December 12, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 1, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 11: With four splendid back-to-back victories to her credit, the four-year-old filly Pind De Kuri will be on trot to stretch her winning streak further when the day/night midweek Lahore Gymkhana races get underway on Sunday at the Racecourse.

Owned by Lahore Race Club (LRC), the unknown bay filly’s performance came as a big surprise to everyone.

The LRC, whose entire strength of over 500 horses was afflicted with the equine influenza virus, has been grappling with the illness and unable to hold races since Nov 25 last. But the situation is now well under control with a majority of horses, around 260, back on morning track work with the exception of only those who are still suffering from cough.

Haunted by the illness, owners and trainers, however, are still not ready to enter their valuable thoroughbreds into the races.

Pind De Kuri recorded four straight wins on Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14 and Dec 5 and is vying for further tilt in her greatness in the feature event, the over 800 metres Gujrat Plate class five division second. Rough Tough and Magic Stride are her only competition.

The supporting and fifth race, the Bhalwal Plate class VI division 1, to be contested in the over 800 metres, has a dozen runners. Amongst them Tallal The Great and Shah Pari look good on recent form. The bay gelding Tallal The Great has an edge over the filly Shah Pari to make amends for his last Wednesday’s defeat.

Dillagi, Shikari and Bird Fly are attracting attention in the fourth race, the over 800 metres Bhalwal Plate class VI division II. They should finish in the same order.

Blue roan gelding, Malang Aya, who was beaten narrowly in his last outing, looks set to steal the show this time. Kotli and Great Rhythm are the next best in the same order.

Dark-bay colt Rose was unlucky in the straight four occasions missing the winner’s box closely each time. His being unable to win each time makes one wonder about something wrong somewhere. Contesting in the second race, he should oblige his connections this time.

Leader’s Wing and Malika are prominent among his rivals.

The opener as usual is a free for all among seven ordinary contestants. The dark-bay mare Pretty has many a times been fancied by connections but has been unlucky each time. She too should win on Wednesday in order to provide some consolation to the stable.

In spite of a majority of LRC stewards being old, they seem to be fond of the cold weather as they are holding day/night races in the month of December.

It has been observed on the previous three occasions that many people leave without watching the last race, when the entire club is engulfed in thick fog, making visibility poor even in floodlighting, in contrast to the summers when everything is clear.

All the races will be held in the over 800 metres event with the first being held at 3.00pm.

Following are the field and our selections:

JALAL PUR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV I-B 800M.:

La Rosa Negre 9-0, Cash Deposite 8-12, Hit Song 8-12, Sohni Noor 8-11, Bioactive 8-10, Pretty 8-6, Waqas Prince 8-4 and Stumpy 8-0.

Win: Pretty.

Place: Sohni Noor and La Rosa Negre.

JALAL PUR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV I-A 800M:

Rose 9-4, Sohna Noor 9-0, Non Stop 9-0, Yasir Love 8-10, Lal Pair 8-10, Billoo Love 8-10, Mera Bhakkar 8-6, Leader’s Wing 8-2, Trivera 8-2, Sohna Bhakkar 7-12, Mosaic 7-10 and Malice 7-10.

Win: Rose.

Place: Leader’s Wing and Malice.

BHALWAL PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III 800M.

Sabbat Qadam 9-0, Sana 9-0, Royal Palace 8-10, Brave Heart 8-10, Have No Fear 8-6, Company 8-6, Miss Mano 8-6, Malang Aya 8-6, Kotli 8-4, Great Rhythm 8-4, So Romantic 8-3, Mah-e-Noor 8-2, Dimple 8-0, Sohna Murad, 8-0, Issabella 7-10 and Weldon 7-10.

Win: Malang Aya.

Place: Kotli and Great Rhythm.

BHALWAL PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 800M.

Dillagi 9-2, Love Minister 9-2, Kind Minister 9-0, Mantar Prince 8-10, Sun Shine 8-10, Rang Dey Basanti 8-8, Shikari 8-6, Rana Choice 8-2, Regulation 8-2, Happy Life 8-2, Sun Ray 8-0, Bird Fly 8-0 and Sona 7-10.

Win: Dillagi.

Place: Shikari and Bird Fly.

BHALWAL PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I 800M.

Run For Dollar 9-4, Cheeta Aya 9-2, Home Star 9-0, Faryal 9-0, Jung Ju 8-10, Nut Cracker 8-10, Tallal The Great 8-9 Shah Pari 8-8, Happy Bear 8-6, Dam Dama Dam 8-3, Arsome Prince 8-2 and Weldon Shogun 8-0.

Win: Talal The Great.

Place: Weldon Shogun and Shah Pari.

GUJRAT PLATE CLASS V DIV II 800M.

Lubna 9-0, Look My Luck 9-0, Rough Tough 8-10, Pind De Kuri 8-2, Babbu The Great 8-2, Magic Stride 8-2, Dam Her Dam 8-2 and Arzoo 8-2.

Win: Pind De Kuri.

Place: Rough Tough and Magic Stride.