May 04, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 27, 1429

LAHORE, May 3: Four-year-old filly Lovely Dunit looks in good shape and form to win the Farewell Cup, to be run over the 1,600 metres distance during the first day/night Lahore Summer Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The cup has been staged by the Lahore Race Club (LRC) to bid goodbye to its recently ended 35-day Lahore Winter Meetings at the beginning of the nine-day Summer Meetings from May 4 to June 30. Customarily, the event had been staged on the last winter meeting in the past.

The Summer Meetings are being held in an effort to answer the needs of the owners and trainers, hard pressed by the savage price-hike during the last few years.

Lovely Dunit’s claim seems sound with the season’s four wins and thrice figuring on the board in 10 starts.

Her close rival would be the bay colt Apex, who has to his credit a place on the frame in 10 outings. He has a 10-pound advantage over Lovely Dunit in handicap but less form. The other four runners stand no match in classification and will be there to just make the field. It would come as a great surprise if any of them win in this seventh and last race of the day.

The supporting and fifth event, the Pakpattan Plate, class V, division I to be contested over the 1,200 metres distance has eight runners barring last-minute withdrawals. Of them Dubai Fan, a chestnut colt from Dubai Edition out-of-Fanim, is an outstanding performer.

The way the nursling colt Dubai Fan finished second behind the filly Tuba First in the over 1,200 metres race, he had dispelled all doubts about his fitness problem and form.

The fourth race, the Okara Plate, class VI, division 1-A to go over the 1,000 metres distance has a big field of 15 runners. Three of them are on chance, namely, Eve, Blitz and Striker. They should finish in the same order.

The four-year-old filly Eve, who registered a facile victory in her previous run, will be on the course to make it a two-in-a-row. This filly from Wathbat Nashwan out-of-Dancing Blow is a highly pedigreed filly from an internationally recognised bloodline.

The filly Noor-un-Nisa caused quite a controversy on April 20 last, when she finished third behind Arzoo and Big Choice in a dismal show. Subsequently, the LRC chairman Tariq Aziz took strong notice and suspended her jockey M. Hanif for two months. She is running in the second race in a big field of 15 runners.

It is very unfortunate that a spectre, cloaked as an un-seen enemy of favourite horses, has raised its head at the Lahore Racecourse. Alarm bells have been ringing, off and on earlier too but recently ever since the Victory King and Noor-un-Nisa incident happened. It gave a jolt to many and Tariq Aziz too seemed worried.

The Lahore Racecourse is home to some of the best racing events including the Pakistan Derby. Having 35 days of calibre racing with about Rs40 million in prize money offered to horse owners who win the first three positions ensures exhilarating racing for the delight of the connoisseurs. But incidents like what happened with Noor-un-Nisa, Victory King and some others have left a big scar on equine sports, which otherwise is recognised as a gentle sport.

Race fans look for outstanding performers and transparency in racing. They keep a dim view of those who fix the result of the races for monetary gains by entering a fancy horse, who they think will not win.

A card of seven events awaits race goers on the first day/night summer meeting. The first race will be held at 3.30pm.

Following is the field and our selections:

OKARA PLATE CLASS VI DIV III 1,000M:

Jomteen 9-0, Noor Pari 8-10, Boogy Woogy 8-10, Hikmat 8-10, Shah Rani 8-6, Armida 8-6, Mama Mia 8-0, Sun Shine 7-10, Victory King 7-10.

Win: Victory King.

Place: Mama Mia and Shah Rani.

OKARA PLATE CLASS VI DIV I-B 1,000M:

Regent 9-0, Golden Road 9-0, Dream Act 8-12, Honest Minsiter 8-11, Tallal The Great 8-10, Love Story 8-10, Noor-un-Nisa 8-10, Philogyny 8-10, Mubashara 8-10, Thanks For Nothing 8-10, Golden Edition 8-10, Aaja Bulbul 8-6, Super Sonic 8-6, Big Choice 8-4.

Win: Noor-un-Nisa.

Place: Big Choice and Honest Minister.

OKARA PLATE CLASS VI DIV II 1,000M:

Tipu Prince 9-0, Iconic 9-0, Secret Night 9-0, Divine Jury 8-12, First Passion 8-12, Gold Bird 8-10, Free Hit 8-6, Little Love 8-4, Jewna 8-2, So Romantic 8-0, Dream Memories 7-10, Happy Dancer 7-10.

Win: First Passion.

Place: Dream Memories and Iconic.

OKARA PLATE CLASS VI DIV I-A 1,000M:

Eve 9-0, Amazing Mission 9-0, Harry Can Run 9-0, Magic Stride 9-0, Sun City 9-0, Twinky 9-0, Victory Bulbul 9-0, Love And Bubble 9-0, Love Minister 8-12, Striker 8-12, Amazing Boy 8-10, Royal Passion 8-10, Majestic Desert 8-10, Little Smile 8-10, Blitz 8-8.

Win: Eve.

Place: Striker and Blitz.

PAK PATTAN PLATE CLASS V

DIV I 1,200M:

Pick Of The Day 9-0, Zoaq 9-0, Dubai Fan 8-11, Royal Gambler 8-10, Emperor 8-10, Richey Dancer 8-2, Zohra Jabeen 8-2, Gulf Line 8-2.

Win: Dubai Fan.

Place: Pick Of The Day and Emperor.

PAK PATTAN PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,200M:

Big Power 9-2, Alishba 9-0, Dillagi 9-0, Arzoo 8-6, Blue Fire 8-6, Mughl-e-Azam 8-6, Munsaf 8-6, Volcano 8-2, Chinkara 8-2, Mythical Flight 8-2, Zubair Prince 8-2.

Win: Big Power.

Place: Blue Fire and Munsaf.

THE FAREWELL CUP CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1,600M:

Lovely Dunit 9-2, Apex 8-6, Harry Can View 8-6, Grue 8-0, Sher-e-Punjab 8-0, Noor 7-10.

Win: Lovely Dunit.

Place: Sher-e-Punjab and Apex.