February 03, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 24, 1429

q LAHORE, Feb 2: The richest race for four-year-old fillies is all set to produce the country’s best filly when the 23rd Lahore Winter Meeting takes place at the Racecourse on Sunday.

Ten runners contest the race of over half a million of rupees, the 1,000 Guineas Of Pakistan which will be contested over 1600 metres.

Karachi’s top filly Fantastic Baby and three from Lahore — Brave Act, Mythical and Poly Cat — are fancied to measure each others’ strides to pick up the winner, who could rightly claim the status of the best middle distance four-legged athlete with victory at the Kot Lakhpat racetrack.

On recent performances and the track work, the race could be a swinging and close contest. Each rider would take full advantage of any lapse in the quartet’s armoury.

Leading stables of the country are being represented at the classic battle of the fillies, which is seen once a year since the event’s inception during the British colonial rule before independence. But four fillies belonging to only three stables are in with good chance. One stable has put up a pair, Brave Act and Mythical, the second Fantastic Baby, a champion from Karachi, and the third fielded Poly Cat, the best on pedigree.

Undoubtedly the track work of all is very fine and they belong equally to breed, but the daughter of Polinesso out-of-Huckita, Poly Cat is surely to stay over the distance.

The others are yet to establish their credentials over the distance. Poly Cat is owned by Lahore Race Club (LRC) chairman Tariq Aziz and trained by Khadim Hussain.

However, racing is a sport of great uncertainties and any thing can happen. There had been horses bred from sprinters, who turned out long distance runners and vice-versa. But such instances are rare.

Called the “Ladies Derby”, this is a term race for four-year-old fillies with all to carry eight stones and twelve pounds weight and the fifth in racing order.

The contenders with the probable jockeys with their names in parenthesis are: Bold Act (Salahuddin), Brave Act (Aamir Pervaiz), Deja Vau (Khalil Vicky), Diamond In Dust (Ghulam Shabbir), Mythical (M. Nasir 11), Princess Of Gujrat (Javaid Iqbal), Simbi (Atif Javaid), Spiritual Song (A. Imran) and Poly Cat (Shahid Rehman).

The supporting event, the Anarkali Cup, to be contested over the sprinting distance of 1200 metres, has nine contestants. The cup has a historic significance as it has been named after the legendry beautiful concubine of Mughal emperor Akbar.

But only three come into reckoning. They are: Rags To Riches, Claim To Fame and Dixie. They should finish in the same order in this fourth race of the day.

The third cup event, the Nero Cup, named after the great horse, Pakistan had produced winning over all distances and big races, has ten contenders.

However, three come into reckoning on recent performances. They are Quwat, Royal Tradition and Apex.

If the time and classification is any yardstick to determine the probable winner, the first named should brush aside any challenge from anyone.

The handicap favour Royal Tradition and Apex. Royal Tradition ran dismally and his rider, Shahid Rehman, had alleged that the colt was not fit and did not respond to his urging during the race on the last outing.

The colt is yet to shed the spectre of uncertainty looming large on his performance that day after a very fine performance earlier. This leaves a big question mark.

A lengthy card of eight races has been drawn for the day. Six races will be contested over 1200 metres, one 1300 metre and one over 1600 metres. The first race will be held at 11.30am.

Following is the field and our selection:

RIWAT PLATE CLASS V

DIV II-C 1200M:

Honest Minister 9-0, Shakalaka 9-0, Munsaf 8-12, Safari 8-12, Tallal The Great 8-12, Baker Love 8-12, Dream Prince 8-12, Jageerdarni 8-12, High Jet 8-12, Weldon 8-12, The Runner 8-10, Redouble 8-9, Shah Rani 8-8 and Magic Queen 8-6.

Win: Redouble.

Place: Munsaf and Baker Love.

RIWAT PLATE CLASS V

DIV II-B 1200M:

War Artist 9-0, Dream Catcher 9-0, Grue 9-0, Sun Downer 9-0, Rough Tough 9-0, Stride To Moment 8-10, Athena 8-10, Rania 8-10, Freeze 8-10, Zoaq 8-10, Toyota 8-10, Gulf Line 8-10 and Sweet Lady 8-8.

Win: Toyota.

Place: Sweet Lady and Gulf Line.

RIWAT PLATE CLASS V

DIV II-A 1200M:

Alishba 9-0, Miss Liza 9-0, Chinkara 9-0, Shim Jim 9-0, Daimond Sky 9-0, Princess Aman 9-0, Love Story 9-0, Dream Memories 9-0, Jan-e-Bhakkar 8-10, Bashaayeash Prince 8-10, Red Hot Fire 8-10 and Tuba First 8-10.

Win: Miss Liza.

Place: Alishba and Shim Jim.

ANARKALI CUP. A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLIES 1200M:

Claim To Fame 9-0, Rags To Riches 8-7, Super Sonic 8-0, Pick Of The Day 8-0, Dixie 8-0, My Delilah 8-0, Nishat Malook 8-0, Heaven’s Heart 8-0 and Twinky 8-0.

Win: Rags To Riches.

Place: Dixie and Claim To Fame.

1,000 GUINEAS OF

PAKISTAN 1600M:

Bold Act 8-12, Brave Act 8-12, Deja Vau 8-12, Diamond In Dust 8-12 ,Fantastic Baby 8-12, Mythical 8-12, Princess Of Gujrat 8-12, Simbi 8-12, Spiritual Song 8-12 and Poly Cat 8-12.

Win: Poly Cat.

Place: Mythical and Brave Act.

NERO CUP CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1300M:

Dil Vil 9-4, Noor 9-4, Quwat 9-2, Cut Throat 8-12, Royal Tradition 8-8, Royal Fish 8-2, Apex 8-2, Valenday 7-10, Vendetta 7-8 and Volcano 7-6.

Win: Quwat.

Place: Apex and Royal Tradition.

RIWAT PLATE CLASS V

DIV I-B 1200M:

Mythical Flight 9-0, Thank For Nothing 9-0, Scooby Do 8-13, Wllhewish 8-13, Life 8-11, Aunab 8-11, Pak Tradition 8-11, Dillagi 8-11, Gold Medallist 8-9, Mannan Prince 8-9 and Shah Pari 8-7.

Win: Willhewish.

Place: Scooby Do and Dillagi.

RIWAT PLATE CLASS V

DIV I-A 1200M:

Run And Win 9-2, Kaaram Pe Karam 8-13, Empire Maker 8-12, Trump Coup 8-12, Don’t Follow 8-10, War Admiral 8-10, Nommy The Hunter 8-10, Janu 8-6, Dubai Fan 8-6, Golden Addition 8-6, Gold Mine 8-6 and Emperor 8-6.

Win: Nommy The Hunter.

Place: Emperor and Karam Pe Karam.