July 30, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 26, 1429

LAHORE, July 29: Four-year-old chestnut filly Bubbly will be going all out to make it a two-in-a-row when the day/night midweek Lahore Gymkhana races get underway at the Racecourse on Wednesday evening.

Owned by Shahzada Salman Jawwad, Bubbly rolled to a facile win on July 3 last when the filly opened her account on the track defeating Polo Lounge, who failed to match her stride in the over 800 metres race.

The race distance has now been increased by 200 metres, which should not worry her because she came from behind in her last outing showing staying ability over the distance. Secondly, she is being trained and looked after under the instructions of the Lahore Race Club (LRC) steward/owner Masood Pervez himself, who with a long standing in equine sports has good knowledge of horse keeping, handicapping and the appropriate weight to be carried by a runner to get his/her best.

The filly is contesting in the second race, the Sohawa Plate class VI, division III and IV combined to be gone over 1,000 metres. The field comprises 11 runners with a majority having won one or more races and being placed on the board as many times. Aaja Bulbul, Black King, Chocolate Boy and Dogar Gift may fight for places too.

Rought Tough, Mera Chan and Fakhar-e-Sialkot should fight for the honours in the feature and first race, the Sohawa Plate class VI, division II to be contested in the over 1,000 metres distance.

If everything goes his way, the six-year-old bay horse Rough Tough, should make amends for his last Sunday’s defeat because of inefficient handling of the rider. Unter is another speedy runner in a small field of eight, barring last-minute withdrawals to fight for the placing on the board.

The filly Smore Choice, who had to her credit a surprise victory on the last run, would be on the trot to make it two wins on the trot. The style of her running was very impressive when she virtually beat all to score the first win. Though she has been promoted in handicap with nine stones and with her opponent given allowance to bring her on the defensive side, she will be a hard nut to crack. Not only would the winner have to produce speed but also equally match her strides in order to beat her.

Bagh-o-Bahar, Pretty and Cash Price should form the vanguard of her challengers.

Khan Baba, Muskan, Pure Power and Saad Prince should make a mark to steal the limelight in the third race packed with good sprinters in their own handicap division.

They are all knocking at victory’s door, though their recent performances are somewhat misleading.

Fourth-placed Khan Baba and equally placed Saad Prince should fight for the top honours in the race.

Filly Pawan Princess, who was beaten on her last outing, should make amends and win this time to prove herself the real princess of the rainy season, as her name suggests. She will find Fakhar-e-Hazara, Leaders Wing and Client as the big thorns in her side while going for the kill.

This will be the fifth race to be contested by 10 runners with some yet to have a win in their owners’ account.

The sixth and the last race constituted of the animals demoted to the lowest division of the class seven having nine runners looks like an open affair. While assessing their abilities, one may think it a very tricky race. However, if some good riders are to ride Come On, Anar Kali, King’s UK and Cash Box, they look like attractive runners.

However, while picking good riders, race goers should not just see their deeds but also keep their owners, who engage top riders for misleading backers as was the recent case of Life (Aamir Pervez) and Shim Jim (Shahid Rehman), tricks in mind.

Sometimes the riders succumb under pressure of the owner’s status and some times for monetary gains and this is what has marred the charm of racing.

A card of six events will be gone through during the day/night racing. The first two races, the feature and the supporting events, will be contested over the 1,000 metres distance and the remaining four over 900 metres. The first race will be held at 5.30pm.

Following is the field and our selections:

SOHAWA PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 1,000M:

Mera Chan 9-2, Rough Tough 9-2, Sono Bhai 9-0, Unter 8-10, Amazonia 8-10, Fakhar-e-Sialkot 8-10, Batista 8-4, Tipu Prince 8-2.

Win: Rough Tough.

Place: Fakhar-e-Sialkot and Mera Chan.

SOHAWA PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 1,000M:

Salman Love 9-0, Black King 8-12, Red Carpet 8-10, Aaja Bulbul 8-8, Basant Mayla 8-0, Victory Diamond 8-0, Chocolate Boy 8-0, Black Leopard 8-0, Bubbly 7-10, Dogar Gift 7-4, Gypsy 7-4.

Win: Bubbly.

Place: Aaja Bulbul and Basant Mayla.

JHELUM PLATE CLASS VII

DIV I 900M:

Pappu Prince 9-0, Kainat 9-0 Lion Horse 9-0, Smore Chance 9-0, Cash Price 8-10, Jawad Prince 8-10, Sweet Candy 8-10, Ahmed The Great 8-10, Pappu Khan 8-10, Prince Of Chandrai 8-10, Kasturi 8-10, Ronaq Mayla 8-10, Sohna Murad 8-10, Pretty 8-0, Bagh-o-Bahar 7-10.

Win: Smore Chance.

Place: Pretty and Bagh-o-Bahar.

JHELUM PLATE CLASS VII

DIV II 900M:

Pure Power 9-0, Candidate 9-0, Majid Love 9-0, Khan Baba 8-10, Easy Load 8-10, Dynamite 8-10, Miss Mano 8-10, Changer 8-6, Azad Panchi 8-6, Sana My Love 8-6, Shandar 8-2, Muskan 8-2, Bioactive 7-12.

Win: Khan Baba.

Place: Muskan and Saad Prince.

JHELUM PLATE CLASS VII

DIV III 900M:

Pawan Princess 9-0, Client 9-0, Racing Bridge 8-10, Dosti 8-10, Shan-e-Bahar 8-10, Best Choice 8-10, Fakhar-e-Hazara 8-8, Leader’s Wing 8-8, Golden Falcon 8-8, Kiss Of Love 8-6.

Win: Pawan Princess.

Place: Leader’s Wing and Fakhar-e-Hazara.

JHELUM PLATE CLASS VII

DIV III & IV 900M:

Waqas Prince 9-0, Cash Box 8-10, King’s UK 8-10, Cash Deposit 8-10, Anarkali 8-10, Sana 8-6, Banjaran 8-6, Trigger Happy 7-10, Come On 7-8.

Win: Come On.

Place: King’s UK and Anarkali.