LAHORE: The Makhdumzada Syed Hassan Mahmud New Year Cup Classic, the first major event of the year, features prominently in a card of nine races to be held here at the Racecourse on Sunday.

Featuring 13 colts and fillies representing leading thoroughbred bloodlines, the New Year Cup Classic carries a bumper prize money of Rs2 million, which is below only Pakistan Derby’s purse.

The winner of this race, which is to be contested over 1,400 metres, will receive Rs13,00,000 while those finishing second, third and fourth will pocket Rs4,00,000, Rs2,00,000 and Rs1,00,000, respectively.

Bay colt Bambino has become a hot favourite after winning the Christmas Cup in a record timing a fortnight ago with the quartet of Verde One, Dilawaiz, Suspicious One and Sardar fighting for lesser positions in this race, the sixth event of the racing order.

The supporting cup race, the January Cup, a handicap race for thoroughbreds in Class VI and VII combined to be gone over 1,400 metres, has nine runners. It looks an open affair with almost half-a-dozen real contenders.

The fields for most of the other races look tightly handicapped in which picking a winner may prove a difficult task. The first race takes place at 11:30am.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2024