August 31, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 28, 1429

LAHORE, Aug 30: Bay horse Charismatic looks set to hog the limelight in the feature event to go over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres when the 17th day/night Lahore Summer Meeting gets underway at the Racecourse on Sunday evening.

Five-year-old bay Charismatic was beaten by Pak Edition on Aug 24. He should make amends this time and win the sixth and last race, the Shah Kot Plate, class IV division I, II and III.

It is interesting to know that Charismatic had a successful last season. He ran twice during the ongoing season, finishing fourth once and second on the following running. If he shows some improvement on his last performance, he should win.

Among his opponents, mare Don’t Follow and the lightweight Born To Win may fight for places.

In the fifth and supporting event, bay filly Pick Of The Day is the pick of the seven acceptors to win the top honours. In her previous two outings last Sunday, the daughter of Power Base out-of-Bold and Beautiful, Pick Of The Day, at second and third finished knocking at victory’s door. Her probable jockey Shahid Rehman would have to adopt front-running tactics, which he adopted when finishing a close second. Last time he ran in a waiting style, which did not pay off well.

Bold Act and Lucky Cat should fight for the place in the Ravi Plate, class V division I and II to be contested over the 1,000 metres distance.

Three-year-old colt Shock Wave, who won a good race on July 15, should make it a two-in-a-row when he contests in the fourth race, a class V division II handicap race over 1,000 metres.

Son of Watchbat Nashwan out-of-Hot Spell, Shock Wave is a highly bred colt from the bloodline of Nashwan and if kept intact will be a classic proposition during the on-going season. High Jet and Diamond Sky look good for places.

The third race has 11 runners barring last-minute withdrawals. They include some good speedsters and a few dark horses, capable of upsetting all calculations. On recent form and performances, Brave Heart and Blue Fire should fight for picking up the spoils. On handicap Blue Fire edges better.

Striker, Victory King and Stride To Moment are the pick of the 10 acceptors listed for the second race. They should decide about the winner.

Geo Bhakkar, Sulman Love and Dream Memories are the form contenders in the first race to be contested by 10 runners barring last-minute withdrawals. Handicap favours Geo Bhakkar to prevail over the others.

In Lahore there is no dearth of owners, who consider themselves master of racing and feel it their right to try horses at their own liking or have their favourite horse pulled because they cannot digest other bettors laying bets on their horses. They forget that when horses arrive in the paddock, they become public property, irrespective of who their owner happens to be. Secondly, when bets are laid, what is the guarantee that the horse would win?

The kingly sport of racing survives mainly on how much it attracts the public and the bigger the public participation, which provides money in the form of bets, the more attractive the racing will be. If there is no public there will be no bookmakers, no horse-owners because under the present economic constraints the owners cannot feed the horses merely on stake-money and the race club cannot function without racing public. If there is anyone who thinks otherwise, he must be as rich as a king. There is a well-known adage that horseracing is the sports of either kings or fools?

A card of six events will be decided in the last day/night racing before the advent of the holy month of Ramazan. All races will be contested over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres.

The first race will start at 5:30pm.

The following is the field and our selections:

MARDAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 1,000M:

Dream Memories 9-4, Sulman Love 9-2, Pakeeza 9-0, Scarlet Empress 8-10, Mikado 8-10, Geo Bhakkar 8-4, Dogar Gift 8-0, Shah Rani 7-10, Lucky Coin 7-6, Happy Life 7-4.

Win: Geo Bhakkar.

Place: Dream Memories and Sulman Love.

MARDAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 1,000M:

Striker 9-1, Stride To Moment 9-0, Daizy Against All 9-0, Love Story 9-0, So Romantic 8-12, Victory King 8-10, Black King 8-4, Fakhr-e-Sialkot 8-4, Quwat-e-Bhakkar 7-12, Creek Cat 7-10.

Win: Striker.

Place: Victory King and Stride To Moment.

MARDAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I 1,000M:

Brave Heart 9-5, Victory Gallop 8-10, Blue Fire 8-8, Dam Dama Dam 8-8, Rough Tough 8-6, Great H 8-6, Black House 8-2, Jang Ju 8-0, Amazing Boy 7-12, Tripple Star 7-12, Thanks For Nothing 7-10.

Win: Blue Fire.

Place: Rough Tough and Brave Heart.

RAVI PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,000M:

Punjabi 9-0, Diamond Sky 9-0, Nishat Malook 8-12, Blitz 8-9, Sapna 8-9, Shock Wave 8-8, Dillagi 8-8, King’s Zenith 8-8, Baker Love 8-4, Perfect Partner 8-4, Victory Hero 8-4, High Jet 7-13.

Win: Shock Wave.

Place: Diamond Sky and High Jet.

RAVI PLATE CLASS V

DIV I & II 1,000M:

Lucky Cat 9-6, Pick Of The Day 8-9, Dubai Fan 8-4, Munsaf 8-2, Mj Mayla 8-0, Bold Act 7-10, Emperor 7-8.

Win: Pick Of The Day.

Place: Bold Act and Lucky Cat.

SHAH KOT PLATE CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1,000M:

Chill 9-0, Miss Liza 8-4, Charismatic 8-4, Harry Can View 7-10, Born To Win 7-4, Magic Stride 7-4, Don’t Follow 7-4.

Win: Charismatic.

Place: Born To Win.