March 02, 2008	Sunday	Safar 23, 1429

LAHORE, March 1: The unbeaten bay filly Brave Act remains on course in her quest to be crowned in the biggest classic of the country, the Pakistan Derby, when she competes with the cream of four-year-olds at the Racecourse on Sunday.

This is a term race to be gone over 2,400 metres, the standard Derby distance.

This daughter of Re-play out-of-Coxswain, Brave Act has remained unbeaten in her three outings so far, winning the Maidens Plate, the 1,000 Guineas of Pakistan and the Derby Trials in which she overwhelmed her eight opponents, majority of whom are competing once again.

She took the lead on the top of the stretch in the Derby Trials and rolled to a record over 10 length’s triumph in the fastest-ever timings of two minutes and 7 1/5 seconds.

Brave Act’s owner Sohrab Khan is venturing for his second Derby success since 2002, his King Fisher capped the first win.

Horseracing is considered a sport of great uncertainty but Brave Act on paper looks like a great certainty in class, timing and form, which are taken as the yardstick for measuring a horse’s strength. Her main rival could be Fair Diamond, a raider from Karachi, owned by Haji Ghulam Dastagir and Headingly who is owned by the Lahore Race Club (LRC) chairman Tariq Aziz. Headingly, who has a good turf record of three straight wins, has yet to prove his credentials over the distance.

With its 61-year-long tradition, the Derby is a cherished goal of every owner, trainer, jockey and breeder. Derby fever has already gripped racing circles and the performances of 1,000 horses along with the Derby Trials are being tallied to pick out the winners. It’s a memorable occasion the likes of which is not seen at any other race day throughout the year.

Instituted in 1947, the Pakistan Derby since then has given moments of joy to some and gloom to many. There are owners, trainers, jockeys and breeders, who are lucky to win the coveted classic, once or more than once, but the majority taking part this time comprises those whom the Derby has eluded till today. Most of them have the largest array of pedigree horses.

This year’s Derby purse is rather meagre – Rs6,85,000 – as compared to last year’s prize money – Rs9,85,000. The reduction has been discouraging for those connected to equine sports as they were all expecting an increase. This will be the fifth race of the day.

The Derby runners with probable jockeys are: Janu Manu 9-0 (M. Nasir II), Fair Diamond 9-0 (Ghulam Shabbir II), Sharo Burg 9-0 (Faisal Tahir), Royal Tradition 9-0 (Shakeel Mahmood), Headingly 9-0 (Shahid Rehman), Kiss Of Luck 9-0 (A. Imran), Mythical 8-11 (Salahuddin) and Brave Act 8-11 (Aamir Pervez).

The main supporting event, the Lahore Classic, a handicap race for class horses in I, II and III, has an array of nine imported thoroughbreds. Three of them namely Day Dream Dancer, Konica and Miss Thailand seem to be genuine contenders on chance. The first two registered facile victories on their debut last year.

Syed Tasweer Hussain Shah’s five-year-old blue English mare Day Dream Dancer is rightly from the blue bloodline. A daughter of renowned English sire Daylami out-of Dancing Wolf, she showed great potential on her debut defeating Konica, a bay English mare (Desert King-Haboobti) owned by Syed Pervez Hussain Shah, in the over 1,400 metres distance race. Promoted in the handicap by 11 pounds, Day Dream Dancer still looks good in the contest between the mares of two Shahs.

The National Breeders Cup, a term race for three-year-olds, has only seven runners. Pir Sadduruddin Shah’s bay filly Claim To Fame looks a good proposition on form and handicap here. The filly was beaten in the Anarkali Cup when she eased by her rider with 50 metres still to go because of careless riding. Trained by Ehtesham, the filly will now have a new jockey M. Nasir II. Dixie, Rags To Riches and Cut Throat should be her challengers in the fourth race of the day.

Bay filly Poly Cat looks good in the over 1,400 metres Stewards Cup. Quwat, Sonu Love Zubi and Diamond In Dust are prominent among her challengers.

A nine-event card will be down for decision on Derby Day. The first race will be held at 11.30am.

Following is the field and our selections:

TALAGANG PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I 1,200M:

Blossom 9-0, Gold Mine 9-0, Royal Victory 9-0, Jan-e-Bhakkar 9-0, Love minister 8-12, My Delilah 8-10, Mubashara 8-10, Sun Downer 8-10, Dream Memories 8-10, High Jet 8-6, Rania 8-6, Athena 8-6, Freeze 8-6, Billoo The Great 8-4, Murad king 8-2, Darnaz 8-2, Remember You 7-12 and Creek Cat 7-8.

Win: Creek Cat. Place: My Delilah and Love Minister.

L.R.C PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1,200M:

Can Can Girl 9-0, Shock Wave 9-0, Blitz 9-0, Don’t Follow 9-0, Megabite 9-0, Janu 9-0, Mr Gujrat 9-0, Extravagent 9-0, Deja Vau 9-0, Royal Look 9-0, Tuba First 9-0, Bright Flame 8-10, Shah Pari 8-10, Golden Addition 8-10, Queen Of Music 8-10, Heaven’s Heart 8-10, Melody Queen 8-10 and Black House 8-10.

Win: Tuba First. Place: Deja Vau and Heaven’s Heart.

L.R.C PLATE CLASS V DIV III 1,200M:

Alishba 9-0, Sabbat Qadam 8-12, Byron 8-12, Little Smile 8-6, Gold Medalist 8-6, Dubai Fan 8-6, Khalil Vicky Icon 8-6, The News 8-4, Zauq 8-2, Grue 8-2, Last Option 8-2, Victory Gallop 8-0, Aaja Bulbul 7-12, Rough Rough 7-10, Stride To Moment 7-10, Honest Minister 7-10 and Babu The Great 7-10.

Win: The News. Place: Alishba and Byron.

NATIONAL BREEDERS CUP, A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND FILLIES 1,400M:

Valenday 9-0, Cut Throat 8-10, Claim To Fame 8-7, Dixie 8-7, Rag To Riches 8-1, Super Sonic 7-9 and Pick Of The Day 7-9.

Win: Claim to Fame. Place: Dixie and Syed Tasweer Shah’s choice.

COCA COLA PAKISTAN DERBY 2008, A TERM RACE FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND FILLIES 2,400M:

Janu Manu 9-0, Fair Diamond 9-0, Sharp Burg 9-0, Royal Tradition 9-0, Headingly 9-0, Kiss Of Luck 9-0, Mythical 8-11 and Brvae Act 8-11.

Win: Brave Act. Place: Headingly and Fair Diamond.

STEWARDS CUP CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1,400M:

Zanjeer 9-4, Lucky Winner 9-4, Quwat 9-2, Poly Cat 8-10, Charismatic 8-6, Honey Gal 8-4, Sonu Love Zubi 8-0, Harry Can View 7-10, Noor 7-8 and Diamond In Dust 7-8.

Win: Poly Cat. Place: Sonu Love Zubi and Diamond In Dust.

LAHORE CLASSIC CUP

CLASS I, II & III 1,400M:

Brummel 11-8, Grecianette 11-6, Miss Thailand 10-5, Konica 9-2, Day Dream Dancer 9-0, Snow Clad 8-1, Alina Alisha 8-1, Interiotte 8-1 and sun Stroke 8-1.

Win: Day Dream Dancer. Place: Miss Thailand and Konica.

STEWARDS PLATE

CLASS IV DIV III 1,400M:

Apex 9-4, Karam Pe Karam 9-2, Lucky Cat 8-12, Miss Play 8-8, Vendetta 8-8, Royal Destiny 8-6, Simbi 8-6, Spiritual Song 8-6, War Admiral 8-4, Lovely Dunit 8-2 and Run And Win 7-13.

Win: Simbi. Place: Spiritual Song and Vendetta.

L.R.C CUP CLASS V DIV I 1,200M:

Dillagi 9-8, Houstan 9-2, Hallow Handsome 9-0, Royal Fish 9-0, Harry Can Run 8-10, Volcano 8-10, Azam Love 8-10, Munsaf 8-6, Julia Robert 8-6, Shakalaka 8-4, Trump Coup 8-4, Royal Guest 8-3, Baker Love 8-2, Emperor 8-2, Empire Maker 8-2, Mannan Prince 8-2 and Gulf Line 8-0.

Win: Shakalaka. Place: Munsaf and Hallow Handsome.