LAHORE: Lady luck heavily favoured four-year-old bay filly Borte when she nosed out bay filly Elektra to land the Eid Cup run over 1000 metres during the day/night Lahore Summer Meeting at the floodlit Racecourse here on Sunday evening.

In spite carrying a heavy impost of nine stone three pounds on her back, Borte flew in to the lead right from the start and just managed to cross the finish line by a short margin ahead of long-chasing Elektra to give owner Umar Khan just his second success in 20 outings to date. Guns Of Navarone and Tatla Princess completed the frame among nine runners.

In the supporting event, bay mare Danzora put up a smashing performance to beat Gondal Gift by over a length in a successful chase during the last 100 metres final sprint. Roan colt Hizar finished a close third while bay mare Generosity completed the frame among ten runners.

A n unusual large number of race-goers braved the extreme muggy weather to attend the equine sports meeting and were rewarded well when five-well backed horses won in a card of six races. Their only disappointment came in the first race in which long-shot bay filly Roshnee defeated another long-shot bay horse Daddy Cool by two lengths.

The 80 to 100 favourite Sargent won the second race followed by Favourite Gift Of Gold’s triumph in the third race. Another 70 to 100 favourite filly Lady Jasmine cruised to a narrow win over Mumraiz Prince in the fourth race.

Riding boy Hassan Toor brought home a brace of winners through Roshnee and Lady Jasmine and was only denied a hat-trick when Elektra was beaten by a neck by Borte.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2023