Lahore Race
Club - 17th Day Complete Predictions & Analysis
Sunday, 28th
December 2025 - Post-Christmas Racing Spectacular
Asher Butt
The 17th day
of the Lahore Winter Meeting features seven competitive races including the
prestigious Christmas Cup for two-year-olds—a key indicator race for the
juvenile division. After the chaos of Day 16 where zero favorites won, punters
will approach this card with both caution and determination to reclaim losses.
RACE 1 -
Class VII Division VI & VII (Maiden) - 1100m - 12:30 PM
Complete
Field (11 horses):
- Royal Stone (9-2), 2. Singhar
(9-0), 3. Altaf Star (9-0), 4. Hera Choice (8-11), 5. My Handsome (8-8),
6. Piyari (8-7), 7. Augustus (8-4), 8. Azan Prince (8-2), 9. Sea of Class
(8-0), 10. Babbar Sher (7-12), 11. Malik Choice (7-10)
BOOK
PREDICTIONS:
- Favourite: Royal Stone (9-2)
- Place: Piyari (8-7)
- Fluke: Sea of Class (8-0)
MY
PREDICTIONS:
- FAVOURITE: Singhar (9-0) - Post 2
- PLACE: Royal Stone (9-2) - Post 1
- FLUKE: My Handsome (8-8) - Post 5
My Analysis:
I'm disagreeing with your favorite selection. While Royal Stone carries the
highest weight (9-2) and has the rail draw, Singhar at 9-0 from post 2
represents better value. Royal Stone's 9-2 assignment is exceptionally heavy
for a maiden—the handicapper clearly believes he's superior, but that 2-pound
extra burden in an 11-horse sprint could prove decisive. Singhar shares
near-top weight with Altaf Star (both 9-0) but post 2 allows tracking Royal
Stone without being trapped.
Royal Stone
becomes MY place selection—the 9-2 weight with rail position suggests genuine
class, and he should be thereabouts even if the weight costs him victory. In
maiden racing, 2 pounds can be the difference between winning and placing.
My Handsome
at 8-8 from post 5 is MY fluke pick—he's appeared multiple times in recent
meetings, suggesting consistent form. The 8-8 weight places him in the
competitive middle tier, and post 5 in an 11-horse field provides clean racing
room. If the topweights (9-0 to 9-2 brigade) engage in early speed battle, My
Handsome can capitalize.
Your
Selections Analysis:
Piyari
(Place): At 8-7 from post 6, Piyari concedes 9 pounds to Royal Stone but sits
in decent tactical position. However, in maiden sprints, I'd favor horses
closer to top weight (My Handsome at 8-8) over those 9+ pounds behind.
Sea of Class
(Fluke): Interesting pick at 8-0 from post 9—the name suggests quality breeding
("Sea of Class" implies pedigree). The wide draw and 16-pound weight
concession to Royal Stone makes this a genuine longshot. If he justifies the
name and swoops from back of pack, it's definitely fluke territory.
Key
Difference: You're backing the extreme topweight as favorite. I'm concerned the
9-2 is too much in competitive maiden company, favoring the 9-0 horse with
better positioning instead.
RACE 2 -
Class VII Division VI & VII - 1100m - 1:05 PM
Complete
Field (14 horses):
- Anni Power (9-0), 2. Largess (9-0),
3. Zindagi (9-0), 4. Red Chilly (8-10), 5. Pride of Chandrai (8-6), 6.
Mafnood JR (8-5), 7. Mr. Brown (8-2), 8. Thunder Cloud (8-0), 9. Silent
Melody (8-0), 10. Gifts of Gold (8-0), 11. Drago (8-0), 12. Thunder Man
(8-0), 13. Thunder Prince (8-0), 14. I Shall Lead (7-13)
BOOK
PREDICTIONS:
- Favourite: Pride of Chandrai (8-6)
- Place: Zindagi (9-0)
- Fluke: Red Chilly (8-10)
MY
PREDICTIONS:
- FAVOURITE: Anni Power (9-0) - Post
1
- PLACE: Largess (9-0) - Post 2
- FLUKE: Pride of Chandrai (8-6) -
Post 5
My Analysis:
Massive disagreement here! You've made Pride of Chandrai (8-6 from post 5) your
favorite despite THREE horses carrying 9-0. Anni Power at 9-0 from the crucial
rail draw in a 14-horse sprint is the logical favorite—rail position in large
fields is gold, and top weight indicates clear class superiority.
Largess at
9-0 from post 2 gets my place vote—sharing top weight with Anni Power and
Zindagi, but post 2 allows tracking the leader without being trapped. In
14-horse sprints, posts 1-3 have significant advantages avoiding mid-pack
traffic chaos.
Pride of
Chandrai becomes MY fluke—at 8-6 from post 5, he's conceding 8 pounds to the
topweights but positioned reasonably well. If you're backing him as favorite,
the market clearly sees something special (recent form, strong trials). For me,
that makes him the perfect fluke candidate—if he defeats three 9-0 horses while
giving away weight, that's a genuine upset.
Your
Selections Analysis:
Zindagi
(Place): Solid selection at 9-0 from post 3. My only concern is the three-way
tie at 9-0 (posts 1, 2, 3) could create early speed battle where all three
compromise each other, allowing lighter-weighted horses like Pride of Chandrai
to swoop.
Red Chilly
(Fluke): At 8-10 from post 4, Red Chilly sits between the 9-0 trio and your
favorite Pride of Chandrai. This is actually smart positioning—not quite top
weight but substantial enough to indicate quality. However, post 4 in 14-horse
field can be tricky (mid-pack squeeze).
Key
Difference: You're fading the 9-0 topweights entirely, backing a
lighter-weighted horse as favorite. I'm trusting weight assignments and rail
advantage. Given Day 16's chaos where all favorites failed, your contrarian
approach might be wise!
RACE 3 -
Class VII Division V & VI - 1100m - 1:40 PM
Complete
Field (7 horses):
- Haseeb Barbarian (9-0), 2. Pakiza
(8-10), 3. Zaman Sahib (8-10), 4. Sky Warrior (8-5), 5. Naveed-e-Sahar
(8-0), 6. Lucky Macs (8-0), 7. Ajwa Queen (7-12)
BOOK
PREDICTIONS:
- Favourite: Haseeb Barbarian (9-0)
- Place: Zaman Sahib (8-10)
- Fluke: Pakiza (8-10)
MY
PREDICTIONS:
- FAVOURITE: Haseeb Barbarian (9-0) -
Post 1
- PLACE: Pakiza (8-10) - Post 2
- FLUKE: Naveed-e-Sahar (8-0) - Post
5
My Analysis:
Agreement on the favorite! Haseeb Barbarian at 9-0 from post 1 in a 7-horse
sprint is the clear selection. The "Haseeb" stable has been prominent
throughout this meeting, and the combination of top weight with rail draw makes
this banker material.
Pakiza at
8-10 from post 2 gets my place vote—conceding only 4 pounds to Haseeb Barbarian
while positioned perfectly to track the leader. Pakiza WON the opening race on
Day 16 (Race 1) as an upset, so there's proven current form. Post 2 in small
fields is ideal stalking position.
Naveed-e-Sahar
is MY fluke at 8-0 from post 5—he won Race 2 on Day 16 at 7-10 as a massive
longshot, so he's in red-hot form. The 8-0 weight gives him a 14-pound
advantage over Haseeb Barbarian, and post 5 in a 7-horse race allows sitting
mid-pack and delivering late run.
Your
Selections Analysis:
Zaman Sahib
(Place): Solid at 8-10 from post 3, equal weight with Pakiza. The choice
between them comes down to post position (2 vs 3) and recent form. Pakiza's
recent victory edges it for me.
Pakiza
(Fluke): You've labeled him fluke despite carrying 8-10 (substantial weight)
and coming off a victory last week. I'd call Pakiza a legitimate place
contender rather than fluke—his recent win proves he's competitive at this
level.
Key
Difference: Minor disagreement on place/fluke distinction. Your fluke (Pakiza)
is my place pick, while my fluke (Naveed-e-Sahar) has even stronger recent form
(also won last week).
RACE 4 -
Class VII Division III & IV - 1100m - 2:15 PM
Complete
Field (10 horses):
- Desert Crown (9-0), 2. Be A Man
(8-12), 3. Vartika (8-12), 4. Desert Parri (8-10), 5. Paddington (8-4), 6.
Thunder Boy (8-4), 7. Haseeb Thunder (8-2), 8. National Colour (7-10), 9.
Shareeka (7-10), 10. Mr Asia (7-8)
BOOK
PREDICTIONS:
- Favourite: Be A Man (8-12)
- Place: Desert Parri (8-10)
- Fluke: Haseeb Thunder (8-2)
MY
PREDICTIONS:
- FAVOURITE: Desert Crown (9-0) -
Post 1
- PLACE: Be A Man (8-12) - Post 2
- FLUKE: Haseeb Thunder (8-2) - Post
7
My Analysis:
Another disagreement on favorite! Desert Crown at 9-0 from post 1 is the clear
selection—top weight with rail advantage. You're favoring Be A Man at 8-12
(post 2), conceding 2 pounds but perhaps seeing better recent form or jockey
booking.
Be A Man
becomes MY place pick—at 8-12 sharing weight with Vartika, but post 2 allows
tracking Desert Crown throughout. If Desert Crown doesn't handle the 9-0
burden, Be A Man is perfectly positioned to capitalize.
Haseeb
Thunder at 8-2 from post 7 gets agreement as FLUKE—the "Haseeb"
stable connection suggests quality, and the 8-2 weight gives him a 12-pound
advantage over Desert Crown. Post 7 in a 10-horse field sits nicely mid-pack,
avoiding both rail congestion and extreme wide trips.
Your
Selections Analysis:
Be A Man
(Favourite): You're backing him over the topweight, suggesting market
confidence or insider knowledge. Given Day 16's chaos where lighter-weighted
horses prevailed, this could be smart.
Desert Parri
(Place): At 8-10 from post 4, Desert Parri sits in reasonable position but
concedes only 2 pounds to Be A Man and 4 to Desert Crown. Solid middle-weight
selection with decent draw.
Haseeb
Thunder (Fluke): Complete agreement! The stable form plus weight advantage
makes this a logical longshot pick.
Key
Difference: You're fading the topweight again (pattern emerging!). I'm trusting
the 9-0 assignment indicates class superiority worthy of favorite status.
RACE 5 -
CHRISTMAS CUP (2YO) ⭐⭐ - 1200m - 2:50 PM
Complete
Field (6 horses):
- Adaab (8-8), 2. Brutas (8-8), 3.
Farrier Star (8-8), 4. Royal Gift (8-8), 5. King Lady (8-5), 6. Samara
(8-5)
BOOK
PREDICTIONS:
- Favourite: Samara (8-5)
- Place: Adaab (8-8)
- Fluke: Brutas (8-8)
MY
PREDICTIONS:
- FAVOURITE: Adaab (8-8) - Post 1
- PLACE: Brutas (8-8) - Post 2
- FLUKE: Samara (8-5) - Post 6
My Analysis:
Complete role reversal! You're favoring Samara (8-5, widest draw) as favorite,
while I'm backing Adaab (8-8, rail). This prestigious two-year-old contest
features FOUR horses at 8-8 and two at 8-5, making it essentially an
equal-weight scenario where positioning dominates.
Adaab from
post 1 gets my favorite vote—equal weight with three others but rail position
in a 6-horse race over 1200m allows pace control. Two-year-old races reward
horses who can establish position early without burning energy.
Brutas at
8-8 from post 2 becomes my place pick—can track Adaab closely, and if the
favorite races greenly (common in juvenile races), Brutas inherits perfect
stalking position. Both carrying 8-8 means racing maturity separates them.
Samara is MY
fluke from post 6 (widest draw)—the 3-pound weight advantage (8-5 vs 8-8) is
offset by having to circle the entire field. If Samara justifies your
confidence and wins from the car park, that's definitely fluke/upset territory!
Your
Selections Analysis:
Samara
(Favourite): Bold call making the widest-drawn, lighter-weighted horse your
favorite. Perhaps recent trials or breeding (Samara competed in Race 4 on Day
16) gives you confidence. For me, the wide draw is too much to overcome.
Adaab
(Place): Adaab was favorite in the Nonehal Cup (Race 4, Day 14) carrying 8-8,
so there's proven quality. Making him your place horse while favoring Samara
suggests you see Adaab as steady but lacking that extra spark.
Brutas
(Fluke): Brutas finished 3rd in Race 7 on Day 16, showing competitive form.
Calling him fluke despite 8-8 and post 2 seems overly pessimistic—I'd rate him
a genuine place chance.
Key
Difference: You're backing the outside horse with weight advantage. I'm
trusting rail position and equal weight. In two-year-old races, tactical
positioning often trumps minor weight differences.
Christmas
Cup Significance: This race identifies the top juveniles heading into the new
year. The winner gains significant prestige and breeding value.
RACE 6 -
Class VII Division I & II - 1000m - 3:25 PM
Complete
Field (7 horses):
- King Azan (9-0), 2. Luna Afzaal
(8-10), 3. Cinderella's Dream (8-6), 4. Kit Kat (8-4), 5. Dubawi's Angel
(8-2), 6. Flight Line (8-2), 7. Little Master (7-8)
BOOK
PREDICTIONS:
- Favourite: King Azan (9-0)
- Place: Flight Line (8-2)
- Fluke: Kit Kat (8-4)
MY
PREDICTIONS:
- FAVOURITE: King Azan (9-0) - Post 1
- PLACE: Luna Afzaal (8-10) - Post 2
- FLUKE: Kit Kat (8-4) - Post 4
My Analysis:
Agreement on favorite! King Azan at 9-0 from post 1 in a 7-horse sprint is the
clear banker. Top weight with rail position makes this straightforward
selection.
Luna Afzaal
at 8-10 from post 2 gets my place vote—conceding only 4 pounds to King Azan
while positioned perfectly to track the leader. In small fields, post 2 is
premium real estate.
Kit Kat at
8-4 from post 4 gets AGREEMENT as fluke—conceding 10 pounds to King Azan but
sitting mid-pack with tactical flexibility. If the topweights duel, Kit Kat can
sit, save, and spring.
Your
Selections Analysis:
King Azan
(Favourite): Complete agreement. This is the day's strongest banker candidate.
Flight Line
(Place): At 8-2 from post 6 (nearly widest draw), Flight Line concedes 12
pounds to King Azan. The outside position allows avoiding traffic, and Flight
Line finished 2nd in Race 8 on Day 16, proving current form. Reasonable
alternative to my Luna Afzaal selection.
Kit Kat
(Fluke): Perfect agreement! Post 4, 8-4 weight, tactical positioning—this is
textbook fluke candidate.
Key
Difference: Minor disagreement on place selection (Luna Afzaal vs Flight Line).
Both carry similar weights (8-10 vs 8-2) with different tactical
profiles—inside tracker vs outside swooper.
RACE 7 -
Class VII Division II (Maiden) - 1000m - 4:00 PM
Complete
Field (6 horses):
- Waqat (8-8), 2. Mayya (8-8), 3.
Jalsa (8-6), 4. Power Show (8-4), 5. Ameera (8-3), 6. Makafat (8-1)
BOOK
PREDICTIONS:
- Favourite: Ameera (8-3)
- Place: Mayya (8-8)
- Fluke: Waqat (8-8)
MY
PREDICTIONS:
- FAVOURITE: Waqat (8-8) - Post 1
- PLACE: Mayya (8-8) - Post 2
- FLUKE: Power Show (8-4) - Post 4
My Analysis:
Significant disagreement! You're favoring Ameera at 8-3 from post 5, while I'm
backing the two topweights at 8-8. In maiden races, weight assignments reflect
handicapper's assessment of trial form—8-8 indicates superior quality over 8-3.
Waqat at 8-8
from post 1 gets my favorite vote—joint topweight with Mayya, but rail position
in a 6-horse maiden sprint provides control. Can set pace and dare others to
chase.
Mayya at 8-8
from post 2 becomes my place pick—equal weight with Waqat, tracking position,
and in maidens where inexperience levels the field, these two should dominate.
Power Show
at 8-4 from post 4 is MY fluke—conceding only 4 pounds to the topweights but
positioned mid-pack with clean racing room. Power Show has appeared multiple
times recently (including Day 16), suggesting consistent form that could
translate to breakthrough victory.
Your
Selections Analysis:
Ameera
(Favourite): Bold call backing the 8-3 horse from post 5 over two 8-8
topweights. Ameera finished 3rd as favorite in Race 6 on Day 16, so there's
proven form. Perhaps the lighter weight appeals after seeing heavier horses
fail last week?
Mayya
(Place): Agreement that Mayya features prominently—you have her for place, I
have her for place. The 8-8 weight suggests quality.
Waqat
(Fluke): You're calling the joint-topweight with rail draw a "fluke"?
That's extremely contrarian! Perhaps you see Waqat as overweighted based on
trials, or Ameera as significantly superior despite weight concession.
Key
Difference: You're completely inverting the weight hierarchy—backing the 8-3
horse to beat the 8-8 topweights. I'm trusting the handicapper's assessment
that Waqat/Mayya are superior.
COMPARATIVE
BETTING ANALYSIS
Pattern
Recognition in Your Selections:
You
consistently favor lighter-weighted horses over topweights:
- Race 1: Royal Stone (9-2) - agree
on topweight
- Race 2: Pride of Chandrai (8-6)
over three 9-0 horses
- Race 3: Haseeb Barbarian (9-0) -
agree on topweight
- Race 4: Be A Man (8-12) over Desert
Crown (9-0)
- Race 5: Samara (8-5) over four 8-8
horses
- Race 6: King Azan (9-0) - agree on
topweight
- Race 7: Ameera (8-3) over two 8-8
horses
Your
Philosophy: You're backing form/fitness over weight assignments, likely
influenced by Day 16's chaos where all topweights failed. This is smart
adaptive thinking—recognizing that recent results suggest lighter horses are
handling conditions better.
My
Philosophy: I'm trusting weight assignments as indicators of class, combined
with tactical positioning (rail draws, stalking positions). Traditional
handicapping principles.
RECOMMENDED
BETTING STRATEGIES
BANKER BETS
(Highest Confidence):
- King Azan (Race 6) - Both agree,
topweight + rail + small field
- Haseeb Barbarian (Race 3) - Both
agree, stable form + topweight + rail
VALUE
MULTI-BET:
- King Azan (Race 6)
- Haseeb Barbarian (Race 3)
- Adaab or Samara (Race 5 - Christmas
Cup)
- Add Anni Power (Race 2) as fourth
leg
EACH-WAY
SPECIALS:
- Pride of Chandrai (Race 2) - Your
favorite, my fluke = value odds likely
- Kit Kat (Race 6) - Both agree as
fluke, should pay well
- Haseeb Thunder (Race 4) - Both
agree as fluke, stable connection
EXOTIC
PLAYS:
Race 5
(Christmas Cup) Exacta Box:
- Adaab, Brutas, Samara, Royal Gift
(four horses, six combinations)
- This covers the main contenders
regardless of who's "favorite"
Race 2
Trifecta:
- Box: Anni Power, Largess, Zindagi,
Pride of Chandrai, Red Chilly
- Covers the topweights AND your
contrarian pick
CONTRARIAN
STRATEGY:
If Day 16's
pattern continues (favorites failing), YOUR selections offer superior value:
- Pride of Chandrai (Race 2) at long
odds
- Samara (Race 5) from wide draw
- Ameera (Race 7) over topweights
If form
normalizes (favorites return to winning), MY selections prevail:
- Multiple topweights with rail draws
- Traditional handicapping principles
RACE-BY-RACE
CONFIDENCE LEVELS
HIGHEST
CONFIDENCE (80%+):
- Race 3: Haseeb Barbarian (both
agree)
- Race 6: King Azan (both agree)
MEDIUM
CONFIDENCE (60-70%):
- Race 1: Royal Stone vs Singhar
(topweight debate)
- Race 4: Desert Crown vs Be A Man
(similar debate)
LOWEST
CONFIDENCE (40-50%):
- Race 2: 14-horse field, three at
9-0, multiple contenders
- Race 5: Christmas Cup, six horses,
equal weights, maiden 2YOs
- Race 7: Maiden with contrarian
favorite (Ameera)
FINAL
PREDICTIONS SUMMARY
|
Race |
Your
Favourite |
My
Favourite |
Agreement? |
|
1 |
Royal
Stone |
Singhar |
❌ (close) |
|
2 |
Pride of
Chandrai |
Anni Power |
❌ |
|
3 |
Haseeb
Barbarian |
Haseeb
Barbarian |
✅ |
|
4 |
Be A Man |
Desert
Crown |
❌ |
|
5 |
Samara |
Adaab |
❌ |
|
6 |
King Azan |
King Azan |
✅ |
|
7 |
Ameera |
Waqat |
❌ |
Agreement
Rate: 2/7 (28.6%)
This low
agreement rate reflects fundamentally different handicapping philosophies:
- You: Form over weight, contrarian
after Day 16's chaos
- Me: Weight + position, traditional
principles
The
Beautiful Truth: One of us will look brilliant, the other foolish—and we won't
know until the horses cross the finish line. That's horse racing! 🏇
