LAHORE, Dec 27: Three-year-old versatile filly Dixie looks like the strongest contender to win the Jinnah Cup to go over the middle distance of 1,400 metres during the Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The cup named after the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, is ranked as the most prestigious event in the Lahore turf racing calendar year and has been the envy of every owner, trainer and jockey since its inception.

Among the six contenders, that include three colts and as many fillies, Dixie, with one second place and four victories in a row, stands out on performance and classification.

Her close rivals could be the filly Philogyny and colt Cut Throat. But both are yet to prove their credentials against Dixie. This is a term race for three-year-old Pakistan-bred colts and fillies.

This year, the Jinnah Cup is taking place in a situation of mounting tension between the relations of India and Pakistan because of threats hurled by Indian leaders but the people of Pakistan are determined to foil aggressive designs of their arch-enemy pledging full adherence to their Quaid’s motto -- Unity, Faith and Discipline.

The testing situation has not affected the racing schedule of the Lahore Race Club (LRC), which is continuing un-interrupted. A large holiday crowd is expected to attend races on the Jinnah Cup day and pay tribute to the great Quaid.

The supporting and third race, the Kalar Kahar Plate class IV division II and III to be contested over 1,400 metres has a star-studded field of eight runners. On recent form and performance, three seem to be the real contenders, namely, Rags To Riches, Princess Ginza and Tipu Sultan.

Stylish filly Rags To Riches had some tendon trouble, which kept her away from the track. She is stated to be fully fit now and striding good in track work. On bloodline she has no parallel. Another filly Princess Ginza is very speedy and placed lowest in handicap while Tipu Sultan, who had recovered from a series of leg injuries, showed full fitness winning a race last Sunday. He has gone up in the weight scales but the distance of the race is to his liking. However, the colt Vendetta would be there to upset the apple cart.

Heaven’s Heart, Royal Gesture and The News look good in the Rahim Yar Khan Plate class V division I to be gone over 1,300 metres.

This is the first track appearance of the filly Heaven’s Heart this season. She is a cut above in class vis-à-vis her rivals. Royal gesture, Reborn and The News may fight for places.

There seems yet another close contest between High Jet, Shim Jim and Iconic in the Rahim Yar Khan Plate class V division II over 1,300 metres in which there are a dozen contestants. The trio should fight for picking up the spoils in this first race of the day’s programme.

Red Carpet, Dream Act and Mama Mia look good in the fifth race, Kharian Plate, class VI division III and IV over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres. They should finish in the same order.

Colt Barray Lal is a very speedy customer in the sixth race to score his second successive victory after last Sunday’s easy win. Dream Memories, Cleopatra and Fakher-e-Sialkot should fight for places.

Rani, Sun City and Al Ain are the pick of the seventh and last race of the day to finish in the same order.

The first race will be held at 12:30pm.

Following is the field and our selections:

RAHIM YAR KHAN PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1,300M:

Miss Brave Heart 9-2, High Jet 9-0, Shim Jim 8-10, Sweet Lady 8-10, Janu 8-10, Geo Bhakkar 8-8, Alishiba 8-6, Geo Super 8-2, Bread And Butter 8-2, Archies 8-2, Deedawar 8-2.

Win: High Jet.

Place: Iconic and Shim Jim.

RAHIM YAR KHAN PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1,300M:

Chinkara 9-0, Reborn 8-10, Heaven’s Heart 8-10, Will He Wish 8-6, Pick Of The Day 8-5, The News 8-4, Royal Gesture 8-4.

Win: Heaven’s Heart.

Place: The News and Royal Gesture.

KALAR KAHAR PLATE CLASS IV DIV II & III 1,400M:

Tipu Sultan 9-4, Apex 8-10, Tuba First 8-6, Rags To Riches 8-6, Vendetta 8-0, Miss Liza 7-10, Princess Ginza 7-8, Dubai Fan 7-6.

Win: Rangs To Riches.

Place: Tipu Sultan and Princess Ginza.

JINNAH CUP (A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND

FILLIES) 1,400M:

Velenday 9-0, Cut Throat 9-0, Punjabi 9-0, Dixie 8-11, Philogyny 8-11, Future Perfect 7-12.

Win: Dixie.

Place: Philogyny and Cut Throat.

KHARIAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 1,000M:

Red Carpet 9-2, Chocolate Sunday 8-10, Dream Act 9-0, Silent Assassin 8-8, Kamla 7-8, Golden Falcon 7-8, Murad the Great 7-4, Mama Mian 7-4.

Win: Red Carpet.

Place: Mama Mia and Dream Act.

KHARIAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 1,000M:

Fakhar-e-Sialkot 9-2, Ice Burg 9-0, Flying Fury 9-0, Singhar 9-0, Dream Memories 9-0, Cleopatra 9-0, Ceopatra 9-0, Barray Lal 8-10, Scarlet Empress 8-6, Victory Queen 8-6, Dizzy Heights 8-6, Wrestler 8-2, Mirana Shaheen, Jurat 7-8.

Win: Barray Lal.

Place: Cleopatra and Fakhar-e-Sialkot.

KHARIAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I 1,000M:

Rania 9-4, Skippy 8-10, Brave & Beautiful 8-10, Ocean Song 8-10, Anjleena Julie 8-10, One By One 8-10, Shams-un-Nisa 8-6, Sultan 8-5, Sun City 8-4, Al Ain 8-2, Sikander 8-2.

Win: Rania.

Place: Sun City and Al Ain.