September 10, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 09, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 9: An ordinary card of six events comprising mostly unknown pedigree horses awaits race goers at the midweek Lahore Gymkhana races at the Racecourse on Wednesday.

Four races will be contested over the sprinting distance of 900 metres while two, the fifth and the sixth, will go over 1,100 metres.

There are 14 runners in the sixth race, also the feature event, barring last-minute withdrawals.

Of them, three namely Lighting Muqeem, Smore Choice and Black King look on chance on their recent form and performance.

Lighting Muqeem, who was beaten to third place in her Sept 3 outing, should make amends to win the race. Her close rivals could be filly Smore Choice and gelding Black King.

Scarlet Empress, Geo Bhakkar and Happy Life are the pick of the 13 contestants drawn for the fifth and the supporting event. The four-year-old colt, Geo Bhakkar, who was beaten to third place on August 27 should rise to the occasion and pick up the spoils. Scarlet Empress and Happy Life should fight for the places.

Three-year-old bay colt Saad Prince, who registered a facile victory on July 30, will be on course to make it two-in-a row in the fourth race. Muskan, Mahima and Pretty may fight for places on the board.

The four-year-old red-roan filly Luka Toni, who is yet to win a race, is a favourite in the third race. Her stable connections had pinned high hopes on her. Pure Power, Client and Changer should fight for the places in this third race of the day.

The first and second races are composed of unknown horses, a majority of whom have either won or if won a race long ago, have come down in weight scales to the lowest ebb. Very few of the runners are consistent performers. Since there is no record of their pedigrees, their connections are often put on the wrong end.

On form, which is the exposed ability of runners on track in terms of past performance, Double Victory beaten on his previous outing should make amends and win the race.

Five-year-old horse Shandar, who has come down in the lowest division of class VII, should prove his name’s worth. His main opponents are Independence Day, Pakistani and Sudden Attack, owned by Munir Dar. Whoever is Dar’s trump card will be known at the appropriate time but his choice would most probably be Independence Day if his son Tauqeer Dar does not come in the way because he is the caretaker of horses flying colours of his father.

The first race will be held at 2.00pm.

The following are the fields and our selections.

KOTLI PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV 900M:

Shandar 9-0, Independence Day 8-10, Pakistani 8-10, Azeem Prince 8-6, Sudden Attack 8-6, Shan-e-Bahar 8-6, Best

Choice 8-6, Easy Load 8-2, Azad Panchi 8-2, Loving Heart 7-12, Lal Pari 7-10 and Pukkar 7-8.

Win: Independence Day.

Place: Shandar and Pukkar.

KOTLI PLATE CLASS VII DIV III 900M:

Anarkali 9-0, Double Victory 8-12, Sana My Love 8-9, Chanda 8-8, Book Bet 8-4, Raza The Great 8-4, Raftar-e-Sehar 8-4, Scented Dust 8-2, Leader’s Wing 8-1, Trigger Happy 8-1 and King’s UK 8-0.

Win: Double Victory.

Place: Book Bet and Anarkali.

KOTLI PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 900M:

Changer 9-0, Bella Rani 8-12, Pure Power 8-9, Sohna Murad 8-8, Miss Mano 8-8, Better Time 8-8, Kainaat 8-8, Kiss Of Love 8-7, Luka Toni 8-4 and Client 8-4.

Win: Luka Toni.

Place: Client and Pure Power.

KOTLI PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 900M:

Profit 9-0, Sweet Grandy 9-0, Rahsk-e-Chaman 9-0, Victory Tiger 9-0, Dream Girl 9-0, Bagh-o-Bahar 9-0, Delux 8-11, Saad Prince 8-10, Aan 8-10, Pretty 8-8, Mahima 8-6, Muskan 8-6 and Al Dar 8-2.

Win: Saad Prince.

Place: Muskan and Mahima.

LANDHI PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 1,100M:

Scarlet Empress 9-0, Tara Aya 9-0, Little Aya 8-10, Grace Glamour 8-6, Sun Ray 8-6, Geo Bhakkar 8-4, Fit Fat 8-2, Meri Arzoo 8-2, Sharoon Prince 8-2, Yard Arm 8-2, High Quality 8-2, Best Owner 7-10 and Happy Life 7-4.

Win: Geo Bhakkar.

Place: Scarlet Empress and Happy Life.

LANDHI PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I & II 1,100M:

Khuddar 9-0, Lighting Muqeem 8-11, Royal Tigerous 8-10, Love Minister 8-8, Sun City 8-6, Smore Choice 8-6, Victory Gallop 8-3, Murad King 8-1, Mona The Great 7-10, Victory King 7-6, Desert Whisper 7-6, Naseeb Apna Apna 7-6, Sohna Billoo 7-6 and Black King 7-4.

Win: Lighting Muqeem.

Place: Smore Choice and Black King.