LAHORE: The Pakistan Derby — the most cherished annual equine sports event — featured a spectacular 12-race-card set for the 27th Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse here on Sunday.

What makes the weekend horse-racing unique is that it will also stage two classic races—the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and the National Breeders Cup besides the Lahore Race Club (LRC) Cup and the LRC Stewards Cup.

The roll of honour includes star-studded cast of Pakistani and imported thoroughbred horses representing top bloodlines to vie for turf action displaying a rare spectacle of dazzling speed, stamina and endurance, the likes of which are seen rarely.

The top jockeys will in action exhibiting their saddle-craft while riding homebred and imported thoroughbreds produced by the leading stud farms especially that of Pir of Pagara (Sindh), Makhdum’s ( Rahim Yar Khan), Beg and Noor Hussain (Lahore), Mamdot and Noon’s ( Sargodha) besides a few others.

The Pakistan Derby line-up has five colts and seven fillies in the run for winning the honours for four-year-old champion. Mostly are they real contenders, which is a rare case in the 72-year history of the Pakistan Derby.

They all have had strong finishes in the preparatory races and track exercises to strengthen their claim as most serious contenders.

What looks apparent is that fillies are more strong claimants as compared to the colts, who have not been able to show their performance worth taking strong notice.

The strong claimant among colts is the invincible Al Akbar has made an unfortunate way out. In the Derby Trials he ruptured his blood vessel while running three weeks back and owner Makhdum Syed Ahmad immediately decided to withdraw him from derby race. His vacancy was substituted by the stable filly Generation which is also a useful thoroughbred.

The fillies to be reckoned with a good chance are: California, Big Act, Victim of Love, Fabulous One and Goleke Queen. A tough battle is expected and whosoever stays the grueling distance of 2,400 metres will carry the honours.

Rising Dawn is fancied for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. The seven-year-old Irish- bred horse, who won the Faiz Ahmad Faiz Cup.

The National Breeders Cup to be contested over the sprinting distance of 1,200 metres has only six acceptors — all three-year-olds. But the real contest looks between Waritis and Floating Cloud who will get the underfoot conditions well-suited to him.

The LRC Cup has a big field of 15 acceptors and looks more going the bookmakers’ way as nearly half a dozen of them stand a chance. One can only wish good luck to the backers in this race.

The LRC Stewards Cup has also some good sprinters to make the 1,200 metres race a closely-contested affair.

In all, 132 horses are the probable starters collectively with the first race scheduled to start at 11.00am.

Following is the field and selections:

THE INDUS PLATE CLASS VII DIV V (MAIDENS) — 1,000M:

Asad Prince 8-10, Jackson 8-10, Fire Ball 8-10, Raees 8-10, Lucky Rajoo 8-10, Mohallay Dar 8-10, Zahid Love 8-10, Moazzam Prince 8-10, Man Maujee 8-10, Zil Prince 8-10, Rani Shahwan De 8-4, Sweet Golden 8-4, Humayun Choice 8-4, Day Light 8-4, Piyari Guriya 8-4, Dance And Dance 8-4.

Win: Asad Prince.

Place: Jackson and Piyari Guriya.

Upset: Fire Ball.

THE INDUS PLATE CLASS VII DIV V — 1,000M:

After Hero (ex-Uzair Prince) 9-0, Ramak Queen 9-0, On The Spot Win 8-12, Alex 8-10, Almas Choice 8-8, Daniel Bryan 8-8, Maradona 8-4, Mahmoor Princess 8-4, Red Boy 8-2, Mehrbani (ex-Umar Queen) 8-0, Royal Performer 7-8, Public Fancy 7-4.

Win: Red Boy.

Place: On The Spot Win and Ramak Queen.

Upset: Mehrbani.

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

Qalandra 9-4, Mozrat 9-0, Golden Apple 9-0, Safdar Princess 8-12, Big Lady 8-10, Bano 8-6, Sweet Miracle 8-4, Beach Beauty 8-4, Good Action 7-12, Sheba 7-12, Maria 7-4.

Win: Golden Apple.

Place: Bano and Qalandra.

Upset: Sweet Miracle.

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

Afzaal Choice 8-12, Sayban-e-Bhakkar 8-12, Fancy Boy 8-12, Desert Rain 8-12, Khushtaba 8-10, Secret Lady 8-10, Furious 8-10, Khan Prince 8-10, Bright Life 8-10, Neeli De Malika 8-6, Wahab choice 8-2.

Win: Khushtaba.

Place: Sayban-e-Bhakkar and Neeli De Malika. Upset: Khan Prince.

THE LRC CUP CLASS VI DIV III & IV — 1,200M:

Timbo 9-2, Phenomenal One 8-10, Tiger Jet 8-10, Malik’s Love 8-8, Mr Niaz Baig 8-8, Sara Jamoot 8-8, Princess Anabia 8-6, Sinner 8-4, Miss Mohni Road 8-4, Jabbar Prince 8-2, Follow My Lead 8-0, Last Dance 8-0, Khan Jan 8-0, Atlantic Ocean 8-0, Jharra 7-10.

Win: Timbo.

Place: Princess Anabia and Jabbar Prince.

Upset: Phenomenal One.

THE LRC STEWARDS CUP CLASS VI (CLASS V INCLUDED) — 1,200M:

Mighty Wings 9-8, Big Faith 9-0, Bet Fair 8-8, Sparking 8-2, Gondal Prince 8-2, Benevolent 8-2, Mitwa 8-0, Glittery Eyes 7-12.

Win: Big Faith.

Place: Mitwa and Benevolent.

Upset: Mighty Wings.

THE NATIONAL BREEDERS CUP — A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD — 1,400M:

Floating Cloud 8-8, Waritis 8-8, Royal Ransom 8-2, Licence To Kill 8-2, Cigar Girl 7-13, Costa Rica 7-7.

Win: Waritis.

Place: Licence To Kill and Floating Cloud.

THE PAKISTAN DERBY — A TERM RACE FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLD — 2,400M:

Simba 9-0, Nanook 9-0, Determination 9-0, Hassan Prince 9-0, Sahib 9-0, California 8-11, Generation 8-11, Gole Ke Queen 8-11, Big Act 8-11, Victim of Love 8-11, Town Girl 8-11, Fabulous One 8-11.

Win: California.

Place: Gole Ke Queen and Big Act. Place: Fabulous One.

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP — 2,000M:

Rising Dawn 9-0, Right To Dream 9-0, Dardawan 9-0, Al Nehayy, 8-6, nawab’s Approach 8-6.

Win; Rising Dawn.

Place: Al Nehayy and Right To Dream.

THE INDUS PLATE CLASS VII DIV I — 1,100M:

Salam-e-Dera 9-0, Salam-e-Kaif 9-0, Madhuri Dixit 8-12, Lorenzo 8-12, Miss Ravi Road 8-12, Legacy 8-10, Ashal Love 8-10, Four Char Hai 8-8, Toronto 8-6, Race The Moon 8-6, One Four Seven 8-2, Baabe-The Rani 8-2, Sea Horse 7-10.

Win: Salam-e-Dera.

Place: Ashal Love and Lorenzo.

Upset: Toronto.

THE INDUS PLATE CLASS VII DIV II & III — 1,100M:

Candle 9-0, Multan One 9-0, Abdullah Princess 9-0, Nadaan 8-12, Titli 8-10, Piyara Saeen 8-10, Saeen Jee 8-10, Cameo 8-10, Manu Jutt 8-8,, Khan Jee 8-4, Wali Choice 8-4, Big Foot 8-4, Push The Limits 8-4, Double O Seven 8-0, Baa Waqar 7-10.

Win: Cameo.

Place: Naadan and Khan Jee. Upset: Titli.

THE INDUS PLATE CLASS VII DIV III & IV — 1,100M:

Princess Poma 9-0, Pitru 9-0, Casing Boy 9-0, Vegas 9-0, Moon Soon 9-0, Punjabi Style 9-0 Dimple 9-0 Amir’s Love 8-10, Silent Warrior 8-10, Lisbon 8-10, Chan Punjabi 8-10, Nairobi 8-6, Salam-e-Niaz Baig 8-6, Natalia 8-0, Neeli The Great 7-12.

Win: Natalia.

Place: Silent Warrior.

Upset: Lisbon.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2019