LAHORE: A lengthy card of eight cup races named after the national war heroes and the recipients of the gallantry award Nishan-i-Haider, will be held in connection with the Defence of Pakistan Day during the Lahore Summer Meeting at the Racecourse here on Sunday.

The races in memory of Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Major Mohammad Akram Shaheed, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, Sawar Mohammad Hussain Shaheed, Captain Mohammad Sarwar Shaheed, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Major Tufail Mohammad Shaheed and Lance Naik Mohammad Mahfooz Shaheed are annually held to mark the Sept 6 Defence Day.

The horse-owners have shown a great interest to observe the occasion with great fervor with maximum participation of their horses crossing the 100 mark in all cup events.

The feature event, the Shabbir Sharif Shaheed Nishan-i-Haider Cup has a dozen acceptors, some of high bloodlines. On performance at the course, a quartet of them look on chance-Thrill ‘N’ Chill, Speedo, Generation and Battle Front.

Filly Thrill ‘N’ Chill had been lucky to break her duck on victory table on her fifteenth outing after being placed seven times. The blue-blooded colt Speedo and filly Generation ran twice each and showed great promise of their bloodlines.

Filly Battle Front after winning a race was beaten by Thrill ‘N’ Chill last Sunday, leaving race-goers finger-crossed. They all make the event an open affair to be gone over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres. The other seven races will be contested over 900 metres.

The first race will be held at 1.30pm.

Following is the field and selections:

THE MAJOR TUFAIL MOHAMMAD SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP CLASS VII DIV V-B — 900M:

Dil De Rani 9-0, Gohar Prince 9-0, Petra 8-10, Al Ilan 8-10, Anmole One 8-8, Baa Aitbar 8-8, Roshan 8-6, Bet of The Day 8-6, Prince of Dubai 8-6, Bano 8-4, Free My Heart 8-0.

Win: Baa Aitbar.

Place: Al Ilan and Prince of Dubai.

THE CAPTAIN MOHAMMAD SARWAR SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP CLASS VII DIV IV & V — 900M:

Afzaal Choice 9-0, Neeli De Malika 9-0, Bright Life 9-0, Turab Prince 8-6, Qalandra 8-6, Raees 8-6, Chan Punjabi 8-4, High Jacker 8-2, Miss Ravi Road 8-2, Khan Jan (ex-Warning Shot) 8-2, Sher-e-Ravi 8-2, Wahab Choice 8-2, Malik De Rani 8-2, Maa Murad 8-2, Push The Limits 8-2, On The Spot Win 8-0, Palwasha 8-0, Grey Invader 7-12.

Win: Manu Jutt.

Place: One Four Seven & Bright Life . Upset: Palwasha.

THE SAWAR MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP CLASS VII DIV III — 900M:

Helena 9-2, Power of Dream 9-2, Kastoori 9-0, Minding 8-10, Marshal 8-8, Race The Prince 8-8, Moazzam Prince 8-8, Sohna Lal 8-8, Neeli The Great 8-8, Owais-e-Bhakkar 8-4, Baa Maqsad 8-2, Butt The Great 8-2, Sweet Sania 8-2, Dil De Ruba 8-0, Queen Esmeralda 7-8.

Win: Kastoori.

Place: Helena and Owais-e-Bhakkar.

THE MAJOR RAJA AZIZ BHATTI SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP CLASS VII DIV II — 900M:

Moon Soon 9-0, Satpara 9-0, Black Secret 9-0, Sky Link 8-10, Golra Pride 8-8, Punjabi Style 8-8, Fancy Boy 8-6, Happiness Moment 8-6, The Game Changer 8-6.

Win: Black Secret.

Place: Golra Pride and Satpara.

THE MAJOR SHABBIR SHARIF SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP CLASS VI DIV II III & IV — 1,000M:

Town Girl 9-0, Thrill ‘N’ Chill 8-10, Speedo 8-8, Phenominal One 8-8, Generation 8-6, Determination 8-4, Battle Front 8-0, Eris 8-0, Gondal Prince 7-12, Carry On Jutta 7-8, Bajwa Choice 7-8 .

Win: Generation.

Place: Battle Front and Speedo.

THE MAJOR MOHAMMAD AKRAM SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP CLASS VII DIV I & II — 900M:

Alizeh Star 8-8, Don’t Stop Me 8-6, Shan-e-Sikandar 8-5, Piyara Saeen 8-2, Abdullah Princess 8-2, Mitwa 8-2, Baa Waqar 7-10.

Win: Alizeh Star.

Place: Mitwa 8-2 and Baa Waqar

THE LANCE NAIK MOHAMMAD MAHFOOZ SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP CLASS VII DIV V-B — 900M:

Kahkashan 9-0, Crazy Cat Lady 8-10, Chotey Sahib 8-10, Baa Asool 8-10, Meri Sahiba 8-10, Alex 8-10, Mozrat 8-10, New Pari 8-8, Dil-e-Arzoo 8-6, Sonay Ki Chirya 8-6, Ramak Queen 8-2, Public Fancy 8-2, Daniel Bryan 7-12, Head Line 7-12, Killing Eyes 7-8, Meri Tasveer 7-4, Zil Prince 7-4, Accurate Chance 7-4.

Win: New Pari.

Place: Kahkashan and Killing Eye.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2018