Two cup events top horseracing action in Lahore today

LAHORE: Two cup races highlight the six-event card drawn for the day/night Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse here on Sunday.

The feature event, the Mohammad Tughlaq Cup, a Class VI Division II, III and IV — with Class VII Division I included — to be gone over 1,200 metres has atiny field of seven runners. However in spite of a small field it looks an open affair as at least five runners have a chance with a quartet of them — Amazing Lips, Nayel, Drums Of War and Raksh — tipped to fight for top honours.

The supporting event, the Peace Cup, a Class VII Division V (Maidens) has an equally small field of seven acceptors. On his last performance, the Tauqir Ahmed-trained chestnut colt Maxi Million looks a strong contender but the country-bred animal was withdrawn from the contest when his odds went up and there seems some foul play or the colt was not properly fit to run.

In all, 46 runners will face the starter, if there are no last-minute withdrawals, with the horses in the first race coming under starter’s order at 5:00pm.

Meanwhile, the Lahore Race Club (LRC) management is taking extraordinary precautionary measures against the recent surge in coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and dengue cases in Lahore. The dengue cases show a gradual rise including deaths. The latest casualty, a retired major, Ali Kamran died of dengue on Friday.

LRC steward Mahmood Khan told Dawn that the club is taking up wide anti- dengue spray of the entire premises on a regular basis and observing a complete check-up of visitors before entry into the premises advising them to fully observe sops against the pandemic.

Following is the field and selections:

THE RAWALPINDI PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV & V — 1,000M:

Chan Pari 9-2, Owais-e-Bhakkar 8-2,Jonti Road 8-0, Trick And Treat 7-12, Chota Pathan 7-12, Chan Punjabi 7-10, Piyari Guriya 7-10, Big Foot 7-8, After Hero 7-8, Merchant Of Venus 7-8.

Win: Chan Pari.

Place: Merchant Of Venus and Big Foot.

THE PEACE CUP CLASS VII DIV V (MAIDENS) — 1,000M:

Maxi Million 8-12, Open Challenge 8-12, Sher Garh Babu 8-6, German Star 8-4, Nalain Princess 8-4, Khushbakht 8-2, Sultan Jahanian 7-12.

Win: Maxi Million.

Place: Nalain Princess and Sultan Jahanian.

THE RAWALPINDI PLATE CLASS VII DIV II — 1200M:

Amazing Runner 9-0, Qalandra 8-10, Salam-e-Dera 8-6, Jalpana Prince 8-4, Silver Fast 8-1, Bambsi 7-12, Spring Festival 7-8.

Win& Place: Watch the ring.

THE MOHAMMAD TUGHLAQ CUP CLASS VI DIV II, III & IV (CLASS VII DIV I INCLUDED) — 1,200M:

Amazing Lips 9-0, Believe Me 8-8, Nayel 8-4, Gondal Prince 8-0, Drums Of War 8-0, Raksh 7-10, Timbo 7-10.

Win: Raksah.