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LAHORE, Oct 6: The five-year-old chestnut gelding Lake District, with two impressive back-to-back victories to his credit, is fancied to win the Islamabad Cup to be run over six furlongs when the 5th Lahore Winter Meeting gets under way at the Racecourse Sunday.
Contesting in the fifth race in a card of six events, Lake District is, however, likely to face strong challenge from three-year-old bay colt Crown Maker and the five-year-old bay mare Run Way Lady.
Lake District won very impressively on its last outing on Sept 23 despite carrying a heavy impost of 9-4 in the handicap. He beat Crown Maker, who weighed 7-13. Now both are carrying the same weight of 7-10, which gives a better edge to Lake District.
The bay mare Run Way Lady, who had been unlucky on her previous four outings and beaten consecutively to second position would have to show much to win. On her previous outings she showed poor finish.
The bay mare Fanim, who is not in perfect form, is a cut above in class vis-a-vis the other contenders in the Islamabad Cup and can win for the mere asking, if she is fit. But her last outing was hopeless.
They all should fight out for the top honours.
The sixth and supporting event, the Rohri Plate, a class VII handicap race has 13 acceptors, if there are no last-minute withdrawals.
If form and handicap are any yardstick for judging the merit and performance of animals, the event seems a four-animals affair between Dilnasheen II, Jet Master, Sarfrosh and Charakh Bareen.
All events will be contested over the sprinting distance of six furlongs, the first to start at 12.30 pm.
The following are the fields and our selections:
THE ROHRI PLATE CLASS VII DIVISION V & VI 6 FURS:
Salman Chandiwala 9-0 Dane Hill Dancer 8-9 Gold Champion 8-8 Jee Salman 8-4 Burq Raftar 8-3 Martial Law 7-13 Unbeatable 7-10 Loveliest 7-10 King Gondal 7-10 High Mark 7-10 Mon Soon 7-10.
Win: Gold Champion. Place: King Gondal or Burq Raftar. Upset: Unbeatable.
THE ROHRI PLATE CLASS VII DIVISION IV B 6 FURS:
Opera House 9-0 Best Lara 8-13 Blu’s Wendy 8-12 Impact 8-12 Golden Road 8-11 Keep In Steps 8-11 Touch of Joy 8-11 Burfi 8-10 Ababeel 8-8 Fiji 8-7 Special Dream 8-6 Royal Soul 8-4 River Wild 8-2 Fly To The Star 8-0.
Win: Best Lara. Place: Golden Road or Burfi. Upset: Special Dream.
THE ROHRI PLATE CLASS VII DIVISION III & IV 6 FURS:
Crysler (Ex Nadar Love) 9-0 Bureaucrat 9-0 Bacha Jamoora 9-0 Show Counting 9-0 Popeye Well 9-0 K-2 8-11 Komila 8-11 Ark 8-10 Divine Force 8-9 Good Win 8-8 Rare Star 8-8.
Win: Crysler (Ex Nadar Love). Place: Bacha jamoora or Ark. Upset: Show Counting.
THE ROHRI PLATE CLASS VII DIVISION III 6 FURS:
Abr-e-Bahar 9-0 Salaaf 9-0 Blue Stone 8-12 Bold Effort 8-11 L’ Aurore 8-11 Desert Dream 8-11 Don’t Chase 8-8 Bhola Jee 8-7 King Fisher 8-7 Blue’s Eye 8-6 Sultan Love 8-6 Princess Altrui 8-5.
Win: Salaaf. Place: L’ Aurore or Princess Altrui. Upset: King Fisher.
THE ISLAMABAD CUP CLASS V 6 FURS:
Admiral’s Way 10-4 Perfect Timing 10-2 Popeye 10-2 Fanim 9-12 Half Love 9-8 Shershah 9-2 Great Grandy 9-1 Apple Of My Eye 8-7 Run Way Lady 8-4 Saughat 8-2 Lake District 7-10 Crown Maker 7-10.
Win: Lake District. Place: Run Way Lady or Crown Maker. Upset: Fanim.
THE ROHRI PLATE CLASS VII DIVISION II & III 6 FURS;
Storm Bird 9-9 Seendak 9-8 One Man Show 9-8 Dilnasheen 9-1 Blue Lead 9-1 Charakh Bareen 8-13 Jet Master 8-11 Sarfrosh 8-1 Flying Fury 8-1 Think Thank 7-13 Sabza Choice 7-11 Hot Spell 7-10 Blue Bird 7-10.
Win: Jet Master. Place: Charakh Bareen or Sarfrosh. Upset: Dilnasheen II.
