September 07, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 06, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 6: With arrays of star Pakistani thoroughbreds jostling for supremacy, the first Lahore Winter Meeting featuring six cup events and promising the very best of racing action for the delight of the connoisseurs and gets underway at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The first winter meeting is being held in connection with Pakistan’s Defence Day with cups named after national war heroes and recipients of the Nishan-i-Haider, the country’s highest gallantry award.

The feature event, the Shabbir Sharif Shaheed Cup, a class III and IV combined handicap race to go over 1,200 metres has seven runners, including some top thoroughbreds having won distinction at the turf during the last season.

The blue-roan horse Zanjeer, owned by Khawaja M. Atif, stands out over the distance. A son of Polinesso from the Northern Dancer’s lineage, Zanjeer should prevail over his six opponents while measuring strides for the top honours.

Two colts, Charismatic and Desert Prince, should fight for the second place.

Desert Prince, owned by Mirza Khurshid Baig, has to his credit four wins and three places in his eight outings last season. The only negative point against him is his maiden appearance during the on-going season.

The supporting event, the Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Cup, a class IV handicap race has nine runners including some top local turf performers. Of them the chestnut colt Velocity, a progeny of Vitellozzi out-of-Gambling Princess, who has two splendid victories to his credit, is the top contender. Though promoted a class higher, he will be going all out to make it a three-in-a-row. The filly Miss Liza and the colt Cut Throat will be his challengers.

Syed Tasweer Hussain’s colt Cut Throat is from Forzando out-of-Perfect Perouette. The colt failed to live up to the stable’s expectations from him during the last season. He has a handicap advantage to upset all calculations in the sixth and last race of the day.

Three-year-old bay colt Punjabi, who has to his credit a brilliant hat-trick of victories, will be on the trot to extend his winning streak to four while contesting in the Major Akram Shaheed cup, a class five event. A progeny of Bedouin Invader out-of-Fantastic Cute, Punjabi, owned by Choudhry Mohammad Qasim, though a speedy colt, has a tendency to go wide in the straight chase. He will have Miss Play, Majestic Desert and Emperor as the constant thorns on his way to victory. There seems to be some kind of a flaw in his training and if he fails to end the tendency of going wide it can be at the cost of victory.

Three-year-old dark-bay filly Princess Ginza owned by Raja Khushbaht-ur-Rehman, who is unbeaten in her two runs, will be in action to complete a hat trick of victories. Royal Gesture, Shakalaka and Nishat Malook will be fighting for places too.

The Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Cup has a big field of 18-runners. That includes some good performers and a couple of high pedigree thoroughbreds. Quantico, Chimera and Soviet Song attract attention and may fight for the top honours.

Three-year-old bay filly Tinker Bell is a top contender in the 18-strong field for the Major Tufail Mohammad cup to go over 800 metres.

The filly owned by Mian Maahir Ahmad was beaten by seven lengths over 1,000 metres in June and was rested since then. Maybe she lacks staying ability. Still, a speedy filly, she is faring well according to track reports. She is facing some speedsters like Smore Choice, Dream Memories and Victory King. And with the distance reduced to 800 metres should have the better of her opponents.

It’s an honour to win the first cup on the opening day of the winter meetings.

The first race will be held at 2.00pm.

Following are the fields and our selections:

MAJOR TUFAIL MOHAMMAD

SHAHEED CUP ClASS VI,

DIV II 800M:

Tinker Bell 9-2, Stride To Moment 9-2, Smore Choice 9-0, Cleopatra 9-0, Daizy Aggainst All 8-13, Tallal The Great 8-12, Mona The Great 8-12, Jang Ju 8-12, Honest Minister 8-12, Royal Storm 8-12, Flying Fury 8-12, So Romantic 8-10, Hitler 8-8, Victory King 8-8, Naseeb Apna Apna 8-4, Sohna Billoo 8-4 and Tara Aya 7-10.

Win: Tinker Bell.

Place: Victory King and Dream Memories.

PILOT OFFICER RASHID MINHAS SHAHEED CUP CLASS VI DIV I 1,000M:

Striker 9-0, Quantico 8-13, Al Ain 8-13, Harry Can Run 8-13, Raksh-e-Raqeeban 8-13, Love Minister 8-7, Chimera 8-6, Rough Tough 8-5, Trump Coup 8-5, Sun City 8-5, Snow Fall 8-5, Renaushky 8-5, Blue Fire 8-3, Soviet Song 8-1, Geo Super 8-1, Victory Gallop 8-1, Murad king 7-13 and Dam Dama Dam 7-13.

Win: Quantico.

Place: Soviet Song and Chimera.

CAPT. MOHAMMAD SARWAR

SHAHEED CUP CLASS V DIV II 1,000M:

Eve 9-0, Bold Act 9-0, Princess Ginza 8-12, Munsaf 8-12, Nishat Malook 8-9, Big Bird 8-8, Diamond Sky 8-6, Royal Gesture 8-4, Victory Hero 8-2, Brave Heart 8-2, Blitz 8-1, Gulf Line 8-1, Sapna 8-1, Dillagi 8-0, Shakalaka 7-12, Perfect Promise 7-10, Darnaz 7-8 and High Jet 7-5.

Win: Princess Ginza.

Place: Royal Gesture and Shakalaka.

MAJOR AKRAM SHAHEED CUP CLASS V DIV I 1,000M:

Miss Play 9-0, Chinkara 8-12, Punjabi 8-12, Azam Love 8-4, Majestic Desert 8-2, Dubai Fan 8-0, Emperor 8-0 and War Admiral 8-0.

Win: Punjabi.

Place: Emperor and Majestic Desert.

MAJOR SHABBIR SHARIF SHAHEED CUP CLASS IV & III 1,200M:

Valenday 9-8, Chan 9-4, Zanjeer 8-10, Charismatic 8-8, Desert Prince 8-8, Noor 8-0 and Chill 8-0.

Win: Zanjeer.

Place: charismatic and Desert Prince.

MAJOR AZIZ BHATTI SHAHEED CUP CLASS IV DIV II & III 1,200M:

Miss Liza 9-4, Tuba First 8-10, Lucky Cat 8-8, Velocity 8-6, Secret Memories 8-2, Harry Can View 7-10, Cut Throat 7-8, Spiritual Song 7-8 and Don’t Follow 7-4.

Win: Velocity.

Place: Miss Liza and Cut Throat.