LAHORE: An eight-event card, featuring two important cup races, awaits the race-goers during the 25th running of the Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse here on Sunday.

The main event, the Shergar Cup for imported thoroughbred horses to be contested over 1,600 metres recalls the memory of thoroughbred Shergar hailed as the greatest of his time. He was stolen from his stud in Ireland in February 1983 in a tantalizing mystery. Owned by a syndicate of 34 shareholders including a couple of shining luminaries on the international racing circuit left ruing the loss of their machine to print money.

The significance of the ultra high-priced Shergar was he raced and won races with authority. He won the Epsom Derby 1981 with the biggest margin ever and the Irish Derby besides other classic races and 0the all aged King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot to be ranked as the greatest.

Former chairman Lahore Race Club (LRC) Tariq Aziz has included the event in the Lahore Winter Racing calendar and retained by the sitting chairman Makhdum Syed Ahmad Mahmud..

Four imported thoroughbred horses from the established high ranking pedigrees are taking part in the first imported horses race of the season to be gone over 1,600 metres, and expected to be enjoyed by the racing connoisseurs.

The eight-year-old son of Irish sire Master Craftsman will be the favourite with seven-year-old son of Dark Angel, Rising Dawn, as his main challenger. Both have contested in races during the last season. Nawab’s Approach, a five-year-old son of Irish sire, Dawn Approach and the four-year-old filly, Lola’s Theme, a daughter of English sire Afraaj will make their maiden appearance on the Lahore track.

There is yet another noteworthy about that Al Nehayy is owned by a lady owner, Mrs Asma Ramday, a new induction in the owners’ ranks.

The supporting event, the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Cup marks the 109th birthday of the famous poet, who advocated the cause of downtrodden. It has a big field of a dozen thoroughbreds. A quartet of them looks the right contender, namely, Welcome Home, Jharra, Lorenzo and Ashal Love. They should fight for the top honours with Welcome Home favourite.

In all, 86 runners have accepted to take part in eight events. Six races will be held over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres, one over 1,200 metres and one over 1,600 metres. The first race will be held at 12.00noon.

Following is the field and selections:

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

Golden Stamp 9-0, Dancing Beauty 8-10, Sheba 8-10, Anmole One 8-10, English Babu 8-10, Nice Moon 8-6, Shan-e-Kakrali 8-6, Good Action 8-6, Hip Man 8-6, Turab Prince 8-2, Miss Bray 8-0, Bano 7-12, Encounter Specialist 7-10, It’s Me 7-10.

Win: Golden Stamp.

Place: Anmole One and Shan-e-Kakrali.

Upset: Miss Bray.

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

Silken Black 9-0, Khabib 8-10, Bright Gold 8-10, Chan Punjabi 8-10, Anibal 8-8, Dimple 8-8, Lucky Time 8-2, Timeless 8-2, Classic Lady 7-12, Ask Me 7-12, Artghal 7-10.

Win: Anibal.

Place: Khabib and Chan Punjabi.

THE SOHNA PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV — 1,000M:

Gotti 9-2, Qalandra 9-0, After Hero 8-10, Prince Of Multan 8-10, Neeli De Malika 8-8, Safdar Princess 8-8, Smiling Again 8-6, Ladla 8-6, Tripple Action 8-6, Crown Jewel 8-6, KFK Princess 8-6, Tell Me 8-6, Golden Pound 8-6, Mr Brown 8-6, Take Care 8-4, She 8-0, Natalia 7-12.

Win: Qalandra.

Place: Gotti and Prince Of Multan.

THE SOHNA PLATE CLASS VII DIV III — 1,000M:

Eden Rock 9-0, Neeli The Great 9-0, Banjo 8-12, Royal Runner 8-10, Minding 8-10, Mud House Legacy 8-8, Balam Bhai 8-8, Malik Da Piyar 8-4, Trick Of Treat 8-4, Hawa Hawai 8-4, Chota Jharra 8-4.

Win: Mud House Legacy.

Place: Royal Runner and Banjo.

THE SOHNA PLATE CLASS VII DIV I — 1,000M:

Baland-O-Bala 8-10, Din Ka Raja 8-10, Zandora 8-10, Dazzling 8-8, Khan Jee 8-6, Salam-e-Lahore 8-6, Drums Of War 8-2.

Win: Baland-O-Bala.

Place: Khan Jee and Salam-e-Lahore.

THE SHERGAR CUP CLASS IV — ALL IMPORTED THOROUGHBREDS — 1,600M:

Rising Dawn 9-2, Al Nehayy 8-11, Nawab’s Approach 8-9, Lola’s Theme 8-5.

Win: Al Nehayy.

Place: Rising Dawn.

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

Welcome Home 9-0, Prince Albert 8-10, Jharra 8-10, Turning Light 8-4, Nayel 8-4, Quick Short 8-4, Golden Ring 8-4, Salam-e-Dera 8-4, Sinner 8-0, Lorenzo 8-0, Ashal Love 7-10, Secret Lady 7-10.

Win: Welcome Home.

Place: Lorenzo and Ashal Love; Upset Jharra.

THE SOHNA PLATE CLASS VII DIV II — 1,000M:

User 9-0, Samora Princess 9-0, Missing My Love 8-8, Big Foot 8-8, Narowali Princess 8-6, Gold Man 8-4, Jan-e-Fida 8-2, Prince Of Lion 7-12, Pehlwan 7-12, Forever One 7-12.

Win: Gold Man.

Place: Narowali Princess and Missing My Love.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2020