LAHORE, Nov 20: A mediocre card of six events awaits race-goers at the mid-week Lahore Gymkhana races to be held at the Racecourse on Wednesday.
In all 58 horses are to take part in the events, barring last-minute withdrawals. Five races will be held over the sprinting distance of 1,000m while the sixth and last will be gone over 1,100m, the first race to start at 3pm.
In the sixth and feature event, the Shah Kot Plate Class V Division two there are nine acceptors barring last-minute withdrawals. Of them three look on chance, namely, Vallen Day, Tyson and Royal Victory.
The two-year-old bay colt Vallen Day, who was beaten to second place by Can Can Girl in the two-year-old Nursery plate on Nov 4 last should make amends and win the race. His close rivals could be Tyson and Royal Victory.
Murad King, Tallal The Great and Tosca are the pick of the 10 contestants drawn for the fifth and supporting event, Mian Mir Plate, class VI division II to be gone over 1,000 metres.
The bay filly, Tosca, who was beaten narrowly by Pind The Kuri should rise to the occasion and pick up the spoils for her owner Zaheer Aslam, carrying a light weight of seven stones thirteen pounds in handicap. Tallal The Great and Murad King may be her challengers.
Dark-bay filly, Little Smile, who registered a facile victory on her debut on Nov 14, will be on the trot to make it two in a row in the fourth race, Mian Mir Plate class VI division III over 1000m. Mantar Prince, Owais Dream and So Romantic may fight for places on the board.
The bay colt God’s Gift beaten to second place in his previous outing Wednesday last should emerge victorious in the third race. Dogar Gift often shows astonishing speed but is totally unreliable while God’s Gift is a consistent performer.
The first and second races, as usual are composed of unknown pedigree horses. Very few of them are consistent performers, while a majority are some time here some time there. Such performances may prove beneficial to “lovers of the equine sports”.
There is no doubt that signs of true speed over sprinting distance of races, signs of courage, and signs of potential improvement in horses are part of the enjoyment of horseracing. The other part is winning. Form is horse’s exposed ability on the track in terms of past performance. In all fairness these things can be expected from thoroughbreds and not the ordinary horses, what to talk of those with unknown pedigree. Race-goers are the best judge.
Following are the fields and our selections.
RAIWIND PLATE CLASS VII
DIVISION I-B 1000M:
Dil Bahar 9-0, Hit Song 9-0, Cash Deposite 9-0, Miss Mano 9-0, Sohni Noor 8-10, Pattola 8-10, Badal 8-10, Aya Bhakkar 8-10, Ahsan Love 8-8 and Pretty 8-8.
Win: Miss Mano.
Place: Pretty and Ahsan Love.
RAIWIND PLATE CLASS VII
DIVISION I-A 1000M.
Regulation 9-2, Fostina 8-10, Koonj 8-10, Raj Bar 8-10, Trivera 8-10, Accurate 8-10, Unique 8-10, Sana 8-6, Bioactive 8-6, Leader’s Wing 8-6, Roshan Chiragh 8-6, Brave Heart 8-6 Malika 8-4 and Sajju The great 8-4.
Win: Regulation.
Place: Malika and Sajju.
MIAN MIR PLATE CLASS VI
DIVISION II 1000M.
Net Cash 9-0, Sohna Murad 9-0, Mahima 8-8, Dogar Gift 8-8, God’s Gift 8-6, Sohna Noor 8-2 Sohna 8-0 and Weldon 8-8.
Win: God’s Gift.
Place: Sohna Noor and Dogar Gift.
MIAN MIR PLATE CLASS VI
DIV III 1000M.
Little Smile 9-0, Owais Dream 9-0, Mantar Prince 8-12, Royal Palace 8-8, So Romantic 8-8, Mah-e-Noor 8-6 and Kotli 8-4.
Win: Little Smile.
Place: Mantar Prince and Owais Dream.
MIAN MIR PLATE CLASS VI
DIV II 1000M.
Sun Shine 9-0, Murad King 9-0, Royal Deal 8-10, Ahsan The Dream 8-10, Shikari 8-10, Happy Life 8-10, First Passion 8-7, Gold round 8-6, Tallal The Great 8-6 and Tosca 7-13.
Win: Tosca.
Place: Murad King and Tallal The Great.
SHAH KOT PLATE CLASS V
DIVISION II 1100M:
Vallen Day 9-0, Arzoo 8-6, Babbu The Great 8-6, Magic Stride 8-6 ,Dam Her Dam 8-6 ,Nommy The Hunter 8-6 Tyson 8-4 and Royal Victory.
Win: Vallen Day.
Place: Tyson and Royal Victory.