Mixed fortunes witnessed in Lahore races

LAHORE: The 40th Day Winter Meeting at the Lahore Race Club late Sunday evening delivered a balanced day of racing, with both favourites and underdogs sharing the spoils across six competitive events.

The day’s proceedings began with an upset as Rashid Prince galloped to a surprise win in the opening Shah Kot Plate, Division VI & VII. I Shall Lead, not widely backed, stunned punters by securing second place, while Dubai Love completed the surprises by finishing third.

In the second race, Little Master, who entered as the front-running favourite, dominated proceedings from start to finish. However, the places told a different story, with Lucky Macs claiming second and Thunder Man (KRC) securing third — both surprising many with their performances.

The third race turned into a showcase for outsiders. Qalandar, entered as a fluke, outclassed the competition to grab the win. Luckvir emerged as the unexpected runner-up, and Thunder Boy (KRC) — not listed among the top choices — earned third place, rounding off a race full of surprises.

Drama unfolded in the fourth race where the finish resulted in a dead heat between Elizabeth and Samore City — both considered long shots. Son of Sultan, a more familiar name to racegoers, came in third, just behind the unlikely winners.

The fifth race saw some stability return as the highly-favoured Luna Afzaal justified expectations with a commanding victory. However, Zuza, entered as a fluke, shocked by finishing second, while Wynx, who had been tipped for a top-two finish, could only manage third. The final race wrapped up the evening with Mr. Asia, a crowd favourite, living up to his billing with a well-timed burst to win. The places again saw surprises with Noon Princess and Leo Star finishing second and third respectively, both outperforming expectations.