Mixed but revealing day at LRC

By Asher Butt and Abid Sultan

 

There has been a mixed but revealing day here at the Lahore Race Club with all having tasted predicted and surprising outcomes.

Book favs hit 2 / 5

My favs hit 1 / 5

Fluke winners 1

Upset winners 2

My frame hits R1 R2 R4

Race-by-race results

Race	1st	2nd	3rd	Book fav	My fav
R1 · Maiden Div VII 900m	1Talent Again	2Mirza Prince	3Akbar Prince	Talent Again ✓	Talent Again ✓
R2 · Div VI&VII 900m	1Thunder Pride	2Zaman Sahib	3American Star	Zaman Sahib — 2nd	Dani Princess — out
R3 · Div I&II 1100m	1Rafah	2Falco	3Moni Prince	Rafah ✓	Moni Prince — 3rd
R4 · Div III&IV 1000m	1Imperius	2Safe Bet	3Be A Man	Safe Bet — 2nd	Be A Man — 3rd ✓
R5 · Div V 1000m	1Singhar	2Piyari/Dogar photo	3/4Roxy	Fakhar-e-Sardar — out	Fakhar-e-Sardar — out

Selection hit map

R1 Both favs won ✓My place 2nd ✓My fluke 3rd ✓

R2 My fav out My fluke won ✓ Book fav 2nd ✓

R3 My fav 3^rd Book fav won ✓ My fluke framed ✓

R4 My fav 3rd ✓Book fav 2^nd My place 3rd ✓

R5 Both favs out Book place 2^nd My fluke 2nd ✓

Result type

R1 Both favs won

R2 Fluke won

R3 Book fav won

R4 Upset — Imperius

R5 Upset — Singhar

— Two favourites, two upsets and a fluke, with the most notable outcome being Race 1’s clean sweep of all three positions by my selections. Here is the full verdict:

Race 1 — Division VII Maiden (900m): The day’s cleanest result and the most satisfying for the weight-based system. Talent Again (9-0) won as the agreed favourite, Mirza Prince (8-12, my place) ran second, and Akbar Prince (8-4, my fluke) completed the frame in third. All three of my selections landed in the correct positional order — a rare clean sweep at 900m in a maiden race, the division that has most consistently resisted weight logic throughout the meeting cycle. The book’s choice of Grace (7-8) as place — conceding 16 pounds to the top weight — was entirely unplaced, confirming that the 6-horse field was small enough for weight authority to assert itself clearly.

Race 2 — Division VI & VII (900m): Thunder Pride, my fluke and the book’s fluke, won outright — its second frame finish in consecutive meetings (second in Race 1 on Day 5, winner today). Zaman Sahib (book’s favourite, my fluke within my hierarchy) ran second. American Star completed the frame in third as a surprise from 7-10. My favourite Dani Princess (9-0) was entirely unplaced — the meeting’s most consistent top-weight failure at 900m continues. The result confirms that Thunder Pride is building genuine momentum and should no longer be treated as a fluke selection.

Race 3 — Division I & II (1100m): Rafah (7-12), the book’s favourite at the bottom of the weight range, won convincingly over 1100m in the senior division — beating Falco into second and my favourite Moni Prince (9-0) into third. This is now the clearest possible statement about Division I & II at LRC: the book’s form-based bottom-weight selections are winning even at 1100m in the most senior division, defeating 9-0 top-weight horses with regularity. Construct Craft (my place) was unplaced — a disappointing miss for one of the meeting’s most reliable horses. Falco running second and Moni Prince third means two of the nine runners from outside the top-weight group filled the podium.

Race 4 — Division III & IV (1000m): Imperius won under rider Abdullah Amir — a genuine upset over four joint 9-0 horses. This is the most analytically significant result of the day: four horses sharing the 9-0 ceiling — Imperius, Dar Princess, Counter Strike, Alaska — and not one of them won. Imperius, carrying 9-0, did win, but as the designated “upset” horse it appears the other three 9-0 allocations all failed. Safe Bet (book’s favourite, 8-4) ran second and Be A Man (my favourite/place, 8-10) ran third. My selections covered second and third cleanly while the book’s favourite also framed — the frame was largely correctly predicted, just not the winner within it.

Race 5 — Division V (1000m): Singhar produced the day’s final upset — beating both the agreed favourite Fakhar-e-Sardar (9-0) and the book’s fluke Dogar Choice (both my and the book’s selections) entirely out of the frame. Piyari and Dogar Choice went to a photo finish for second place — my fluke Dogar Choice framing in that photo. Roxy completed the podium. Fakhar-e-Sardar (9-0), which I backed emphatically as the banker of the closing race, was completely absent. This is a painful miss — Fakhar-e-Sardar has now failed to win in two consecutive Winter Meeting appearances despite carrying proven credentials and top weight.

Day 6 summary: The most balanced day of the meeting — Race 1 delivered the cleanest analytical result of the entire Winter cycle, while Races 2 and 5 reconfirmed that 900m and 1000m at LRC in Division V and below remain resistant to top-weight prediction regardless of how compelling the form history appears. Rafah’s 1100m win in Race 3 in Division I & II over a 9-0 horse is the Winter Meeting’s definitive statement: at LRC, form and pace win races at every distance, and the weight allocation — however commanding — is a signal of ability rather than a guarantee of conversion.

SAF Games Pakistan 2027: Hosts yet to launch athletes preparation

 

SAF Games 2027:

Pakistan has venues, budget, home advantage – but athlete preparation yet to take off

By Asher Butt

Pakistan is set to host the South Asian Games after a gap of more than two decades, but with less than six months left for the regional spectacle, the real concern is no longer about bricks and mortar. The venues are being upgraded and funds are being released, but the preparation of athletes who will actually compete for medals is yet to gather pace.

The 14th South Asian Games are scheduled to be held from April 3 to 11, 2027 in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, featuring 28 sports and 346 medal events. Thousands of athletes and officials from seven South Asian nations are expected to participate, making it the biggest multi-sport event Pakistan has hosted since 2004.

For Pakistan, the Games are more than just a hosting exercise. It is a chance to restore confidence in a sports system that has often struggled to convert talent into podium finishes.

There has been visible progress on the infrastructure side. The Punjab government has approved around Rs 1 billion for the upgradation of four major facilities at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex in Lahore, which will host competitions in 10 sports. The venues are being brought up to international standards.

At the federal level, a steering committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has directed all concerned departments to ensure close coordination and timely completion of venues in the three host cities. The South Asia Olympic Council has also reviewed operational arrangements including accommodation, transport and Games manuals.

This is a positive shift. For years, athletes have complained about dilapidated facilities. The SAF Games now provide a rare opportunity to renovate stadiums, pools and gymnasiums that must serve future generations long after the Games are over.

But infrastructure alone does not win medals. A refurbished pool does not automatically produce swimmers, and a renovated hockey stadium does not produce a winning hockey team. Buildings can be upgraded in months; champions require years of systematic work.

Another major development is India’s likely participation. India has given in-principle consent to take part in the Pakistan-hosted Games, according to official briefings after the SAOC Executive Committee meeting held in Islamabad in August. India attended the meeting virtually along with other member nations. Formal government clearance and submission of contingent details, expected in January 2027, are still pending.

If India does compete, it will significantly raise the standard of competition and provide Pakistani athletes with high-pressure contests they rarely get. However, observers caution that Pakistan’s focus should be on overall medal tally and performance benchmarks, not just on beating a single neighbour.

The most pressing issue is the lack of visible training activity. Pakistan recently returned from the Asian Games with 10 medals – two silver and eight bronze – and that performance should have become the baseline for SAF Games planning.

Instead, there are growing concerns that most federations are still waiting for formal invitations from the Pakistan Sports Board to start camps.

Sports circles argue that federations already know everything they need to know – the Games dates, the host cities, the sports programme and the likely opponents. There is no reason to delay planning until funds are announced.

Each of the 27 participating federations should have by now submitted a complete roadmap to the PSB and Pakistan Olympic Association, including core squads, transparent selection criteria, camp schedules, list of coaches and support staff, requirements for international exposure tours, equipment, nutrition, sports science and physiotherapy support, and realistic medal targets along with estimated budgets.

The old practice of waiting for the government to call and then trying to prepare athletes in 60 to 90 days must end. A three-month camp can only sharpen an already prepared athlete; it cannot create an international medallist from scratch. Strength, endurance, technical refinement and mental toughness require long-term, uninterrupted training and regular international competition.

For years, federations have rightly pointed to lack of funds. But with the Games at home and the government now moving money for venues, federations must also show initiative – submit proposals, demand meetings and start training with available resources.

The PSB, on its part, must shift to a performance-based funding model. If public money is released, attendance, progress and results must be monitored. Selection criteria must be transparent, and after the Games, every federation must be held accountable for its performance.

Pakistan will have home advantage – familiar conditions, home crowds and less travel fatigue – but that advantage will mean little if athletes arrive underprepared. Every sport must arrive in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar with a clear purpose and a clear target.

There is also a risk of over-spending on ceremonies, branding and hospitality while under-investing in the athletes themselves. The ultimate measure of a Games is not how grand the opening ceremony is, but what happens inside the field of play.

The optimism is still justified. The SAF Games can revive neglected sports, bring spectators back to stadiums, expose youngsters to international competition and force the system to think long-term.

With around six months to go, the message is simple for all stakeholders: the real race has already begun. Every delayed camp, every cancelled foreign tour and every week spent arguing over files is preparation lost.

The venues are being prepared. The money is beginning to move. The region is watching, and India may well be part of the field.

Now only one thing remains to be prepared – the athletes. And that work cannot start tomorrow. It has to start now.

October vegetables gardening guide

 

October vegetables gardening guide

Winter crops cultivation roadmap

 

By Asher Butt

 

October marks a critical seasonal transition as temperatures drop, creating the ideal climate for sowing winter crops, root vegetables, and leafy greens. Timely planting during this month ensures a steady yield of fresh produce through autumn, winter, and early spring.

Here is an extensive cultivation guide for October planting across commercial farms and home gardens alike:

Leafy & Brassica Vegetables

Cooler temperatures accelerate the vegetative growth and heading of leafy greens and brassicas.

 

• Transplanting Nursery Seedlings: October is the ideal time to transplant broccoli and cauliflower seedlings into prepared beds.
• Direct Sowing: Spinach, mustard greens (Saag), kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, and green peas should be directly sown into moist, well-prepared soil.

Root & Bulb Crops

Root vegetables thrive in cooling soils, offering high nutritional value and excellent field durability.

• Garlic: Plant individual garlic cloves directly into fertile soil at recommended row spacings.
• Direct-Sown Root Crops: Carrots, beetroot, turnips, parsnips, and radishes should be sown directly.
• Succession Planting: Radishes mature rapidly; implementing staggered sowing every two to three weeks ensures a continuous, unbroken supply throughout the winter season.

Aromatic Herbs

Cool-season herbs grow vigorously during October, providing rich foliage and flavor.

• Coriander (Cilantro), parsley, and dill respond exceptionally well to the October climate and can be harvested repeatedly.

 

Crop classification & sowing summary

Category	Recommended Crops	Sowing Method & Key Directives
Brassicas	Broccoli, Cauliflower	Nursery transplanting
Leafy Greens & Legumes	Spinach, Mustard Greens, Kale, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, Peas	Direct seed sowing
Root Crops	Carrots, Radish, Turnips, Beetroot, Parsnips	Direct seed sowing (stagger radish for continuous yield)
Bulb Crops	Garlic	Direct clove planting
Herbs	Coriander, Parsley, Dill	Direct seed sowing

Essential Farmer Guidelines

• Soil & Climate Alignment: Farmers and growers should align crop selection with regional soil texture, field drainage, and local microclimates.
• Soil Preparation & Irrigation: Utilize fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Ensure light, controlled irrigation immediately post-sowing to encourage uniform germination.
• Field Maintenance: Consistent weed management, pest monitoring, and balanced fertilization during early growth stages are essential for securing high-quality winter yields.

 

 

اکتوبر میں کاشتکاری کی مکمل گائیڈ

 سردیوں کی فصلوں اور سبزیوں کی بروقت بوائی کا طریقہ

 

اکتوبر کا مہینہ پاکستان اور خطے میں موسم کی تبدیلی کا نمائندہ ہوتا ہے۔ اس دوران درجہ حرارت میں نمایاں کمی آتی ہے اور موسم نسبتاً ٹھنڈا ہونا شروع ہو جاتا ہے، جو سردیوں کی مختلف فصلوں، سبزیوں اور جڑی بوٹیوں کی کاشت کے لیے انتہائی موزوں ترین وقت سمجھا جاتا ہے۔ اس مہینے میں درست منصوبہ بندی اور بروقت کاشت کاری سے خزاں سے لے کر سردیوں اور ابتدائی بہار تک مسلسل تازہ اور معیاری پیداوار حاصل کی جا سکتی ہے۔

 

ذیل میں اکتوبر میں کاشت کی جانے والی اہم فصلوں کی تفصیلی گائیڈ پیش کی جا رہی ہے:

 

۱. پتے دار اور پھول دار سبزیاں

سردیوں کے موسم میں پتے دار اور پھول دار سبزیوں کی نشوونما بہترین ہوتی ہے۔

 

• پنیری کے ذریعے کاشت: بروکلی (Broccoli) اور پھول گوبھی کی پنیری منتقل کرنے کا یہ بہترین وقت ہے۔

 

• براہِ راست بوائی: پالک، سرسوں کا ساگ، کیل (Kale)، سوئس چارڈ، سلاد کے پتے اور مٹر کی کاشت اکتوبر کے دوران مناسب وقت اور نمی کو مدنظر رکھ کر کی جائے۔

 

۲. جڑ اور گانٹھ والی فصلیں

جڑ والی سبزیاں ٹھنڈی زمین میں بہترین نشوونما پاتی ہیں اور غذائیت سے بھرپور ہوتی ہیں۔

 

• لہسن: لہسن کی پھلیاں (Cloves) زمین میں مناسب فاصلے پر لگائیں۔

 

• براہِ راست بوائی والی فصلیں: گاجر، چقندر، شلجم، پارسنپ اور مولی کی براہِ راست بوائی کریں۔

 

• تسلسل سے پیداوار: مولی نسبتاً جلد (کم وقت میں) تیار ہونے والی فصل ہے، اس لیے ہر ۱۵ سے ۲۰ دن کے وقفے سے اس کی دوبارہ بوائی کر کے پورے موسمِ سرما میں مسلسل پیداوار حاصل کی جا سکتی ہے۔

 

۳. خوشبودار جڑی بوٹیاں (Herbs)

سردیوں کے آغاز میں خوشبودار جڑی بوٹیاں گھریلو گارڈننگ اور تجارتی دونوں سطحوں پر آسانی سے اگائی جا سکتی ہیں۔

 

• دھنیا، اجمود (Parsley) اور سویا (Dill) ٹھنڈے موسم میں تیزی سے پھیلتے ہیں اور ان کے تازہ اور خوشبودار پتے حاصل کیے جا سکتے ہیں۔

 

کاشت کاری کی فہرست اور طریقہ کار (Quick Overview)

کیٹیگری	سبزیاں / فصلیں	طریقہءِ کاشت / اہم نکتہ
پھول دار و پتے دار	بروکلی، پھول گوبھی	پنیری منتقل کریں
پتے دار و دالیں	پالک، ساگ، کیل، سوئس چارڈ، سلاد، مٹر	براہِ راست بیج بوئیں
جڑ والی فصلیں	گاجر، مولی، شلجم، چقندر، پارسنپ	براہِ راست بوائی کریں
مصالحہ جات	لہسن	پھلیاں (Cloves) لگائیں
جڑی بوٹیاں	دھنیا، اجمود، سویا	ٹھنڈے موسم کی بہترین کاشت

کسان بھائیوں کے لیے اہم سفارشات

• موسم اور زمین کا انتخاب: فصلوں کا انتخاب کرتے وقت اپنے علاقے کی مقامی موسمی صورتحال، زمین کی نوعیت اور مناسب وقتِ کاشت کو لازمی مدنظر رکھیں۔

 

• آبپاشی اور کھاد: زرخیز، نرم اور نامیاتی مادوں سے بھرپور مٹی کا انتخاب کریں اور بیج کی بویائی کے بعد ہلکی آبپاشی یقینی بنائیں۔

 

• بروقت دیکھ بھال: جڑی بوٹیوں کی تلفی اور بروقت دیکھ بھال سے سردیوں کی فصلوں کی معیاری اور بمپر پیداوار حاصل کی جا سکتی ہے۔

All set for 6th day LRC winter meet

 

 

By Asher Butt

6th Day — Lahore Winter Meeting 2026-2027
Sunday, 11th October 2026 | 5 Races | First Race (time TBC)
Races 1 & 2 over 900m | Race 3 over 1100m | Races 4 & 5 over 1000m

 

Race 1 — Class VII Division VII (Maiden) — 900m

Field of 6

#	Horse	Weight
1	Talent Again 5	9-0
2	Mirza Prince 6	8-12
3	Akbar Prince 4	8-4
4	Chahal King 7	8-4
5	Grace 2	7-8
6	Raees Sahib 3	7-8

Book Fav: Talent Again | Book Place: Grace | Book Fluke: Mirza Prince

My Fav: Talent Again | My Place: Mirza Prince | My Fluke: Akbar Prince

My reasoning: Full agreement with the book on the favourite — Talent Again (9-0) carries the outright top weight in this six-horse maiden, 2 pounds ahead of Mirza Prince and 10 ahead of the book's place selection Grace (7-8). This is a straightforward weight call in a small field. However, the Winter Meeting's maiden race history has repeatedly produced upsets from mid-weight horses — Grace winning from 7-8 as the book's place is a very aggressive bottom-weight selection in a field with clear weight separation. My place is Mirza Prince (8-12) — second highest weight at just 2 pounds below the top, which is the logical and structurally sound place position. My fluke is Akbar Prince (8-4) — at joint third weight with Chahal King, it sits comfortably above the two 7-8 horses and has a pace profile that could exploit any weakness from the top two. Grace at 7-8 as the book's place concedes 16 pounds to the top weight in a six-horse maiden — too wide a gap for me to support analytically even at 900m.

 

Race 2 — Class VII Division VI & VII — 900m

Field of 9

#	Horse	Weight
1	Dani Princess 2	9-0
2	Sher Dil 5	8-10
3	Zaman Sahib 6	8-10
4	Thunder Pride 3	8-0
5	Gee-o-Lahori 8	8-0
6	American Star 4	7-10
7	Abdullah Champion 7	7-10
8	Silent Melody 10	7-10
9	Star Crown 9	7-10

Book Fav: Zaman Sahib | Book Place: Gee-o-Lahori | Book Fluke: Thunder Pride

My Fav: Dani Princess | My Place: Sher Dil | My Fluke: Zaman Sahib

My reasoning: The book and I diverge sharply. Dani Princess (9-0) carries the outright top weight — 4 pounds ahead of Sher Dil and Zaman Sahib, 14 pounds ahead of the four-way cluster at 7-10. The book makes Zaman Sahib (8-10) the favourite while ignoring Dani Princess entirely — a pure form-over-weight call at 900m. The Winter Meeting's consistent pattern has indeed shown that 900m rewards pace over weight, and I acknowledge this. However, Dani Princess at 9-0 in Division VI & VII carries the handicapper's unambiguous statement of class confidence, and the 4-pound gap over Sher Dil and Zaman Sahib is meaningful. My favourite is Dani Princess. Sher Dil (8-10) at joint second weight alongside Zaman Sahib is my place — the book picks Gee-o-Lahori (8-0) as place which sits well below both joint second-weight horses. Zaman Sahib drops to my fluke — the book's confidence is form-based and legitimate, but conceding 4 pounds to the top weight over 900m in Division VI & VII places it analytically below Dani Princess. Thunder Pride (8-0) as the book's fluke ran second in Race 1 of Day 5 — the book is riding that momentum.

 

Race 3 — Class VII Division I & II — 1100m

Field of 9

#	Horse	Weight
1	Moni Prince 6	9-0
2	Construct Craft 2	8-7
3	Lord & Lion 10	8-2
4	Power Show 7	8-2
5	Bellatrix 4	8-0
6	Falco 9	8-0
7	Rafah 5	7-12
8	Flash 3	7-12
9	Classic Mystery 8	7-8

Book Fav: Rafah | Book Place: Classic Mystery | Book Fluke: Construct Craft

My Fav: Moni Prince | My Place: Construct Craft | My Fluke: Bellatrix

My reasoning: The most analytically loaded race of the card and the sharpest divergence from the book. Moni Prince (9-0) carries the outright top weight — 7 pounds ahead of Construct Craft, 14 ahead of the book's favourite Rafah (7-12) and 16 ahead of Classic Mystery. The book making Rafah the favourite at the absolute bottom of the weight range while Moni Prince sits at 9-0 over 1100m in Division I & II is the most extreme weight-versus-form inversion on the card. At 1100m in the senior division, weight authority should matter — though the Winter Meeting has repeatedly challenged this assumption. My favourite is Moni Prince. Construct Craft (8-7) is my place — it won Race 5 on the final day of the Summer Meeting, the August Cup race, and multiple cup races at this meeting. It carries proven championship credentials at second weight and is one of the most consistently reliable horses at LRC. Bellatrix (8-0) is my fluke — despite its weight being lower than I would prefer, it has framed in virtually every senior division race it has run this season and consistently performs above its allocated weight. Rafah (7-12) as the book's favourite over 1100m in Division I & II — conceding 14 pounds to the top weight — is a call built entirely on form and entirely dismissive of weight, which is a position the Winter Meeting data encourages but which I cannot fully endorse at this extended distance.

 

Race 4 — Class VII Division III & IV — 1000m

Field of 9

#	Horse	Weight
1	Imperius 4	9-0
2	Dar Princess 9	9-0
3	Counter Strike 7	9-0
4	Alaska 10	9-0
5	Mister Sardar 5	8-9
6	Be A Man 6	8-10
7	Safe Bet 8	8-4
8	Fakhar-e-Panjgran 3	8-2
9	Emerging Star 2	8-2

Book Fav: Safe Bet | Book Place: Be A Man | Book Fluke: Emerging Star

My Fav: Be A Man | My Place: Imperius | My Fluke: Alaska

My reasoning: This is the most fascinatingly structured race on the card — four horses share the joint top weight of 9-0, and the book makes Safe Bet (8-4) the favourite while designating all four 9-0 horses outside its selections entirely. Be A Man (8-10) carries the highest weight among the non-9-0 horses and is my primary favourite — it won Race 3 on Winter Day 4, has been one of the most competitive horses of the meeting, and at 8-10 sits above the book's favourite. The four 9-0 horses — Imperius, Dar Princess, Counter Strike, and Alaska — represent the most extraordinary joint top-weight situation of the Winter Meeting. Among the four, Imperius is my place: it was the surprise third on Day 4 Race 5, the handicapper elevated it to 9-0 in response, and it has consistent Division II & III credentials. Alaska (formerly Sarkar Raj) is my fluke — it ran in the War Heroes Cup and has upper-division form history. The book's selections of Safe Bet (fav), Be A Man (place) and Emerging Star (fluke) all sit between 8-2 and 8-10 and collectively ignore the extraordinary four-way 9-0 allocation. Safe Bet concedes 14 pounds to the joint top weights over 1000m — the book's most aggressive weight-dismissal call of the day.

 

Race 5 — Class VII Division V — 1000m

Field of 7

#	Horse	Weight
1	Fakhar-e-Sardar 4	9-0
2	Black Fire 2	8-6
3	Dogar Choice 5	8-4
4	Singhar 7	8-0
5	Wake Up 3	7-12
6	Roxy 6	7-10
7	Piyari 8	7-12

Book Fav: Fakhar-e-Sardar | Book Place: Piyari | Book Fluke: Dogar Choice

My Fav: Fakhar-e-Sardar | My Place: Black Fire | My Fluke: Dogar Choice

My reasoning: Complete agreement on the favourite — Fakhar-e-Sardar (9-0) has been one of the most persistently underrated horses of the entire LRC meeting cycle. It won Race 2 on Day 3 of the Summer Meeting from top weight, has framed repeatedly across multiple divisions, and now returns in Division V at 9-0 over 1000m. This is the right race, right distance, and right weight for its proven abilities. My favourite is Fakhar-e-Sardar with full conviction — and the book's agreement on this occasion is welcome. The divergence is in the place: the book selects Piyari (7-12) while I prefer Black Fire (8-6). Black Fire won Race 2 on Winter Day 4 outright from 8-8 in Division V & VI and has now been placed in Division V at 8-6 — a slightly lower weight than its winning allocation, suggesting the handicapper has kept it competitive. At second highest weight in the field it is the natural place. Dogar Choice (8-4) is my fluke — the book agrees. It won Race 3 of the War Heroes Cup outright and has been consistently competitive across the season. Piyari at 7-12 as the book's place — 12 pounds below the top weight over 1000m in Division V — is a form call I cannot fully endorse at the full distance.