LAHORE, Dec 23:Four-year-old colt, Fajer, looks poised to win the Khanani And Kalia Cup during the 17th Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.
With eight races under his belt, Fajer is the most experienced in the six runners field. Among his rivals is the English colt, Brummell, carrying top weight eleven stones eight pounds, the highly rated Pakistani thoroughbred filly, Trace Hit handicapped at ten stones nine pounds and the colt Sher-e-Gujrat at eight stones four pounds.
Fajer and Sher-e-Gujrat had met earlier on Dec 10 last over 1600m in a class I, II and III combined handicap race. Fajer finished three-fourth of a length ahead of Sher-e-Gujrat and the race was won by Toru Khan with Lucky Winner and Chan, second and third, respectively.
If Fajer wins this will be his ninth career victory among four-year-old.
Chaudhry Mohammad Ali Memorial Cup for class IV animals has seven runners barring last-minute withdrawals.
The race-fans are hoping to see a keen contest in the race with Princess Of Gujrat, Jut Bahadur and Noor, going all out to pick up the spoils. However, the filly, Princess Of Gujrat is fancied to edge out both. She had to her credit a facile victory last Sunday.
Lucifer, a promising colt from Bletch Dancer out-of-Shatin, who was beaten to second place on his first try out on Nov 12 last should make amends this time and win the Sialkot Plate.
This is a term race for two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies to be gone over 1100m.
Owned by Lahore race Club (LRC) chairman Tariq Aziz Lucifer is trained by Haji Fazal Hadi. Maong his rivals prominent are: Arafaa owned by Huzaifa Shoaib also trained by Haji Ghulam Sarwar and the filly Chanela owned by LRC steward Malik Hamid Ali Noon and trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.
The following are the fields and our selections.
SHAH KOT PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 900M:
Kind Minister 9-6,Murad King 9-5, Full House 9-0, Game Over 8-11, Wah Bhai Wah 8-10, Paro 8-8 and Dashing Paradise 8-6.
Win: Kind Minister.
Place: Murad King and Game Over.
RAHIM YAR KHAN PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1200M:
Gold Bird 9-0, Honest Minister 9-0, Shahbaz Mayla 9-0, Philosopher 8-12, Kaserina 8-11, Valentino 8-10, Freedom Fighter 8-10, Jasrah 8-10, Tan Man Dhan 8-10, Intikhab-e-Bhakkar 8-10, Black Mailer 8-10, Lucky Short II 8-10, Zaoq 8-6, Mera Gulshan 8-6, Dream Comes True 8-3, Perfect Promise 8-2, Hermetic 7-13 and Gold Medallist 7-13.
Win: Jasrah
Place: Gold Bird and Tan Man Dhan.
SIALKOT PLATE (A TERM RACE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD THROUGHBRED COLTS AND FILLIES) 1100 M:
Apex 8-8, Araafa 8-8, Lucifer 8-8, Desert Prince 8-8, Fearless Boy 8-8, Prince Salman 8-8, Gulf Line 8-8, Flying Pet 8-5, Chanela 8-5 and Simbi 8-5.
Win: Lucifer.
Place: Arafaa and Gulf Line.
CHOUDHRY MOHAMMAD ALI MEMORIAL PLATE CLASS IV DIV III:
Millennium Count 9-2, Zanjeer 9-0, High Dream 8-10, Byron 8-10, Run And Win 8-10, Volcano 8-6, Sohna Billoo 8-6 and Wendy Trace 8-4.
Win: Khawaja M. Arif's choice (Zanjeer or Byron).
Place: Wendy Trace and Millennium Count.
RAHIM YAR KHAN PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1200M:
Aaja Bulbul 9-2, Puma The Great 9-0, Cross Ruff 9-0, Azzam 9-0, Cobbler 8-10, Chakori Jaisa 8-10, Queen Of Music 8-6,Jewna 8-5, Trump Coup 8-4, Harry Can Run 8-2, Grey Swallow 8-2, Sun Ray 8-1, Viana Coup 8-0 and Lucky Coin 8-0.
Win: Azzam.
Place: Queen Of Music and Viana Coup.
KHANANI AND KALI CUP CLASS I, II & III 1400M:
Brummell 11-8, Trace Hit 10-9, Catch All 8-10, Sher-e-Gujrat 8-4, Fajer 8-3 and Dexterity 8-1.
Win: Fajer.
Place: Sher-e-Gujrat.
Choudhry Mohammad Ali Memorial Cup Class IV Div II 1600M:
Jut bahadur 9-2, Noor 9-2, Princess Of Gujrat 8-11, Don't Follow 8-9, Who Dares 8-9, Royal Gambler 8-6 and Alexander 8-6.
Win: Princess Of Gujrat.
Place: Jut Bahadur and Noor.
SHAH KOT PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 900M:
Bad-e-Naseem 9-0 Black King 9-0 Rana Choice 8-13 Dam dama Dam 8-10 Mama Mia 8-6 Love minister 8-6 Armida 8-1 Gift 7-8 Shah Rani 7-8 and Mohabtain 7-8.
Win: Bad-e-Naseem.
Place: Shah Rani and Rana Choice.