and Stride to Moment 7-10.

Win: Lucky Cat.

Place; Iconic and Reborn.

DEWAN PETROLEUM CUP CLASS IV DIV I & II (CLASS III INCLUDED) 1200M.

Zanjeer 9-10, Charismatic 9-6, Tipu Sultan 9-2, Janu Manu 9-2, Motivator 8-0, Discovery 8-0, Royal Fish 8-0 and Intikhab-e-Bhakkar 7-10.

Win: Janu Manu.

Place: Motivator and Intikhab-e-Bhakkar.

DEWAN PETROLEUM PLATE

CLASS IV DIV III 1200M.

Herry Can Run 9-0, Perfect Promise 8-10, Herry Can View 8-10, Mythical 8-6, Byron 8-4 and Chenela 8-3.

Win: Chanela.

Place: Mythical.