Brutus Cup tops horseracing action in Lahore today.

Byline: Aftab Gilani

LAHORE -- A six-race card, featuring a cup event, highlights the 10th Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse here on Sunday.

The Brutus Cup - comprising mostly thoroughbreds in class VI to be gone over 1,200 metres - has a dozen acceptors. Of them the notable in positive terms on the recent outings as marked by race analysts as the runners to look for are Rain Bird, Bet Fair, JF Thunder and Costa Rica.

Chestnut filly Rain Bird has exhibited her bloodline potential winning on her debut and then made it two wins on the trot. Chestnut colt JF Thunder has won five races and was placed four times but hasn't appeared in a stiff company class-wise.

Dark-bay horse Bet Fair ran a good race when placed second behind filly Sea Beauty on last outing is to make his claim justified. Filly Costa Rica broke her maiden's streak on last outing after being placed second eight times. She is a bit shy when challenged but has a handicap chance at lower weight.

However, the engaged riders on the quartet, who look horses of particular interest, will be of significant importance because when the time form matches equally it is the rider's skill that matters and the trainer's ability to send his horse in complete fitness.

The Brutus Cup will be the fifth race in racing order.

The supporting event, the Sialkot Plate Class VII Division I and II to be gone over 1,000 metres, has nine runners. It looks a tightly handicapped race with at least half-a-dozen runners on chance. If there are more try horses then the winner picking could prove a difficult proposition for the backers.

This will be the sixth and last race of the card.

Meanwhile the other four races will be contested over 1,000 metres.

The first race is to start at 1.00pm.

Following is the field and selections:

THE SIALKOT PLATE CLASS VII DIV V - 1,000M:

Beach Beauty 9-0, Royal Runner 9-0, Zil Prince 8-10, Only Jutt 8-10, Bano 8-10, Naveed Choice 8-8, Artghal 8-4, Gooloo Prince 8-4, Lovely Poma 7-12, Bet Of The Day 7-12.

Win: Only Jutt.

Place: Bet Of The Day and Artghal.

THE SIALKOT PLATE CLASS VII DIV V - 1,000M:

Double O Seven 9-0, Mr Brown 8-12, Chan Punjabi 8-12, Heart's Cry 8-12, Hip Man 8-12, Hadi Princess 8-12, Faizi Choice 8-8, Kashmiri Fighter 8-8, Jalpana Prince 8-8, She 8-4, It's Me 8-4, Turab Prince...