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LAHORE, May 25: The eight-year-old bay Half Love, beaten in his previous outing, should make amends this time when he contests in the feature event of the Lahore Gymkhana races at the Racecourse on Sunday.
Half Love is appearing in the fifth race, the Ravi Plate, a Class V handicap event to be run over the sprinting distance of 900 metres. He has the advantage of being a fast sprinter among the field of 10, if there are no last-minute withdrawals.
Speed has won the handicap more often than not. But it depends upon the rider as to how skillful he is to get out the best from his mount. With a good rider up in the saddle Half Love should emerge victorious.
The six-year-old chestnut Better Case and the bay colt Sarfrosh are his close rivals, who can provide Half Love some challenge, if there is any.
The racing fans may witness a keen contest in the fourth and supporting event, the Sindh Plate, a Class VII Division II event, also to be run over 900 metres. Three of the nine contestants in this event, namely, Shannel, My Own Business and Al Zarrar are expected to be going all out to pick up the top honours.
On his facile victory last time out Al Zarrar is fancied to edge out both Shannel and My Own Business, if sent by the owner to do the same.
Meanwhile excitement and sentiments blend heavily between two top trainers Raja Tehmasab Khan and Amjad Ali II, who are tied up in a close tussle for the trainers’ championship for the year 2001-2002. Both have saddled 35 winners each to date on the Lahore Race Club trainers statistics table. Akhtar Mir has literally crawled to second spot with 30 winners.
Close on heels are Haji Fazal Hadi (27) followed by Mohammad Afzal (24) and Mohammad Hanif (23).
Raja Tehmasab Khan and Amjad Ali II are engaged in a hard struggle to win the championship till the last week of June when the Lahore racing season ends. The championship also carries a cash reward besides the honour.
The Sindh Plate Class VII Division I and Division VI races have been declared void for paucity of runners. Thus the card has been reduced to only five events.
All events will be contested over 900 metres.
Following are the fields and our selections:
SINDH PLATE CLASS VII DIV V 900M
Jungle Beat 9-0, Princess Altrui 9-0, Best In Show 8-9, Al Jarrar 8-6, Thunder Storm 8-4, Imagine If 7-13, Khan Bahadur 7-13, Final Count Down 7-10, Prince Of Arabia 7-10, Loveliest 7-10, Thank You Dear 7-10, Knock Out 7-10, Royal Bullet 7-10 and Flying Fin 7-10.
Win: Thunder Storm.
Place: Best In Show or Loveliest.
Upset: Imagine If.
SINDH PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV 900M
Samundar Khan 9-0, Royal Prosper 8-13, Oneeza 8-13, Qaswa Princess 8-9, Sherganzer 8-5, Mahnoor 8-4, Iqbal Maid 8-2, In Command 8-0, Silver Heart 8-0, Devi Husn Ki 7-13, Special Dream 7-10, Blue Bird 7-10 and Thank You Boss 7-10.
Win: Mahnoor.
Place: In Command or Royal Prosper.
Upset: Devi Husn Ki.
SINDH PLATE CLASS VII DIV III 900M
Lake District 9-4, Decent Fellow 8-10, Popeye Well 8-9, Fidayeen 8-8, Senna 8-4, Baker’s High 8-3, Lady Councillor 8-3, Berzensky 8-3, Seendak 7-13, Lucky Credit Queen 7-11 and Set A Fire 7-10.
Win: Lake District.
Place: Decent Fellow.
Upset: Senna.
SINDH PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 900M
Voodoo Dancer 9-0, Star Gate 8-13, Shannel 8-13, My Own Business 8-8, Umer Jet 8-7, Al Zarrar 8-5, Rukhsh 8-0, Afnan 8-0, On On 7-12.
Win: Al Zarrar.
Place: My Own Business.
Upset: Shannel.
RAVI PLATE CLASS V 900M
Gambling Girl 10-4, Think Thank 10-2, Perfect Timing 9-11, Half Love 9-4, Great Grandy 9-3, Admiral’s Way 9-0, Sarfrosh 8-8, Better Case 8-1, Shah The Great 7-13 and Biennial Moon 7-10.
Win: Half Love.
Place: Sarfrosh.
Upset: Better Case.
