KARACHI, Feb 15: The speedy bay mare Rashmee, is fancied to lift the Eid Milan Cup, to be contested over six furlongs by 13 runners, when the Winter Gymkhana Meeting gets under way at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Participating in the sixth race on the afternoon’s programme, Rashmee will be challenged by two other speedy customers, Yahya Shahid’s bay colt Donatello and Ali Faisal Farooq’s four-year-old filly X’tasy, improving with every run.

All in all, seven events have been drawn up on the racing card with six to be contested over the sprinting distance of five furlongs and the Eid Milan Cup to be contested over six.

The first race begins at 1.00 p.m.

Our day’s best is Irfan Mehdi’s chestnut horse Free Lancer, already with a splendid hat trick under his belt with jockey Arshad in the saddle.

In the last race of the afternoon, Free Lancer will be going all out to continue on his winning streak. Free Lancer should be followed home by Aziz Love, finishing second last week, although the poor chestnut horse was hooked throughout the five furlong sprint by riding boy Bashir Karim.

Sapno Ki Rani finishing fourth last Sunday, should grab the third spot from Sarazan.

Irfan Mehdi and trainer Nazir are on song to finish the afternoon’s programme with a good double through Defence Academy.

Going over five furlongs once again in the fifth event, Defence Academy this time should get the better of top weight Mah Sagar and Just In Fun.

In the first race of the afternoon, Sunday Silence, although finishing a very poor fourth two weeks ago, is our fancy, closely followed home by Shehroz-e-Sehar and Royal Promise.

The next race has a big field of 18 runners. In this race, Pervaiz Khan’s bay gelding Striker, after several disappointing appearances, should make amends.

Striker should be followed home by Major Dandy and Sweet Senorita.

The bay four-year-old colt Ford Mustang, working well in the morning exercises, if ticking should win the third race for the mere asking, with Rich Valiant a close second with Classic Beauty bagging the third spot.

Murtaza Hussain’s grey four-year-old colt Mera Jugnoo has obliged his owner on two successive occasions and will be on song for a hat trick on Sunday.

Contesting in the fourth race with 12 other runners, Mera Jugnoo although carrying the top weight, should provide jockey Tariq Mehmood with another splendid victory, beating two other speedy contenders Sarafan and the five-year-old roan horse High Speed.

Following is the field and our selections:

MULTAN PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-V 5F