LAHORE, Jan 17: The January Cup featuring a seven-event card looks like more of a showdown between two thoroughbred turf stars, Punjabi and Tipu Sultan, who have shown polished performances, and are to measure each other’s strides when the Lahore winter Meeting gets underway at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The four-year-old colt, Punjabi, owned by Syed Pervaiz Hussain, after winning three races finished as runner up in the prestigious Jinnah Cup on December 28 last. The colt is from Bedouin Invader, a son of Green Desert- a most successful sire son of the reputed English sire, Danzig.

The six-year-old Tipu Sultan is the progeny of Cisco Wells from the bloodline of Sadlers Wells. Owned jointly by Syed Pervaiz Hussain and Munir Ahmad Dar, he won the December Cup on Dec 21 and was beaten by Rags To Riches on Dec 28. He won the Peshawar Cup on Jan 4 when he hacked the field of class IV by a big margin of over seven lengths.

Both are in fine form and complete racing fitness and are expected to be locked up in a fierce struggle for supremacy.

The race distance goes in favour of Punjabi while the classification put Tipu Sultan in front.

Interestingly, whoever wins makes no difference to the owner Syed Pervaiz Hussain. In case Punjabi wins, he will have a full slice of the prize money and the half from Tipu Sultan, if he triumphs for being a co-owner with the former national hockey captain. We’ll have to wait and see which slice he gets.

The nine runners field for the cup event may see Nishat Malook and Apex fighting for a place to be contested over 1,300 metres. This will be the fourth race of the day.

The supporting and fifth race, the Ravi Cup, a term race for four-year-old colts and fillies in the over-1800 metres distance, has a tiny field of six runners.

The race will provide a test of stamina for a couple of serious Derby contenders, showing their prowess to stay over the distance. On bloodline, the filly, Rags To Riches looks like a definite to stay, followed by the colt Vendetta and the filly Philogyny, who determine their efficacy as long distance runners.

A good and honest rider will matter the most. Vendetta ran hopelessly on his last outing, creating doubts about his way of handling and training. If that was a true run, he is in with no chance.

The other two colts Valenday and Velocity will be out over the long distance for the first time and nothing can be predicted regarding their performance.

The Lahore Race Club (LRC) handicapper seems to have gone giddy while assigning weight in the third race. He has reduced the weight-scale by four-pounds, which is very intriguing. Normally he is seen raising the weight-scale upward.

A card of seven races will go through on Sunday. Five events will be contested in the over 1,200 metres while one will be over 1,300 metres and one over 1,800 metres.

The first race will be held at 12.30pm.

Following are the fields and our selections:

SAHIWAL PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 1,200M:

Khuddar 9-0, Roheen 9-0, Al Ain 9-0, Singhar 8-12, Skippy 8-10, Tree Of Life 8-10, Manager 8-10, Sabbat Qadam 8-6 and Super Sonic 7-8.

Win: Al Ain.

Place: Khuddar and Singhar.

SAHIWAL PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 1,200M:

Green Desert 9-0, Mama Mia 8-11, Mirana Shaheen 8-10, Stride To Moment 8-6, King Of Murad 8-6, Dream Act 8-4, First Passion 8-2, Chocolate Sunday 8-2, Murad King 8-0, Pawan Princess 7-10 and Victory Rose 7-4.

Win: Green Desert.

Place: King Of Murad and Stride To Moment.

SAHIWAL PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I 1,200M:

Rania 9-0, Cleopatra 9-0, Sweet Lady 8-11, Iconic 8-10, Alishiba 8-10, Empire Maker 8-10, Safe Bet 8-6, Naughty By Nature 8-2, Pocket Wood 8-2, Amazonia 8-2, Heart Lake 7-12, Ocean Song 7-10, Golden Edition 7-10, Justified 7-10, Shams-un-Nisa 7-10, Life 7-10 and Thanks For Nothing.

Win: Sweet Lady.

Place: Rania and Heart Lake.

JANUARY CUP CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1,300M:

Tipu Sultan 9-10, Punjabi 9-8, Mythical 8-9, Charismatic 7-10, Pak Edition 7-6, Apex 7-6, Nishat Malook 7-6, Majestic Desert 7-6 and Dubai Fan 7-4.

Win: Punjabi.

Place: Apex and Tipu Sultan.

RAVI CUP, A TERM RACE FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND FILLIES 1,800M:

Valenday 9-0, Volocity 9-0, Vendetta 9-0, Rangs To Riches 8-11, Pick Of The Day 8-11 and Philogyny.

Win: Rags To Riches.

Place: Philogyny.

SUKKUR PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1,200M:

Eve 9-0, Reborn 8-12, Richy Dancer 8-7, High Jet 8-5, Royal Gesture 8-4, Magic Queen 8-1 and Legend Setter 7-11.

Win: High Jet.

Place: Magic Queen and Royal Gesture.

SUKKUR PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,200M:

Zaafran 9-0, Miss Brave Heart 8-12, Fight To The Last 8-10, Mahiya 8-10, Big Power 8-10, Will He Wish 8-10, Mikkado 8-9, Tripple Star 8-9, Pretty Girl 8-8, Never So Sure 8-2, Janu 8-2, Sun City 8-2 and Geo Bhakkar

7-10.

Win: Zaafran.

Place: Will He Wish and Mikkado.