LAHORE, Sept 20: Four-year-old colt Desert Prince is fancied to win the over 1,000 metres Barisal Plate, class IV, division I and II combined handicap race, the highlight of the 3rd Lahore Winter Meeting to be held at the Racecourse on Sunday.

Bred at the stud farm owned by Mirza Khurshid Baig and trained by Tauqeer Ahmad, Desert Prince will take on the speedy Charismatic along with a couple of other thoroughbreds in a classic battle for supremacy.

This son of Bedouin Invader out-of-Four Aces, Desert Prince had a fine last season when he won four races, including a hat-trick and was placed thrice in his eight starts. Surprisingly, he finished third in the last race of the season, which he was expected to win. He has not appeared on the track since and the cause for his defeat remains shrouded in mystery.

Desert Prince launched his on-going season’s campaign, finishing second behind Zanjeer on Sept 7 in a field including charismatic, Chan and Chill. He is appearing almost in the same company in an epic tussle ahead of further exploits.

His close rivals could be Charismatic, Miss Liza and Lucky Cat. This will be the sixth race of the day.

A sizeable crowd of race fans is expected to turn up at the Racecourse to see some of the finest bred thoroughbreds jostling for supremacy in spite of the entry ticket soaring up to Rs300 following the levy of Rs200 entertainment tax on each ticket being sold by the Punjab government.

The supporting and fifth event, the Shah Kot Plate, class V, division I has 14 runners, barring last-minute withdrawals.

Of them three look on chance, if form and past performance is any yardstick to judge the capabilities of the runners under the assigned weight in the handicap.

However, these days horses are being doped through performance enhancing and slowing drugs, something unusual and rather upsetting for the lovers of equine sports.

Maybe for this reason or the economic constraints, which has affected every one, the attendance at the races has registered a downward slide with only professionals or those addicted to racing being lured towards it.

For professionals, besides the money involved in the world of horses, is the glory and ecstasy attached in leading a winner to cheers from racing connoisseurs. Whether in the form of stake-money or betting, both have their own charm.

The bettors are attracted to racing just like bees are to nectar, knowing the risks involved -- cheating through doping of horses and pulling by riders, common malpractices at the Racecourse. Such things besides shaking the foundation of the edifice of the kingly sports have marred it of the charm and glory, which had once attracted nobility to the world of horses.

Victory Hero, Emperor and The News are the trio fighting to pick up the spoils in the fifth race. On handicap, Victory Hero has an edge.

Harry Can Run, Big Bird and Shock Wave attract attention in the fourth race. On handicap and form Harry Can Run looks better of the three. On old form Shock Wave could be his challenger.

On form Rough Tough, Brave Heart and Sapna look good in the third race in a big field of 18-runners. The track work report of the three-year-old filly Twinky is very good and if she performs true to it, she is expected to run well on her debut. It would be a rare feat if she wins.

A six-event card will go through during the meeting. Three races will be held over 800 metres with remaining three run over 1,000 metres distance. The first race will be held at 2.00pm.

Following are the fields and our selections:

KARACHI PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 800M:

Dream Memories 9-4, Fakhr-e-Sialkot 8-10, Grace Glamour 8-10, Black King 8-8, Little Smile 7-12, Dogar Gift 7-11, Sharon Prince 7-10 and White Oaks 7-0

Win: Dream Memories.

Place: Little Smile and Dogar Gift.

KARACHI PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 800M:

Kamla 9-0, Blue Fire 9-0, Royal Storm 9-0, Cash Line 8-10, Khuddar 8-10, Last Option 8-10, Stride To Moment 8-10, Victory Gallop 8-10, Dam Dama Dam 8-10, Victory King 8-7, Amazing Boy 8-6 and Creek Cat 7-6.

Win: Victory King.

Place: Blue Fire and Victory Gallop.

KARACHI PLATE CLASS VI DIV I 800M:

Cleopatra 9-3, Brave Heart 9-1, Hip Hip Hurray 9-0, King Of Murad 9-0, Basanti 9-0, Blitz 9-0, Victory Rose 9-0, Striker 8-11, Twinky 8-10, Sapna 8-10, Raksh-e-Raqeeban 8-6, Al Ain 8-6, Rough Tough 8-4, Amazing Mission 7-12, Trump Coup 7-12, Murad King 7-8, Tripple Star 7-8 and Happy Dancer 7-4.

Win: Twinky.

Place: Rough Tough and Brave Heart.

SHAH KOT PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,000M:

Hallow Dancer 9-0, Big Bird 8-10, Dubai Fan 8-8, Bold Act 8-8, Munsaf 8-6, Shock Wave 8-2, Poris 8-2, Harry Can Run 8-2 and High Jet 7-4.

Win: Harry Can Run.

Place: Big Bird and Shock Wave.

SHAH KOT PLATE CLASS V

DIV I 1,000M:

Emperor 9-0, Magic Stride 9-0, Harry Can View 9-0, Chinkara 8-12, Richey Dancer 8-12, Miss Play 8-11, Spiritual Song 8-6, Big Power 8-6, Don’t Follow 8-6, Victory Hero 8-2, Can Can Girl 8-2, Iconic 8-2, Zoaq 8-0 and The News 7-10.

Win: Victory Hero.

Place: Emperor and The News.

BARISAL PLATE CLASS IV

DIV III 1,000M:

Chan 9-4, Desert Prince 9-2, Lovely Dunit 9-0, Charismatic 8-13, Lucky Winner 8-2, Chill 8-0, Noor 8-0, Lucky Cat 8-0 and Miss Liza 7-10.

Win: Desert Prince.

Place: Miss Liza and Charismatic.