LAHORE, Feb 2 Four-year-old chestnut colt Sher-e-Sialkot will be on song to register his third successive victory during the midweek Lahore Gymkhana races at the Racecourse on Wednesday.
Given his present form, Sher-e-Sialkot, a colt from unregistered parents, will be among few unknown pedigree horses to achieve distinction of scoring a hat-trick of victories.
Since installation of unknown horses to racing by the Lahore Race Club (LRC) chairman Tariq Aziz some unscrupulous owners got benefit unduly from this facility and inducted thoroughbred horses or mares as unknown for low placing in the handicap and reaped fraudulent reward by winning many races.
One such owner was fined Rs50,000, which was a paltry amount, he had won through his thoroughbred sham unknown.
Not only this one owner went to the extent of registering an English thoroughbred as unknown but before he could deceive many he was caught unaware by the watchful steward of the Jockey Club of Pakistan (JCP), Munir Ahmed Dar, before he may succeed in cashing his fraud at the racecourse.
The man was fined but Munir Dar, who is a retired DIG of Police, did not register a criminal case. It is said an LRC influential person came to the fraudulent person's rescue.
The LRC and the JCP has now started registration of all unknown horses separately from the thoroughbred and half-bred horses. Every officer is alert now and steps have been taken to check such a fraud with parentage of this majestic species of animal.
But Sher-e-Sialkot has shown consistent improvement and was placed second once and then won two races in-a-row on Jan 10 and Jan 20. Ladla, Puma Gee and Gullo Badshah should fight for places in what will be the third race of the day.
The feature event, the Badami Bagh Plate, class VI division II, has 13 runners barring last-minute withdrawals. The majority of them has not raced so far or won any race.
On recent form and performance on top is five-year-old bay mare Boski, owned by Zaheer Aslam and trained by Tauqir Ahmed, who has to her credit two back to back victories. Victory Show, Deluxe and Daizzy Against All may be her challengers. This will be the sixth and last race of the day.
Dream Catcher, Racing Legend and Shah Pari are the pick of the 14 runners in the fifth and supporting event.
Five-year-old horse Dream Catcher has not won a race this season but knocking at the victory door, which he may crash this time. Although placed at the top of the handicap with nine stones four pounds, he still has a good chance to pick up the spoils.
Zaidan and Quick are the speedy horses in the eight-runner field for the fourth race.
Bash Baby, King's UK and Crown Star look good in the opener. They should end it up in the same order.
The second race has the largest field of 18 runners. Sensational, Anarkali, Princess Adla and Bhallo Prince attract attention to fight for occupying the winner's box. Mare Dilruba was heavily backed on her previous outing but she ran off the frame. She is again running in the same company.
A six-race card will be decided in the afternoon. Four races will be gone over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres and two over 1,100 metres. The first race will be held at 100pm.
Following is the field and our selections
The Kala Shah Kaku Plate Class VII Div IV 1,000M
Pebbles 9-0, Moj-e-Qalandri 9-0, Bash Baby 8-10, Black King 8-10, Marker 8-10, Play Me 8-6, Company 8-6, King's UK 8-6, Lucky Smile 8-4, Jogan 8-4, Let Me On 8-2, Blue Heights 7-12, Crown Star 7-3, Fair Lady 7-0.
Win Bash Baby.
Place Crown Star and King's UK.
The Kala Shah Kaku Plate Class VII Div III 1,000M
Jugnu 9-0, Aie Tulsi 9-0, Mabrook 9-0, Victory Smile 9-0, Accurate Lady 9-0, Viola 9-0, Miss Accurate 9-0, Pheros 9-0, Zunair Prince 8-10, Moj-e-Saba 8-10, Shaban Man 8-10, Miss Golden 8-10, Sensational 8-6, Anarkali 8-6, Dilruba 8-5, Princess Adla 8-5, Porsche 8-2, Bhallo Prince 7-13.
Win Princess Adla.
Place Sensational and Bhallo Prince.
The Kala Shah Kaku Plate Class VII Div II 1,000M
Sher-e-Sialkot 9-4, Golden Sparrow 9-0, See The Star 9-0, Ladla 8-10, Gora Saheb 8-10, Princess Sana 8-10, Puma Gee 8-8, Chambailly 8-6, Sikander Love 8-0, Gullo Badshah 7-12.
Win Sher-e-Sialkot.
Place Puma Gee and Ladla.
The Kala Shah Kaku Plate Class VII Div I 1,000M
Raj Babu 9-4, Quick 9-0, Kitten 9-0, Zaidan 8-10, Jalwa 8-8, Imran Prince 8-6, Victory Tiger 8-6, Ahsan Love 8-2.
Win Zaidan.
Place Jalwa and Quick.
The Badami Bagh Plate
Class VI Div III & IV 1,100M
Dream Catcher 9-4, Rania 9-2, Al Dar 8-12, Untar 8-6, Shams-un-Nisa 8-4, Murad King 8-2, Racing Legend 7-12, Katari 7-12, Aruna Laila 7-8, Shah Pari 7-6, Sikander 7-6, Amazing Boy 7-4, Victory King 7-4, Khyber Star 7-4.
Win Dream Catcher.
Place Katari and Racing Legend.
The Badami Bagh Plate
Class VI Div II 1,100M
Unique 9-10, Boski 9-6, Arzoo II 9-0, Trobis 9-0, Victory King 9-0, Victory Star 9-0, Gul Bakowli 8-12, Deluxe 8-10, Pawan Prince 8-10, Focus 8-10, Billoo Story 8-6, Daizzy Against All 8-2, Alpine Creek 7-12.
Win Boski.
Place Deluxe and Victory Star.
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