LAHORE, Nov 29: Three-year-old colt Rustam looks poised to win the Khalid Bin Waleed Cup when the 13th Lahore Winter Meeting gets underway at the Racecourse on Sunday.
The cup named after the Muslim commander, who was bestowed the title of “Saifullah”, is a class five, division I to go over the sprinting distance of 1,300 metres.
Rustam, the colt from Herb out-of-Zahida, has already won two races. He defeated High Jet in the last one, run over 1,300 metres.
Nishat Malook and Vendetta could be Rustam’s close rivals in this sixth race of the day.
The supporting event, the Multan Cup to be contested over the sprinting distance of 1,200 metres has eight contenders.
The race-goers are anticipating a thrilling encounter for supremacy between the two three-year-olds -- Punjabi and Soviet Song.
Both have captured the attention of the racing public at some time but none of the two have dominated emphatically the track yet. Very recently, the colt Punjabi and the filly Soviet Song have enthralled equine sport lovers by their magnificent running in the races. Their owners have avoided the pair’s match so far.
The Multan Cup will provide race fans with an opportunity to witness a classic battle. Speed goes in favour of Punjabi while the handicap gives Soviet Song an edge. Lucky Winner and Dubai Fan may fight for the frame. This will be the fifth race of the day.
In the Khalid Bin Waleed Plate, a class V, division II handicap race to go over 1,300 metres, three contenders look the ones against the lot of pretenders.
They are High Jet, Philogyny and Rania, who should fight a grim battle for supremacy.
High Jet had been beaten twice and the other two too have not yet shown any outstanding performance to make them equal in chance. The race distance, however, suits the well-bred filly Philogyny.
In addition to the cup events, there will be the first two-year-old thoroughbreds contest in the over 1,000 metres Khushab Plate. Six colts and fillies will be jostling for supremacy and bringing laurels for their progenitors. On recent form and track work, the colt Maximus and the filly Heart Lake should entertain race-goers while measuring their strides in a competition which is good for racing and provides fun for the public.
It will be a card of seven events, four to go over 1,200 metres, one 1,000 metres and two 1,300 metres. The first race will be held at 12.30pm.
Following are the fields and our selections:
KASUR PLATE CLASS VI
DIV III & IV 1,200M:
High Quality 9-4, Dream Act 9-0, Miss Brave Heart 9-0, Kamla 8-10, Victory King 8-8, Tara Aya 7-12 and Murad The Great 7-4.
Win: Victory King.
Place: Kamla and Miss Brave Heart.
KASUR PLATE CLASS VI DIV II 1,200M:
Sun Ray 9-4, Victory Sargent 9-0, Dreamer 9-0, Mirana Shaheen 8-10, So Romantic 8-10, Changer 8-5, Victory Rose 7-12 and Geo Bhakkar 7-8.
Win: Victory Sargent.
Place: Changer and Merana Shaheen.
KASUR PLATE CLASS VI DIV I 1,200M:
Big Bird 9-4, Mikkado 9-0, Miss Hattab 8-10, Ajwa 8-10, Ustad 8-10, Quantico 8-10, Roheen 8-10, Chimera 8-8, Moj Mayla 8-6, Al Ain 8-6, Sun City 8-2 and Renaushky 8-2.
Win: Sun City.
Place: Quantico and Chimera.
KHUSHAB PLATE, a term race for two-year-old thoroughbreds (maidens) 1,000M:
North Star 8-8, Maximus 8-8, Whisper 8-8, Sultan 8-8, Historical 8-5 and Heart Lake 8-5.
Win: Maximus.
Place: Heart Lake and Historical.
MULTAN CUP CLASS IV
DIV II & III 1,200M:
Lucky Cat 9-6, Punjabi 9-1, Lucky Winner 8-12, Great Memories 7-12, Secret Memories 7-10, Soviet Song 7-10, Dubai Fan 7-8 and Will He Wish 7-6.
Win: Punjabi.
Place: Lucky Winner and Soviet Song.
KHALID BIN WALEED CUP
CLASS V DIV I 1,300M:
Nishat Malook 9-4, Rustam 8-11, Pick Of The Day 8-9, Janu 8-6, Legend Settar 8-0, Victory Hero 7-13 and Vendetta 7-12.
Win: Rustam.
Place: Nishat Malook and Vendetta.
KHALID BIN WALEED PLATE
CLASS V DIV II 1,300M:
Shim Jim 9-0, Empire Maker 9-0, Houstan 9-0, Iconic 8-13, High Jet 8-12, Reborn 8-10, Brave Heart 8-8, Munsaf 8-6, Dream Memories 8-6, Future Perfect 8-6, Harry Can Run 8-4, Canis Lupus 8-2, Philogyny 8-1, The News 7-13, Rania 7-11 and Lighting Muqeem 7-9.
Win: Philogyny.
Place: Rania and High Jet.