LAHORE: The Pakistan Derby 2022, the country’s premier annual horse racing event, will be the highlight of an eleven-race card of the Derby Day Festival being held under the auspices of the Lahore Race Club (LRC) here at the Racecourse on Sunday.Besides the Derby, five cup races add to the racing action, festivity and cups galore which makes the occasion a significant national fixture.

The Champion Stakes Cup to be run over over 2,000 metres has a tiny field of four runners which boasts of two Pakistan Derby winners in Royal Ransom to be the real contenders.

The events are: the National Breeders cup, Champion Stakes cup, Stewards cup, LRC Cup and the Spring Cup.

The Pakistan Derby, a term race for four year-old has a star-studded roll of honour comprising ten colts and fillies representing all big stud farms, who will be battling for honours over the 2,400-metre spectacle which will be the 75th edition of this classic race, and looks an open affair.

Since 1947 when the Punjab Derby was renamed as Pakistan Derby, the historic event has become an annual feature.

This year’s Pakistan Derby may not be the richest-ever event because its purse had a big raise during the tenure of Makhdum Syed Ahmad Mahmud as LRC chairman which had touched Rs3 million-plus mark, still the richly traditional race remains the most cherished jewel in the crown of country’s racing calendar.

The Stewards Cup to be contested over 1,400 metres has six runners of whom a quartet definitely have a chance to make it a close affair.

Following is the field and our selections:

Moj-e-Bahar Plate Class VII Div VI — 1,100M:

Safdar Princess 9-0 Rawal Star 9-0 Faizi Choice 8-10 Malik Badshah 8-6 Gul-e-Measam 8-6 Moiz Love 8-6 Butt Badshah 8-6 Niazi Princess 8-6 Golden Rawk 8-6 Lajpal Badshah 8-6 Amazing thunder 8-0 Zahid Love 7-13 Al Nasar 7-12 Chan Punjabi 7-12 Paras Love 7-11 Khushbakht 7-10 and Shan-e-Saber 7-8.

Win: Zahid Love. Place: Shan-e-Saber and Amazing Thunder. Upset: Safdar Princess.

Moj-e-Bahar Plate Class VII Div IV & V — 1,100M:

Bright Bomber 9-2 Zoaq-e-Yaqeen 9-0 Golden Arrow 9-0 Magical City 8-12 Chhota Pathan 8-12 Candle 8-6 Sehar 8-66 Lal Ba 8-6 Merchant Of Venus 8-6 Gifts Of Gold 8-6 Fazeel Prince 8-6 Jalal Queen 8-4 Manu The Great 8-2 Gul-e-Jalal 8-2 Amigo 8-0 Ask Me 8-6 Neeli The Great 7-12 and Galactic Choice 7-12.

Moj-e-Bahar Plate Class VII Div III & IV — 1,100M:

Tatla Princess 9-2 Ibram Prince 8-10 Jan-e-Fida 8-6 Lalay De Jan 8-4 Chhota Bravo 8-2 Master Prince 8-6 Maxi Million 8-0 Chan pari 7-12 and Red Boy 7-12.

Win: Chhota Bravo. Place: Tatla Princess and Jan-e-Fida. Upset: Maxi Million.

Spring Cup Class VII Div II — 1,400M:

Amazing Thunder 9-0 Nayel 8-10 Common Champion 8-10 Well Done Pakistan 8-8 Tiger Jet 8-8 Super Asia 8-8 Midnight Storm 8-6 Galactic Song 8-6 Silent Assasin 8-4 Sword Of Faatey 8-2 Gondal Prince 7-12 Wild Coast 7-12 Hassan’s Champion 7-10 and Divine Moment 7-8.

Win: Common Champion. Place: Nayef and Sword Of Fateh. Upset: Tiger Jet.

Stewards Cup Class VI Div I, II & III (Class V-included) — 1,400M:

Shorawak 9-6 Sanctity 8-10 Breaking Bad 8-4 Professor 8-2 Hassan’s Heights 8-0 and Taksim Square 8-0.

Win: Sanctity. Place: Taksim Square and Shorawak.

National Breeders Cup, a term race for three-year-old — 1,400M:

Mr Perfect 8-8 Nostalgia 8-5 Big Beat 8-2 Pakistan Star 8-2 Sarabi 7-1`3 Diana 7-13 G.One 7-13 Al Sabah 7-10 Parsian Pearl 7-10 Borte 7-7 and Fox Trot 7-7.

Win: Mr Perfect vs Nostalgia. Place: Pakistan Star and Diana.

Pakistan Derby 2022, a term race for four-year-old colts and fillies — 2,400M:

Fantastico 9-0 Mr Gondal 9-0 Mirza One 9-0 Raksh 9-0 Bambsi 8-11 Convict 8-11 Hash Tag 8-11 Jamal Din Wali 8-11 Purnoor 8-11 and Silver fast 8-11.

Win: Purnoor vs Silver Fast. Place: Mr Gondal, Convict and Raksh.

Champion Stakes Cup, a term race for four-year-old and above — 2,000M:

Widaad 9-5 Royal Ransom 9-4 Timbo 9-0 and Sahil 8-12.

Win: Sahil vs Royal Ransom. Place: Widaad.

LRC Cup Class VII Div I & II — 1,400M:

Widad 9-0 Eye Of Tiger 9-0 Drums Of War 9-0 Surkhab 8-10 Queen Of Spades 8-10 Watto Choice 8-4 Royal Stretch 8-2 and Hussan-e-Kainat 7-8.

Win: Queen Of Spades Vs Royal Stretch. Place: Widad and Watto Choice.

Moj-e-bahar Plate Class VI Div IV — 1,400M:

Al Khalid 8-10 Market Leader 8-8 Brave eagle 8-6Barbarians Charge 8-6 Provoked 8-4 HP One 8-4 Shining Moon 8-4 Tarnava 8-4 and Lucky Sohna 8-2.

Win: Barbarians Charge. Place: Market Leader and Brave Eagle.

Moj-e-Bahar Plate Class VII Div I — 1,400M:

Queen 8-10 Loyal One 8-10 Elektra 8-10 Sanwali Saloni 8-10 Forbidden Love 8-10 Galactic Beauty 8-4 Squid Game 8-4 My Favourite 8-2 and Maha Princess 8-0.

Win: Favourite. Maha Princess and Squid Game.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2022