October 08, 2008	Wednesday	Shawwal 08, 1429

LAHORE, Oct 7: A mediocre card of six events has been drawn up for the midweek Lahore Gymkhana races at the Racecourse on Wednesday.

There is a big thrust of unknown pedigree horses, who make the events confusing for the punters as majority of them are either inconsistent performers or have not yet won a race.

With the exception of one race which has seven odd runners, the other events are subscribed by nine to 13 runners, mostly non-pedigreed. The fields are composed of four to six horses, who have previously won one or more races but after having lean period come down in the handicap rating.

There are as many who have not at all won even a single race. The strength and capabilities of such horses have not yet come to light, may be they have not been tried or if tried, have failed to come to their stables’ expectation. That makes winner picking a difficult task for punters and even those, who have knowledge of their performances on track.

The feature event, the Faisalabad Plate class VI division II & III to be gone over 900 metres, has nine runners.

Of them three are on chance. They are: Love Minister, Jang Ju and Unter. They should fight it out in the same order in this sixth and last race of the day.

The fifth and supporting event has the tiny field of seven runners, if they all make it at the starting gates. Four of them are known for their inconsistent performance while three are yet to make their grade on the victory statistics table: If majority are tried, it may prove an open affair.

The fourth race has a big field of thirteen runners with three of them as pick of the whole lot. They are filly Pawan Princess, Sana My Love and Delux.

Although placed on top of the handicap with nine stones and four pounds Pawan Princess is an outstanding performer which makes her the best proposition, if backed by stable connections.

The filly is trained by Tauqir Ahmed, who knows when and where to click

Three runners are very prominent on their current form and performance in races in the thirteen drawn for the third race. They are Client, Changer and Kiss Of Love. They should fight for picking up the spoils. They consist of some horses, who seen on the card after a long lay off. Their fitness is unknown as their pedigrees.

Leader’s Wing, Come On and Pure Power look good in the second race. If on job, they will make it a fighting race.

With all its improvement, most modern all-weather and night-racing facility, up-gradation of public stands and VIP enclosures and facilities, the kingly sports has failed to attract the crowd the likes of which is seen at other sports. Only a handful of race-addicted fans are seen at the race club. Seldom new faces are seen.

LRC chairman recently had not much time to give to races by his presence so he is said to be recommending Chaudhry Ahmed Saeed’s name. Few stewards attend races round the year and at the most three or four lucky stewards make it a point to attend regularly and they have become indispensable, they are sure to be elected.

The race club members are enrolled on loyalty to the chairman, whosoever he is, irrespective of their knowledge and love for racing.

However, a lot of activity is seen when any vacancy falls after a member’s passing away to eternal abode or near the annual elections of the stewards of the club.

Recently an old member of the LRC, Malik Nadir Khan Tiwana died and the next day at least four candidates smarting for membership and their supporters offering eulogies for the LRC chairman. The new member’s name has not yet officially been announced so far.

As the 2008-09 term’s elections are due on Oct 26, the election campaign is in full swing these days. At present two groups seem to be in the limelight. One of the sitting chairman Tariq Aziz and the other of the former chairman and ex-speaker National Assembly, Syed Fakhar Imam and Syeda Abida Hussain. They were actively seen at the races.

Tariq Aziz, who had gone to London, when Pervez Musharraf stepped down from the office of the president and returned home last week to head the campaign. In his absence, a Jockey Club Of Pakistan (JCP) steward, Munir Ahmed Dar, was seen actively counting on members on their side. Irfan Munnoo is very active on rival side as both sides are hopeful of their success.

All races are to be contested over the sprinting distance of 900 metres.

The first race will be held at 2:00pm.

The following is the field and our selections:

SAMUNDARI PLATE CLASS VII

DIV IV 900M:

Fredy’s Café 9-0, Anarkali 8-10, Pakistani 8-9, King’s UK 8-8, Raza The Great 8-6, Blank Cheque 8-2, Shan-e-Bahar 8-0, Trigger Happy 8-0, Sudden Attack 7-8, Independence Day 7-8, Golden Queen 7-4, Naemat Aie 7-4.

Win: Anarkali.

Place: Pakistani and Indendence Day.

SAMUNDARI PLATE CLASS VII

DIV IIII 900M:

Candidate 9-0, Aan 8-10, Pure Power 8-8, Leader’s Wing 8-8, Bella Rani 8-6, Lal Pari 8-2, Come On 8-1, Sohail 7-12, Bobby 7-9, Naseer Love 7-8.

Win: Leader’s Wing.

Place: Come On and ure Power.

SAMUNDRI PLATE CLASS VII

DIV II 900M:

Client 9-2, Smore Princess 9-0, Faraz 9-0, Profit 9-0, Babbu Gee 9-0, Aie Basanti 9-0, Changer 8-10, Gypsy 8-10, Raksh-e-Chaman 8-6, Karaman Wala 8-6, Alpha Juliet 8-6, Miss Mano 8-2, Kiss Of Love 7-12.

Win: Client.

Place: Changer and Kiss Of Love.

SAMUNDRI PLATE CLASS VII

DIV I 900M:

Pawan Princess 9-4, Red Baron 9-0, Moj-e-Sikandri 9-0, Fire King 9-0, Suraj 90, Sana My Love 8-11, Delux 8-10, Green Desert 8-10, Book Bet 8-9, Bagh-o-Bahar 8-4, Best Owner 8-2, Pretty 7-13, Muskan 7-8.

Win: Pawan Princess.

Place: Delux and Sana My Love.

FAISALABAD PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 900M:

Cheeku Khan 9-0, Basant Mayla 8-10, Miss Neelofar 8-6, Black King 8-4, Dogar Gift 7-12, Happy Bear 7-12, White Oaks 7-8.

Win & Place: Watch connections.

FAISALABAD PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II & III 900M:

Love Minister 9-0, Jang Ju 8-10, Victory Rose 8-9, Chocolate Sunday 8-9, Basanti 8-9, Super Sonic 8-6, Unter 8-6, Murad King 8-2, Little Smile 7-13.

Win: Love Minister.

Place: Jang Ju and Unter.