LAHORE, Feb 5: Dark bay horse Wonderful Smile looks like a good proposition to have the better of his 11 rivals in a six event card at the midweek Lahore Gymkhana races at the Racecourse on Wednesday.

The speedy five-year-old registered a facile victory in his previous outing last week in a class VI division II handicap race. He has now been assigned top weight of nine stones two pounds against the previous seven stones 10 pounds that he won. Even at this weight, if everything goes his way, there are chances of his making it a two in-a-row.

He will, however, have chestnut mare Big Choice and bay horse Love Minister as constant threats in his path to victory in the fifth race in racing order to be gone over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres.

Armida, Shah Rani and Billoo The Prince are also as strong claimants to win the second race, the Kaghan Plate class VI division one handicap event to be contested in the over 1,000 metres distance.

Being unlucky, Armida put up a very bad show in last Wednesday’s race when she finished third, behind Blue Fire and Zahoor-e-Sehar, leaving her connections in a fix. Being sure of her success, her owner Syed Pervez Hussain Shah had availed the facility of owner’s bet but her performance in the race left much to be desired. There had been doubts about her performance even before the race when her odds eased up to 80 to 100 from 30 to 100. It’s a mystery yet to be solved. If horses belonging to the stewards are not safe, it means that the ‘racing mafia’ is stronger than it seems which should be an eye opener for the ordinary owners and race goers.

Seven-year-old gelding Desert Eagle and Noor-un-Nisa are the pick of the dozen runners contesting in the first race.

Seeing the way Desert Eagle won on Jan 16, he looks all set for yet another victory to make it a two in-a-row. Mah-e-Noor and Pretty should fight for a place too.

The dark bay horse Chocolate Boy, who was defeated by Liana Again on Jan 30, would be going all out to make amends this time and win the third race. Going by past performances, Geo Bhakkar and Miss Mano are prominent among his 14 rivals.

In all, a record number of 84 runners will be vying for the spoils in the six events, all to be contested in the over 1,000 metres distance.

Some events may result in stiff competition and the race goers may enjoy a feast of close finishes during the cold wave, which has gripped the city breaking many previous years’ record.

The first race will be held at 12:00 noon.

Following is the field and our selections:

KAGHAN PLATE CLASS VI