LAHORE, Jan 29: Four-year-old dark bay filly Raksh-e-Raqeeban, who has to her credit a grand hat-trick of victories, will be on the trot to extend it to four-in-a-row during the midweek Lahore Gymkhana races at the Racecourse on Wednesday.
She is contesting in the feature event, the Chaman Plate class VI division I, to be gone over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres.
An unknown pedigree, the filly which is owned by Syed Alamdar Shah and trained by Sohail Aziz, has thrice bagged the first place and once the second out of her six outings so far. She is now all set to level the score of Pind De Kuri, another filly belonging to an unknown pedigree, who while still unbeaten has the best track record among the unknowns with four straight victories to her name.
Stable-mate Armida, Babbu The Great and Dream Act are prominent among her rivals to fight for a place on the board in the fifth race of the day.
The fourth and the supporting event, the Chaman Plate, a class VI division II handicap race to be contested in the over 1,000 metres distance has 14-runners barring last-minute withdrawals. Of them Wonderful Smile, Regulation, First Dream and Great Rhythm are on fair chance. They should be fighting for the spoils in the same order too.
Unknown mare Noor-un-Nisa, owned by Syed Alamadar Shah, who won a facile victory on Jan 23, will be on course to make it a two-in-a-row in the second race.
Even though her progeny credentials are cloaked as unknown, the way this filly triumphed in the first race last Wednesday, clearly indicates her class.
Now promoted from the class VII division A-1, she seems like the best in the biggest field of 15 acceptors.
Mah-e-Noor, Gold Dust and Al Ain (in the same order) are the next best.
Unknown bay colt Geo Bhakkar, who was beaten twice in his previous outings, should make amends and win the first race. Judged on his previous outing, he looks the best in the field of 13 runners comprising unknowns and unpredictable performers. Sohna Murad, Mahima and Nasir Love should fight for the places.
The majority of runners in the third race comprises of horses who have not yet won even a single race. And those who have perhaps won a race are not known as consistent performers anyway so it all looks like an open affair. However, Magic Dream, Waqas Prince and Chocolate Boy are known to be good on track work.
Going by past performances, Shahbaz Love, Lal Pari and Bioactive are the pick of the 10 runners in the sixth and last race of the day, the Chakwal Plate class VII division I-C.
Barring last-minute withdrawals, some 79 horses in all have been accepted for the six races. The card looks competitive and promising so there should be some close finishes. All races will be contested in the sprinting distance of over 1,000 metres. The first race starts at 12.00 noon.
The fields and our selections:
Chakwal Plate Class VII
Div I-B 1,000M:
Nasir Love 9-0, Geo Bhakkar 8-12, Trigger Happy 8-10, Sana 8-10, Bilal Love 8-10, Golden Pari 8-10, Tarrar Choice 8-10, Mahima 8-8, Sohna Murad 8-8, Cash Deposit 8-6, Miaa Mano 8-6 and Changer 7-12.
Win: Geo Bhakkar. Place: Sohna Murad and Mahima.
Chaman Plate Class VI
Div III 1,000M:
Token Of Love 9-0, Grey Dancer 9-0, Arzoo 9-0, Noor-un-Nisa 8-10, Al Ain 8-10, Red Byron 8-6, Geo 8-2, Victory King 7-12, Happy Bear 7-12, Company 7-10, Gold Dust 7-10, Dogar Gift 7-10, Leader’s Wing 7-10, Dimple 7-10 and Mah-e-Noor 7-10.
Win: Noor-un-Nisa. Place: Mah-e-Noor and Gold Dust.
Chakwal Plate Class VII
Div I-A 1,000M:
Alpha Julite 9-0, Lucky Boy 9-0, Little Love 9-0, Waqas Prince 9-0, Laina Again 9-0, Tabinda 9-0, Barry Lal 9-0, Smiling Essassen 9-0, Sana Love 9-0, Musken 8-10, Magic Dream 8-10, Summaya 8-10, Sia Prinda 8-10 and Chocolate Boy 8-6.
Win: Magic Dream. Place: Chocolate Boy and Waqas Prince.
Chaman Plate Class VI
Div II 1,000M:
Look My Luck 9-0, Pick Of The Day 8-10, First Dream 8-6, So Romantic 8-4, Mama Mia 8-3, Sun Ray 8-2, Regulation 8-1, Black King 7-10, Total Price 7-10, Lucky Coin 7-10, Bandgi 7-10, Great Rhythm 7-10, Tosca 7-10 and Wonderful Smile 7-8.
Win: Wonderful Smile. Place: Sun Ray and Regulation.
Chaman Plate Class VI
Div I 1,000M:
Raksh-e-Chaman 9-4, Armida 8-11, Babbu The Great 8-8, Victory Gallop 8-6, Zahoor-e-Sehar 8-6, Never Fail 8-4, Batista 8-2, Dream Act 8-2, Lubna 8-0, White Oaks 8-0, Red Fairy 8-0, Blue Fire 7-10 and Quite Life (Ex-Ferrari) 7-10.
Win: Raksh-e-Raqeeban. Place: Babbu The Great and Armida.
Chakwal Plate Class VII
Div I-C 1,000M:
Bagh-o-Bahar 9-0, Billoo Love 8-10, Gypsi 8-10, Hit Song 8-6, Shahbaz Love 8-6, Lal Pari 8-6, BioActive 8-4, Pretty 8-2, Kashif Da Gulshan 8-0 and Sohni Noor 8-0.
Win: Shahbaz Love. Place: Lal Pari and Bioactive.