LAHORE, Sept 7: The Lahore Winter Meetings commence with the launching of six cup events drawn for the day at the Racecourse Sunday.
Beginning on a silent note without any pomp and show which is an unusual feature, the cups have been named after the national war heroes who have been awarded the highest award for gallantry, The Nishan-i- Haider, posthumously.
The fields for the events are bigger than normal day racing and packed with form runners, who have been kept under training with the eye on these events which have significance of their own.
In all, 89 runners will battle for supremacy, who included three colts and a filly, who captured the 2002 Pakistan Derby frame besides some shining turf stars. All events will be contested over the sprinting distance of 1200 metres.
The main event, the Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed cup, a class IV & V combined handicap race has 16 probable contestants.
Among them are six sparkling turf jewels,namely, King Fisher, Jet Master, Son Of A Gun (Derby 2002 winner, second and fourth respectively) and Admiral’s Way, Blu’s Wendy and Devi Husn Ki.
This is a tough race which on classification and handicap should be decided among the above-named six strong contenders.
However, on recent form and handicap Devi Husn Ki has an edge over others. This will be the sixth and last race of the day.
The winner of this race will not only receive a cash reward of Rs 90,000 for the owner but it also will be a glowing testament to trainer and jockey ‘s skill.
The supporting event, the Major Raja Aziz Bhatty Shaheed cup has a bigger field of 18 runners, barring last-minute withdrawals.
They include fine speedsters like On On, Lucky Shot, Red Ransom, Rukhtas Again and early Bird.
The last named filly, who was placed in 2002 Derby is a habitual slow starter. They should decide about the winner.
Lucky Shot has won a good race last Sunday and if he produces and repeats same performance he should win the cup. This will be the fifth race in racing order.
Good Justice looks a cut above the class vis-a-vis other eleven runners in the Major Mohammad Tufail Shaheed cup.
If fit and sent with a will to do so he should have the better of his eleven rivals. After Good Justice it’s any body’s race.
The first second and third events have 18, 15 and 10 runners, respectively.
All events are packed with form runners and winner picking may prove a difficult task for the punters. Some close contests are expected in these events.
First race will be held at 2.30 pm.
CAPT. RASHID MINHAS SHAHEED, NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP 1200M.
Aao Payar Se 9-0 Oneeza 9-0 Raj Ruks 9-0 Super Time 8-11 Storm Bird 8-10 Burrat Again 8-10 Thank You Dear 8-10 Royal Man 8-5 Love Faisal 8-2 Fifty Six Fifty Six 8-=1 Prince Khurrum 8-0 Science Fiction 7-13 Skipper 7-13 Jungle Beat 7-11 Sherganzar 7-10 My Fantasy 7-10 Song Of Freedom 7-10 and Blue Champion 7-10.
Win: Jungle Beat. Place: Love Faisal and Skipper. Upset: Song Of Freedom.
CAPT. KARNAL SHER KHAN SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP 1200M;
Track Star 9-1 Senna 8-12 Dhndhana 8-12 Dancing Margina 8-8 Grass Hopper 8-7 Zuhair Choice 8-6 Royal Bullet 8-6 Song Of Peace 8-5 Baker’s High 7-13 Easy To Listen 7-10 Wing Commander 7-10 Subzero 7-10 Thunder Bird 7-10 Zargar 7-10 and Al Jarrar 7-10.
Win: Royal Bullet. Place: Dhandhana and Senna. Upset: Thunder Bird.
MAJOR MOHAMMAD AKRAM SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP 1200M:
Waseem Love 9-0 Silk Route 8-13 Thank You Boss 8-12 Royal Strength 8-12 The Conqueror 8-12 Red Storm 8-11 In Command 8-8 Fadayeen 8-3 Value Of Life 8-3 and Trace Gold 8-3.
Win: Red Storm. Place: Silk Route and Value Of Life. Upset: Waseem Love.
MAJOR TUFAIL MOHAMMAD SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER 1200M
Royal Prosper 9-1 Rukhsh Again 9-0 Puma Star 8-11 Asif Love 8-10 Good Justice 8-7 Umer Jet 8-7 My Own Business 8-7 Voodoo Dancer 8-6 Time Is Gold 8-5 Roman Charger 8-4 Riaz Love 8-4 and Al Jarrar 8-2.
Win: Good Justice. Place: Royal Prosper and Asif Love. Upset: Time Is Gold.
MAJOR RAJA AZIZ BHATTY SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP 1200M:
Star Gate 9-7 Haseen Love 9-1 Love Moon 8-9 Gold Bird 8-9 Dilnashin II 8-7 On On 8-6 Prime Panther 8-1 Bureaucrat 7-13 Crysler 7-13 Green Hill 7-10 Red Ransom 7-10 Lucky Shot 7-10 Shannel 7-10 Afnan 7-10 Lucky Credit Queen 7-10 Rukhtas Again 7-10 Early Bird 7-10 and Best Lara 7-10.
Win: Lucky Shot. Place: Rukhtas Again and On On. Upset: Early Bird.
MAJOR SHABBIR SHARIF SHAHEED NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP 1200M:
Gambling Girl 10-1 Son Of A Gold 8-13 Jet Master 8-9 Blu’s Wendy 8-8 King Fisher 8-8 Better Case 8-7 Ahtisab 8-5 Fan Tan Tiger 8-0 One Man Show 7-10 Polo Gambler 7-10 Schumacher 7-10 Royal Soul 7-10 Devi Husn Ki 7-10 and Democracy 7-10.
Win: Devi Husn Ki. Place: Son Of A Gun and Jet Master. Upset: King Fisher.