VOB Championship

Its first race in this top class was held on the 30th January, when it ran with a 25 metre handicap.  Here it did not have a good debut, so much so that it was disqualified.  But Isard returned once again to its best and most brilliant form when on the 6th February, it had taken part in heat number 6 from the VOB championship.  Here the distance in every heat was that of 2650 metres, and in its heat, Isard du Pont managed to win in front of Halo d’Avril, Escurial and Jalium with the four of them thus qualifying for the semi-finals.  Isard’s time in this race was that of 1’20’8.

A week later, that is on the 13th February 1983, it was the turn of the semi-finals.  Isard du Pont had raced in semi-final number 2, and here it once more bewitched everyone with its strong running, managing to win from Helianthe, Jalium, Julex, Inuniak and Espadon, such that all these managed to qualify for the final together with six other horses.  The winner (Isard du Pont)’s time was that of 1’19’8 with the distance being that of 2650 metres.

Precisely a week after this success in the semi-final, Isard du Pont took part in the final, which thus fell on the 20th February.  Here the finalists were the following:  Isard de Play, Inacar, Galaad, Jalium, Ibis de Bocage, Espadon, Hispano du Pont, Julex, Isard du Pont, Ion du Verbois, Inuniak and Helianthe.  Isard du Pont had started as the clear favourite and this time it did not fail to win this championship, in front of Ibis de Bocage, with Jalium (which latter horse one can say has also had a lot of success since arriving in Malta), finishing in third place.

Isard du Pont’s win was a deserved one and its time was that of 1’19’4 with the distance always being that of 2650 metres.

After this great win, Isard du Pont was given a week’s rest from racing, with the appointment awaiting it being another very important one.