LAHORE, June 21: With a fine hat trick to his credit, five-year-old brown colt Honest Bird will be vying to make it four in-a-row when the Lahore Gymkhana meeting gets under way at the Racecourse on Sunday.
This colt from Yateem out-of-Miss Dixit registered his first win on May 28, followed with two consecutive victories on June 1 and June 8, showing improvement on each running. His last being an amazing easy win. He has been promoted to the top division of class VII.
The way he is improving, there seems a good chance of his winning again. However, he may face a stiff challenge from bay filly Hunza, another filly Al trui Princess and the lowly placed bay gelding Senna. In all ten acceptors will be contesting in this fifth race in racing order.
Another consistent performer, who should do well is Puma King in the fourth race. He is contesting in a big field of 14 runners barring last-minute withdrawals.
This dark-bay colt from Rambo out-of-No Turn is never out of the first two in his half-a-dozen appearances.
Speedy bay colt Incognito, looks a good proposition in the feature and last race to be run over the sprinting distance of 1000m. There are a dozen contestants, if there are no last- minute withdrawals in the Bahawal Nagar Plate, a class IV division I & II combined handicap race.
Incognito won a race convincingly on June 1 last but his performance on June 8 left much to be desired. He finished among also ran. Since he ran on the outer tan after negotiating the final turn and the Lahore Race Club (LRC) stewards fined rupees 5000 to jockey M. Imran for not properly controlling his mount. The fine was later reduced to rupees 500 only. Zargar, Dare To Dream and Rukhtas Again should fight for the lesser remunerative positions.
A card of eight races will be down for decision on Sunday. First three events are to be contested over 800m while the remaining five will be gone over 1000m. The first race will start at 2pm.
The following are the fields and our selection.
MALIR PLATE CLASS VII DIV V 800M.
Silver Sweet 9-2 Nature’s Splendour 9-2 Silver Baby 8-12 Brown Bomber 8-11 Salman The Great 7-13 Blue Champion 7-11 Narala 7-10 and Blessed 7-10.
Win: Blue Champion. Place: Brown Bomber and Blessed.
MALIR PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV 800M.
Golden Copy 9-0 Extra Power 9-0 Royal Victory 8-11 Venture Maid 8-10 Much Pleasure 8-9 Las Pal Mas 8-6 Disney Land 8-5 Welcome Pechino 8-4 Malook Star 8-12 Sweet Victory 7-11 Super Time 7-11 and Sun Dance 7-4.
Win: Malook Star. Place: Venture Maid and Super Time.
MALIR PLATE CLASS VII DIV III 800M.
Sher Dil 9-0 Present Queen 9-0 King Of The Field 9-0 Rocket 8-10 Minnie Me 8-9 Little Master 8-9 Honey Harvest 8-9 All At Sea 8-5 Knock First 8-4 Roxanne 8-4 Final Count Down 8-2 Jan-i- Ghazal 7-13 Chandiwala 7-13 Asif Choice 7-13 Raad 7-12 and Bone Crusher 7-6.
Win: Minnie Me. Place: Little Master and All At Sea.
MALIR PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 1000M.
Puma King 9-0 Sun Of Gold 8-10 Vital Force 8-10 Balandi 8-10 Weldon Shogan 8-5 Mohni Road 8-1 Dancing Margina 8-0 Victorious 8-0 Desperado 8-0 Stride To Moment 8-0 Roman Charger 8-0 Zuhair Choice 7-11 Hot Press 7-11 and Darling Of The Royalty 7-11.
Win: Puma King. Place: Mohni Road and Dancing Margina.
MALIR PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 1000M.
Royal Strength 9-2 Honest Bird 9-0 Hunza 8-10 Morning Noor 8-8 Chand Aya 8-8 Oscar 8-3 Al Trui Princess 8-0 Birju 7-13 Black Nigeria 7-11 and Senna 7-4.
Win: Honest Bird. Place: Hunza and Al trui Princess.
MELSI PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 1000M.
Imagine Iff 9-0 Wait For Me 8-11 Beena Roy Baby 8-9 Set A Fire 8-9 Sheridan 8-5 Extra Heat 8-2 Royal Harban 8-2 Speed Gun 7-13 Tora Bora 7-13 King’s Way 7-10 Royal Salute 7-10 and Amazing 7-9.
Win: Imagine Iff. Place: Royal Harban and Imagine Iff.
MELSI PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1000M.
Better Case 9-0 Euro Gold 8-13 Darvesh 8-13 Red Rock 8-9 Where or When 8-9 Royal Loyalty 8-9 Baker’s Inn 8-9 Peach 8-5 Flood Of Gold 8-3 Green Hill 8-4 Burn Heart 7-13 and Morning Bird 7-9.
Win: Burn Heart. Place: Morning Bird and Better Case.
BAHAWAL NAGAR PLATE CLASS VII DIV I & II 1000M.
Kargil Tiger 9-8 Moment To Moment 8-11 Zargar 8-2 Incognito 8-0 Dare To Dream 7-10 First In Show 7-10 My Own Business 7-9 Flame and Rukhtas Again.
Win: Kargil Tiger. Place: Dare To Dream and Rukhtas Again.