LAHORE, Nov 11: A six-event card, mostly comprising mediocre horses, has been drawn up for the midweek Lahore Gymkhana races to be held at the Racecourse on Wednesday.
The number of entries has swelled to 81 with nine horses in the first race while the other events have a dozen to 17 horses barring last-minute withdrawals. All events are to be contested over the 900 metres sprinting distance.
The feature event, the Nowshera Plate Class VI division I and II combined, has 16 runners, if there are no last-minute withdrawals.
Of them on recent form and performance in races three look on chance. They are: Queen Of Sabbowal, Brave Heart and Scarlet Empress.
Two-year-old chestnut filly Queen Of Sabbowal, who finished second on her first try out on Sunday last, should make amends and win the race this time.
This filly from Puntra out-of-Record Beat, Queen Of Sabbowal, was beaten by Dream Memory by a length with the filly, Brave Heart third another length further behind. If one goes by the book Queen Of Sabbowal and Brave Heart should fight for the top honours. On ground realities the former should show a three-length improvement in the run, which would give her an edge over the others on performance and the blood line. How the owner thinks will be seen in the race.
The fifth and the supporting event, the Nowshera Plate class VI division III and IV has the largest field of seventeen runners, if they all make it at the start. It is packed with half a dozen sprinters to make it a closely contesting event. On the present form and running in the races four look on chance. They are: Kamla, Amazing Boy, Dream Act and Regulation.
After putting up a dismal show, the eight-year-old gelding put up a fine come back in form and was beaten to second position on Sunday. This son of Blueman Mejaz, Kamla should now show more improvement in running and win the race.
The gelding is owned by well-known polo player Atif Yar Tiwana and is trained by Haji Fazal Hadi, who is a good trainer in his own right.
Amazing Boy, Dream Act and Regulation should fight for places.
The quartet of Red Baron, Silent Assassin, Muskan and Shan-e-Aamir is the pick of 13 runners listed for the fourth event, Swat Plate Class VII division I handicap race.
If form and timing are any yardstick to judge the capabilities of the runners, all the four should finish within two lengths distance- the best handled by the rider picking up the spoils.
The form favours Red Baron while the handicap gives advantage to Silent Assassin.
The third race has 14 runners. The prominent among them are Boby Love, Sana My Love, Bagh-o-Bahar and Leader’s Wing.
Six-year-old mare Boby Love had finished fourth a fortnight in a bad show unexpected from her after two good runs. With a good rider up in the saddle, she should have the better of other three in contention.
The first and second races look open affairs, with many chance horses clustered in each. But most of them are inconsistent performers getting the benefit of inconsistency inherited through their unknown pedigrees.
The following is the field and our selections:
SWAT PLATE CLASS VII
DIV IV 900M:
Independence Day 9-0, Raftar-e-Sehar 8-12, Naseer Love 8-12, Lal Pari 8-9, Anarkali 8-8, Racing Bridge 8-4, Pakistani 7-10, Sana 7-8, Easy Load 7-8.
Win: Racing Bridge.
Place: Lal Pari and Independence Day.
SWAT PLATE CLASS IV
DIV III 900M:
Double Victory 9-1, Kiss Of Love 8-13, Fakhr-e-Hazara 8-12, Man Mayla 8-10, Karmanwala 8-10, Bioactive 8-10, Khushi 8-6, Best Boy 8-6, Aa Ja Aa Ja 8-2, Alpha Juliet 8-2, King’s UK 8-0, Sudden Attack 7-7.
Win: Alpha Juliet.
Place: Kiss Of Love and Double Victory.
SWAT PLATE CLASS VII
DIV II 900M:
Boby Love 9-0, Naveed-e-Sehar 8-11, Sana My Love 8-11, Snow White 8-11, My One 8-11, Gaon Ki Gori 8-11, Mansha Love 8-9, Moj-e-Sikanderi 8-7, Master Jee 8-7, King Of King 8-7, Bagh-o-Bahar 8-7, Accurate 8-7, Leader’s Wing 8-5, Better Time 7-13.
Win: Boby Love.
Place: Leader’s Wing and Bagh-o-Bahar.
SWAT PLATE CLASS VII
DIV I 900M:
Red Baron 9-0, Hikmat 8-13, Beat Owner 8-13, Abeer-e-Sehar 8-9, Silver Arrow 8-9, Partner Choice 8-9, Book Of Music 8-9, Aflatoon 8-9, Little Mehak 8-9, Boski 8-9, Muskan 8-3, Ahan-e-Aamir 8-1, Silent Assassin 7-10.Win: Red Baron.
Place: Silent Assassin and Shan-e-Aamir.
NOWSHERA PLATE CLASS VI
DIV III & IV 900M:
Kamla 9-0, Royal Command 9-0, Amazing Boy 9-0, Sun Ray 9-0, Sun Downer 8-11, Murad King 8-10, Tara Aya 8-6, Dream Act 8-2, Mantar Prince 8-2, Mam Mia 8-0, Regulation 7-12, Delux 7-10, Sharon Prince 7-4, Best Friend 7-4, Sheroo Khan 7-4, Pretty 7-4, White Oaks 7-0.
Win: Kamla.
Place: Dream Act and Amazing Boy.
NOWSHERA PLATE CLASS VI
DIV I & II 900M:
Queen Of Sabbowal 9-0, Brave Heart 8-12, Notia 8-10, North Star 8-10, Haider Prince 8-10, Maximus 8-10, Leading Light 8-6, West Ridge Boy 8-6, Miran Shaheen 8-6, Poris 8-6, Maharani 8-2, Scarlet Empress 8-0, Love Story 7-9, Bird Fly 7-4, Geo Bhakkar 7-4.
Win: Queen Of Sabbowal.
Place: Scarlet Empress and Brave Heart.