August 10, 2008	Sunday	Sha’aban 7, 1429

LAHORE, Aug 9: The feature event of the day/night Lahore Summer Meeting looks like an open competition between a horse (Charismatic), a filly (Chill) and a mare (Noor) when the six-event card gets underway at the Racecourse on Sunday.

A showdown between the thoroughbred equine sprinting stars is expected among the nine runners left in the field for the Shahdara Plate, a class four handicap race to be gone over 1,100 metres, barring last-minute withdrawals.

The event featuring classic and high-pedigree animals seems to be generating great interest among racing circles. However, on form and classification only four, namely, Charismatic, Chill, Bright Flame and Noor, attract attention. The last one named has gone up in weight scales.

Charismatic is above this class and a speedy animal too but he is running for the first time this season after a long absence. Chill had already won a good race over 1,000 metres and should last for another 100 metres to make it to two-in-a-row.

Four-year-old bay filly Iconic, who was placed fourth on her first tryout last Sunday, should make amends this time and win the third race to be contested by 16 runners, if there are no last-minute withdrawals.

The supporting and fifth race, the Shah Kot Plate class V, division II and III, to be contested in the over 1,100 metres distance, has only seven runners. On handicap the four-year-old bay filly Bold Act looks like a good proposition if backed by the stable. Don’t Follow and Pick Of The Day come next in the same order.

Little Smile, Murad The Great and Mah-e-Noor II are the pick of the 13 drawn for the first race.

Three-year-old dark bay filly Dream Memories should make amends this time with Dream Act and Sona fighting for places in the second race.

The fourth race is a mix of form and out-of-form runners. So far chestnut filly High Jet, Al Ain and Brave Heart has been performing well and look to be going for the kill. Perfect Promise, Emperor, Majestic Desert and My Delilah are good on classification but not known for recent form, making the race an open affair.

The following is the field and our selections:

BADAMI BAGH PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 1,000M:

Geo Super 9-2, Little Smile 9-0, Murad The Great 9-0, Never Fail 9-0, Fit Fat 9-0, Batista 8-10, Geo Bhakkar 8-2, Hikmat 8-2, Nah-e-Noor II 8-2, Sheroo Khan 7-12, Noor Pari 7-12, Boogy Woogy 7-4, Red Fair 7-4.

Win: Little Smile.

Place: Mah-e-Noor II and Murad The Great.

BADAMI BAGH PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 1,000M:

Pakeeza 9-0, Victory Bulbul 9-0, Dream Memories 8-12, Quwat-e-Bhakkar 8-10, Princess Aman 8-10, Dream Act 8-10, Sona 8-8, So Romantic 8-8, War Artist 8-6, Billoo The Great 8-6, Tippu Prince 7-12.

Win: Dream Memories.

Place: Sona and Dream Act.

BADAMI BAGH PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I 1,000M:

Rough Tough 9-2, Sabbat Qadam 9-0, Sapna 9-0, Rough Queen 8-10, Saizzy Against All 8-10, Iconic 8-10, Jang Ju 8-10, Dam Dama Dam 8-10, Striker 8-6, Harry Can Run 8-4, Chocolate Sunday 8-2 Philogyny 8-2, Love Story 8-2, Tallal The Great 8-0, Stride To Moment 8-0, Bird Fly 8-0.

Win: Iconic. Place: Tallal The Great and Rough Tough.

SHAH KOT PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,100M:

Perfect Promise 9-0, Emperor 9-0, Majestic Desert 8-12, My Delilalh 8-12, Rakhsh-e-Raqeeban 8-12, Darnaz 8-4, High Jet 8-4, Sweet Lady 8-4, Brave Heart 8-2, Arzoo 8-2, Blitz 8-0, Al Ain 7-10.

Win: High Jet.

Place: Brave Heart and Al Ain.

SHAH KOT PLATE CLASS V

DIV I & II 1,100M:

Munsaf 9-0, Born To Win 8-8, War Admiral 8-8, Don’t Follow 8-2, Royal Gambler 7-12, Pick Of The Day 7-12, Bold Act 7-12.

Win: Bold Act.

Place: Pick Of The Day and Don’t Follow.

SHAHDARA PLATE CLASS IV 1,100M:

Sher-e-Gujrat 9-6, Zanjeer 9-2, Noor 9-0, Mythical 8-8, Charismatic 8-4, Chill 8-4, Bright Flame 8-0, Magic Stride 7-12, Will He Wish 7-8.

Win: Charismatic/Chill.

Place Noor and Bright Flame.