LAHORE – In a card of 10 races for the day on Sunday (today), the 67th Pakistan Derby has been placed at number six with Quality Road, Moment of Truth and Sarbuland in the run for the top position. The pundit’s favourites are Moment of Truth and Sarbuland because the top riders of the Lahore Race Club are riding these horses. Shahid Rehman, who has won six races including four derbies, will lock horns with Aamir Pervaiz, who has seven victories including three derbies. Rehman was the rider when Lady Narnia, owned by Asif Ali Khan, won the 2010 Derby, but he faced less of a challenge then.
This year, Quality Road is among the top contenders, having an outside chance of winning from among the nine participants, who all have won at least one race recently. The races will start at 11.30 in the morning with Bhawal Plate which has Billoo Story, Pretty Girl and Khurrum Prince as the favourites from among the 12 participants. Fourteen horses in Class IV handicap will compete in the second Division I-B race. Dark Lord, Lucky Goshi and In My Heart will be the ones to watch out for among the 14 horses.
The Mian Shamas Din Memorial Cup will have 14 horses lining up for the top honours, with Teas Star, Hope for All and Mrs Accurate among those which could surprise everyone. Although Mrs Accurate, owned by Shahbaz Butt, has not won a single race but her recent performance has tagged her as one of the best. At number four will be the Stewards Cup, which will feature 11 horses with Munich, One Way II and Joly Baker being the favourites.
Interestingly, only four horses are in run for the Breeders Cup and Assasin leads the remaining Zenyetta, Gold Digger and Golden Rose in book keepers’ list of favouirtes. Last year, Mian Khan’s Chapter One won the title, but this year none of his colts is participating in the race. Apart from Sarbuland, Moment of Truth and Quality Road, other four years old colts or fillies Tiawan’s Pride, Master Dubit, Let me Shine, Jahlawan Blue, Zelzabeel and Platinum Key will challenge the top riders in the Pakistan Derby 2011, which has Rs 820,000 at stake for top three position holders.
At number seven is the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, with just four participants: Chapter One, Jahlawan, Lady Narnia, and Zarqawa. The ninth race, Mohammad Ali Memorial Cup, has eight participants, with Majestic One, Uqaab and Quick Return in sight for a win. The tenth race of the day, the Class V Plate Race, has the biggest line-up of 16 horses. Mireen Shaheen, Aboor and Thanks Dad will be waiting to see who poses a challenge to them.
