April 06, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1429

LAHORE, April 5: Rags To Riches’ credentials will be put to test with the three-year-old bay filly on song to complete a hat-trick of victories during the 32nd Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The daughter of Replay out-of-Coxswain, Rags To Riches in her last encounter on March 23 exploded down the final stretch to win the over 1,600 metres Jhelum Cup by a big margin of 5 1/2 lengths. It was her second straight win.

Set to run in the April Cup, a term race for three-year-olds, the filly had to wait a while longer to run again after the event was declared void due to the paucity of runners.

She has now been pitched in the handicap race for class IV division I, II and III combined to be gone over 1,400 metres.

Rag To Riches’ chief competition is likely to come from two colts, namely, Valenday and Vandetta, who have a good record. The bay filly Honey Gal too looks good on handicap but she is running after an over three month’s absence from the racetrack.

Rags To Riches is owned by Syed Tasweer Hussain and trained by the leading trainer, Sohail Aziz.

Javed Khalid’s three-year-old filly Rania, who registered a facile victory on March 30, will be going all out to make it a two-in-a-row in the opener. Gold Mine, Big Choice and Love Minister will be fighting for the lower positions on the board.

Noor-un-Nisa, Murad King and Cleopatra look good on form in the second race to fight for the spoils. It should be a closely contested race.

Raksh-e-Raqeeban, Great H and Blue Fire are prominent runners among the 14 drawn for the third race if there are no last-minute withdrawals. On bloodline Great H looks good, but he showed no spark in his last outing. Then comes Raksh-e-Raqeeban and Blue Fire.

The supporting and the fourth race to be contested over 1,200 metres comprises eight acceptors barring last-minute withdrawals. However, the race seems like more of a showdown between a colt and a filly, Dubai Fan and Janu belonging to two friends and stewards, Syed Pervez Hussain and Munir Dar. Miss Liza and Dillagi would also be fighting for the places.

Tuba Prince, Pick Of The Day and Mythical Fight are the in form runners in the fifth race. They should be finishing in the same order.

A card of six races will be decided on Sunday. One race will be contested in the over 1,400 metres distance, two in the over 1,200 metres and three will go over 900 metres. The first race starts at 1:00pm.

The following is the field and our selections:

BHERA PLATE CLASS VI DIV II-B 900M:

Untar 9-0, Blitz 8-13, Royal Storm 8-13, Royal Guester 8-13, Rania 8-9, Gold Mine 8-9, Love Minister 8-9, Bashaesh Prince 8-9, Magic Queen 8-9, Dream Act 8-9, Babbu The Great 8-7, Billoo The Great 8-7 and Big Choice 8-3.

Win: Rania.

Place: Gold Mine and Big Choice.

BHERA PLATE CLASS VI DIV II 900M:

Stride To Moment 9-4, Rang Dey Basanti 9-2, Faryal 9-0, Dream Catcher 9-0, Murad King 8-10, Cleopatra 8-10, Noor-un-Nisa 8-4, Happy Dancer 8-2, Freeze 8-2 and Boogy Woogy 7-10.

Win: Noor-un-Nisa.

Place: Murad King and Cleopatra.

BHERA PLATE CLASS VI DIV I 900M:

Honest Minister 9-0, Tallal The Great 9-0, Willhewish 9-0, Zafran 9-0, Daylami 9-0, Great H 9-0, Raksh-e-Raqeban 9-0, Zubair The Grizly 9-0, Princess Ginza 9-0, Blue Fire 9-0, Mashal 9-0, Free Hit 9-0, Extravagant 8-10 and Tinker Bell 8-10.

Win: Raksh-e-Raqeeban.

Place: Blue Fire and Great H.

SHAHDARA PLATE CLASS V

DIV I 1,200M:

Miss Liza 9-0, Dillagi 9-0, Janu 8-12, Run And Win 8-10, Dubai Fan 8-8, Chanella 8-4, Grey Panther 8-4 and Rchey Dancer 8-2.

Win: Janu Versus Dubai Fan.

Place: Miss Liza.

SHAHDARA PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,200M:

Volcano 9-0, Royal Fish 9-0, Pick Of The Day 9-0, Mythical Flight 9-0, Munsaf 8-10, Harry Can Run 8-10, Furure Profit 8-6, Trump Coup 8-6, Quantico 8-6, Striker 8-5, Iconic 8-2, Rough Tough 8-2, Tuba First 8-2, Pind De Kuri 7-12, Aaja Bulbul 7-12 and Pretty Princess 7-10.

Win: Tuba First.

Place: Mythical Flight and Pick Of The Day.

MURIDKE PLATE CLASS IV

DIV I, II 7 III 1,400M:

Valenday 9-4, Rags To Riches 9-2, Lucky Winner 8-6, Honey Gal 8-4, Charismatic 8-2, Vandetta 7-12 and Spiritual Song 7-10.

Win: Rags To Riches.

Place: Valenday and Vandetta.