Special Correspondent
The 9th Day Winter Meeting 2025–26 at the Lahore Race Club witnessed thrilling action on Sunday, headlined by the Term Cup Race for 2-Year-Old Thoroughbred and Half-Bred (TBP & HB) horses, where debutant Sikander produced a stellar finish to claim top honours.
Making his first competitive appearance, Sikander displayed impressive speed and temperament to win the Term Cup in fine style. Maverick finished second after a spirited chase, while Samara claimed the third spot in a closely contested race that offered an exciting preview of Pakistan’s emerging juvenile racing talent. With no declared favourite in the field, the Term Cup was wide open, and Sikander’s commanding run has already marked him as one to watch in future feature events.
The supporting races also provided plenty of surprises and standout performances across the day’s seven-race card.
1st Race:
The opening event saw favourite Haseeb Barbarian’s live up to his billing, charging home from the rails to secure a convincing victory. Pakiza, tipped for place, ran well to finish second, while Sher Dil produced a late surge to surprise many and complete the top three.
2nd Race:
In one of the biggest surprises of the day, fluke entry Zindagi cruised to a clear and commanding win. Anni Power stunned spectators by taking second, while the expected place contender Genie settled for third.
3rd Race:
There was no contest for Zain Prince, who dominated the third race with ease. As expected, Rayaan Prince took second place, and Black Fire impressed by securing third in an unexpected twist.
4th Race:
A major upset came in the fourth race as Pretty Girl produced a strong finish to outpace the favourite runners and seize victory. Specialist managed to grab second, while Golden Star added to the list of surprises by finishing third.
5th Race:
The fifth race belonged to Moshi Queen, who was initially tipped for a place but ended up reigning supreme with a classy performance. Quality Street delivered a bold run to take second, and King Azaan impressed with a solid third-place finish.
6th Race – Term Cup:
The day’s feature event — the Term Cup Race for 2-Year-Old TBP & HB (Maiden) — showcased young equine talent at its best. Sikander, trained for perfection and ridden confidently, surged ahead in the final furlongs to claim victory. Maverick ran an admirable race to finish close behind, and Samara, showing promise in her debut, took third. The event set the stage for what promises to be a strong juvenile racing season.
7th Race:
The concluding race of the day saw the favourite Kit Kat justify the odds by defeating Talent, a fluke entry who put up a strong fight. Haseeb Warrior produced a late effort to secure third place, wrapping up an exciting day of racing action at the Lahore Race Club.
With favourites and longshots sharing the spotlight, the Winter Meeting continues to deliver entertainment and unpredictability in equal measure — a sign that the season’s upcoming feature races will be just as competitive and thrilling.
