LAHORE, Dec 27: Four-year-old bay filly, Canopy, who is in great shape after winning four races in-a-row, should oblige her connections by winning the Christmas Cup during the Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The filly from Yasoob Again out-of-Coconino, Canopy is contesting in the fifth and supporting event a class V division I & II combined handicap race in a card of seven. The race is to be held over the sprinting distance of 1200 metres.

In her four outings to date, Canopy has won all showing improvement in each running. She is ideally placed in weight scales and should make it five in-a-row, a feat seldom achieved by a colt or filly.

Among her 14 rivals, three colts Super Star, Key Player and Flood Of Gold may fight for the less remunerative positions.

The feature event, the Mecca Cola Cup to have gone over the middle distance of 1600 metres seems a one-horse affair, Tora Bora. The four-year-old colt from Baker’s Gate out-of-Nair De Fleur, was beaten in his two previous outings.

 First he was beaten by an English filly, Pretty Pekan by two lengths on Nov 30. Later in the Pakistan St. Leger he was humbled by Feel The Freedom by five lengths on Dec 12 last.

Although he is carrying a top weight of nine stones four pounds, yet there seems to be no reason why he should not make amends this time. Among his eight rivals Moment To Moment and Amazing are prominent runners on form.

Bay colt Moment Of Love, who is almost three-year-old now, after winning a two-year-old halfbreds race run over 1000 metres on Dec 14 last looks poised to win again.

The field he is contesting looks stiffer this time and the distance raised 200 metres more but the way he ran and rallied to win should make no problem for him to make it two in-a-row. Lot Of Thanks, Kala Shah Kaku, Royal Performance and Bone Crusher should fight for places on the frame.

Bold Venture, Gold Rush and Royal Class are the chance ones in the Christmas Plate, a class V division II race to be run over 1200 metres.

Gold Rush, who is faster of the three should make amends for his defeat in his outing on Sunday last.

A card of seven events will be down for decision in the afternoon. Five events will be run over 1200 metres, one over 1600 metres and the feature over 1600 metres. The first race will start at 12pm.

The following are the fields and our selections.

Jhelum Plate Class VII Division II 1000M.

High Lite 8-10 Gold Disc 8-10 Shaheen 8-10 Laughing Queen 8-10 JR 95 8-10 Hot Touch 8-6 Hyperonian 8-6 Payari Mahbooba 8-6 Black Rock 8-6 and King’s Burry 8-2.

Win and Place: Watch connections.

Jhelum Plate Class VII Division III 1200M.

Royal Victory 9-4 Extra Heat 9-4 Qandhar 9-0 Wait For Me 9-0 Victorious 8-12 Fifty Six Fifty Six 8-10 Rasputin 8-10 Shan-i- Gujrat 8-8 Druree 8-7 Malang Aya (Formerly Asif Choice) 8-6 Oscar 7-12 and Match Fix 7-10.

Win: Qandhar. Place: Rasputin and Druree.

Jhelum Plate Class VII Division I & II 1200M.

Gun Salute 9-2 Green Hill 9-0 Moment Of Love 9-0 Royal Fantasy 9-0 Bone Crusher 8-10 Rising Sun 8-9 Madam Lorina 8-8 Lot Of Thanks 8-5 Waseem’s Love 8-5 Imagine Iff 8-2 Rukhsh 8-2 Sun Princess 8-1 Kala Shah Kaku 8-0 Royal Performance 8-0 Bach View 7-11 Sun Of Gold 7-4 Las Pal Mas 7-4 and Nazakat 7-4.

Win: Moment Of Love. Place: Lot Of Thanks and Royal Performance.

Christmas Plate Class V Division II 1200M.

Royal Prosper 9-0 Bold Venture 8-12 Gold Rush 8-11 Ellinora 8-11 Fair Boy 8-11 Black Dancer 8-11 Leading Prince 8-11 Beena Roy Baby 8-11 Russian Rythm 8-8 Royal Class 8-8 Two-B 8-8 and The Assassin 7-11.

Win: Gold Rush. Place: Royal Class and Bold Venture.

Christmas Cup Class V Division I & II 1200M.

Euro Gold 9-0 Super Star 8-12 Abdullah Prince 8-10 Dhandhana 8-8 Titania 8-7 Mumtaz Mahal 8-7 Rock The World 8-6 Canopy 8-6 Love Moon 8-4 Hoor-i-Arab 8-4 Sunny Kid 8-2 Flood Of Gold 8-2 Key Player 8-2 and Black House 7-12.

Win: Canopy. Place: Super Star and Key Player.

Mecca Cola Cup Class IV Division I & II 1600M.

Tora Bora 9-5 Moment To Moment 8-12 Amazing 8-12 Snow Drop 8-9 Great King 8-7 Rukhtas Again 8-2 Royal Soul 8-0 Key Guy Princess 8-0 and Flame 8-0.

Win: Tora Bora. Place: Moment To Moment and Amazing.

Jhelum Plate Class VII Division IV & V 1200M.

Lovely Diana 9-0 Double Mithoo 9-0 Double Deal 8-13 Opening Partner 8-11 Raad 8-11 Wall Street 8-9 Malook Star 8-7 Desperado 8-0 Sky Hawk 8-5 Stride To Moment 8-1 Ghabra 7-11 Muslim Badger 7-9 Silver Baby 7-8 Easy Come Easy Go 7-8 Miss Picasso 7-5 Nijinsky 7-4 Two Timing 7-4 and Knock First 7-4.

Win: Opening Partner. Place: Wall Street and Silver Baby.