LAHORE: A five-race card featuring a cup race, named after legendary monarch Suleman The Magnificent, will be the main attraction for the racegoers when the day/night first Lahore Summer Meeting gets under way amid persistent hot weather here at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The Suleman The Magnificent Cup, a Class VII Division I (Class IV included) handicap race, has seven runners. Of which three seem real contenders — Lucky Sohna, Sanwali Saloni and Silent Assassin — who are expected to fight for top honours in the 1,000-metre race.

Chenab Plate Class VII Division II and III race, which is the supporting event to be gone over 1,000 metres, has the second largest field of nine runners.

The field comprises runners from country’s top bloodlines. However, a few of them have not shown the pedigree potential so far in races for reasons best known to their trainers and owners, who have invested heavily. It is the fifth and the last race of the card and looks an open affair.

The Chenab Plate Class VII Division V and VI race, the opening race to be run over 900 metres, has the largest field of eleven runners. The quartet namely Anaya, Soldier Queen, Neeli The Great and Manu Princess look prominent to do well.

Galactic Choice, Sultan Jehanian and Chota Pathan seem good contenders among the eight runners drawn for the second race, the Chenab Plate Class VII Division V, to be gone over 900 metres.

The third race, the Chenab Plate Class VII Division IV and V over 900 metres, contains nine runners, out of which six have a chance making it difficult for punters to the pick winner. Those in chance include Zaman Sahib, Mere Malangni, Mera Darwaiash, Jalal Queen, Super Asia and Fortuner.

In all, 44 horses will be in the field after the final scratching. The first race starts at 6:00pm.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2022