KARACHI, Oct 20: Crusade, although beaten by Lover’s Way over six furlongs last time out, starts off once again as our day’s best, when the Winter Gymkhana Meeting gets under way at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The much talked about bay filly, playing the bridesmaid on her last two appearances under jockey Shehzad, should get her act together in this five furlong contest in the sixth race, chased all the way to the winning post by top weight Gambling Girl and The Statesman.

Seven events has been carded on the racing programme for the day which begins at 1.00 p.m. The first six events will be contested over the sprinting distance of five furlongs, while the last event will see 10 runners vying for the top honours going over seven furlongs.

In this race which should produce plenty of thrills and spills, the bay colt Dur-e-Yamen is fancied to win this race from Lover’s Way and Gambling Princess, with Edging Ahead, a swift bay colt winning five of his last six starts, completing the frame.

The fifth race of the afternoon will see seven highly bred two-year-olds, all maidens, trotting up at the starting gate with the winner bagging the Performance Cup.

Of these seven runners, three colts are owned by leading owner Syed Taufiq Kamal. Another well-known owner M. Shafiq has two colts in the race, while prominent race horse breeder and owner Faisal Farooq, has a filly and a colt in contention.

In a big field of 16 runners in the opener, Syed Ali Gohar Shah’s chestnut mare Glamour Girl, should win if called upon to do the trick, with top weight Double Your Money and Pride Of Performance happy to settle for the place berths.

The danger however, could come from the 12-year-old bay horse Century.

Satellite Star under jockey Sullah, unlucky to be beaten by one and quarter lengths by Lucky One during their last meeting, should claim the next race after a keen tussle with Wonderful Boy and the top weight Rip Off.

However, danger lurks in the shadows in the form of the Sinjaab - Air Hostess sibling Baby Face.

The spoils of the third event should be picked up by the six-year-old chestnut horse Magyar, with Gharnata, Much Better, Striker and Even Top joining the fray.

Taking her last few performances into consideration, the chestnut mare Tomahawk with a good lad astride, is fancied in these columns to overcome the challenge of Welcome Shahtab, New Challenge and Lucky Prince.

Following is the field and our selections:

THATTA PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-IV 5F