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	FLAT RACING
Back To Main Page	HONOURS FOR 2007
	Jockey Of The Year 2007 - Mr. MICHAEL SULTANA Most Consistent Horse Of The Year - PRIVILEGED BOY Winner Mediterranean Assikura Insurance Derby 2007 - PRIVILEGED BOY (Ire) Winner Of Coronation Cup 2007 - MINGLAZ (Fr)
	LATEST UPDATE
	Alessien has been scratched. Eligible Coronation Winner Minglaz has declined his right to compete and so second placed Coronation Winner Pour L’Amour has joined the other horses. Pour L’Amour a French horse has raced and won immediately on his debut qualifying for the Coronation, where he placed second. On both events Jockey Matthew Mallia who will be steering favourite Managing Director in the Derby rode him. His Gozitan Owners will be deciding on the adequate jockey later this week since Matthew Mallia will be riding Managing Director.  Veteran Jockey John Farrugia or Sarah Borg seems to be the contenders to saddle the Gozitan owned Stallion. The close favourites to Managing Director still remain Privileged Boy an Irish gelding who will be ridden by Demis Zammit and Etoile du Pic the French mare ridden by Belgian lady jockey ,Anouchka Vershueren who steered Minglaz to Victory in the Coronation Cup . The other contenders remain Kohima an Irish mare who will be ridden by Eric Zammit who is now fit to race as his debut on Sunday was uncertain due to injury. Diouganier a French gelding will be ridden by Charles Pace who has won twice this season on the longer distances. Waterpaint (GB) will be ridden by Michael Sultana who has top points in the jockeys classification, and looks forward to a place to secure the Best Jockey Title as he now stands at 57 pts followed by Eric Zammit at 55 pts and Oliver Briffa at 50 pts. Finally Generous Spirit the Irish gelding who stands as the most consistent horse of the season until today  will be steered by Oliver Briffa . Both titles as to most consitent Horse and Best Jockey remain open until the Derby is over. Derby Finalists 1. 1. Generous Spirit 2. 2. Privileged Boy 3. 3. Kohima   4. 4. Etoile du Pic 5. 5. Diouganier 6. 6. Managing Director 7. 7. Waterpaint 8. 8. Pour L’Amour Other updates will be  sent during the week if any changes occur . The Next Mediterranean Derby 2008  will now be staged in mid season April/ May as it used to be staged in the past editions . Bad weather has characterised the last editions and an effort is being made to restore the importance and prestige to the Trophy . Lately competition is at its peak with various horses offering stiff competition to eachother .This interest in flat racing is further outlined by various quality flat racing horses reaching our shores . Next week  Lady Jockey Sarah Borg will be importing Crocolyrique  a french  5 year old gelding both having competed and won in Deauville and Christopher Grech ( Pupa Stables) is importing Valley Fogg a 4 year old gelding who won in Chantilly and Deauville . .Kal Ilusion a  3yr old French Colt was imported to run for Nigma Stables  . Oh Oui a 6 yr old mare has been imported to join Alessien a french gelding  owned by Emanuel Sammut  . All these have been imported through Anthony Axisa (Ta’ Haxixa ) established Local Feeds and Equine Importer  .        Jockey Michael Sultana has imported through his connections in Belgium Grangewood a 5 yr old gelding who has been acquired by local owner and jockey Louis Azzopardi .Deep Swing a 3 year old English filly and Walker an American bred 3 yr old gelding have also been imported to Malta and are up for sale through the same jockey .  A 5 yr old filly Ridafana was also recently imported from Belgium and will be competing next season. Brian Hili of Top Horse Equestrian Products will be importing Prince Solar a French  6yr old gelding who has placed and won five times in France . The said gelding is also up for sale .      Major Horse Importers and Agents of Horse Racing Equipment P& M Farrugia ( Tan-Niger ) have also had various queries to import Thoroughbreds from Sweden and Europe  and are accepting queries to import further flat race horses . They have also added special flat racing equipment to their vast range of products.. Sammy Stables Importer and Transport Agent is also presently endeavouring to locate various flat racing horses from Europe for particular clients. All these new horses go all the way to confirm the arising popularity of Flat Racing in Malta . The Malta Racing Club with the help of the Ministry of Infrastructure has already commenced works on the Old Race horse where the boundary wall is being restored , a grass hedge will be planted to act as a natural rail between the race course and the Golf Course . An application at MEPA is in the process of being adjudicated to enable the re connection of the Old Race Course to the New Track. The natural ditches of the Track will also be reconstructed and the whole area revampished . This will enable the Thoroughbred horses to be raced on the flat thus avoiding the curves of the inner track that are so lethal to them . The development of the track will also serve as a training track for the great number of trotters and other equestrian events . Dr Matthew Brincat Flat Racing Malta Racing Club
	ASSIKURA INSURANCE MEDITERRANEAN DERBY 2007
	This years Mediterranean Derby is being sponsored by Assikura Insurance Brokers Limited of St Venera ,Insurance Brokers for all types of Insurance Policies who have supported the Local Horse Racing Scene once Again .Prize Money, Blanket and Trophies are being sponsored by the same company . Mr Andrew Grech Managing Director of Assikura will be presenting Trophies to the Winners .     This years Derby is one of the most Competitive in recent years wherein qualification to the Derby was hard earned all through the 2007 season and qualification was through a points system . All competitors had Wins through the season . Managing Director  just qualified wiith three wins in a row showing his outstanding stamina over the years. Controversy on his qualification persisted when he tested positive to Doping . Although he was disqualified and his prize given to second placed Waterpaint ,he was not devested of his points . The rules regarding Doping presently state that points will not be taken away as this is a penalty to the horse . This is definetly applicable in case of trotters but certainly not for the flat racing horses . This flaw and lacuna in the rules will have to be amended at the start of the season wherein for the flat racehorses the only penalty that will stay on is the weight gained and not the points . Had it not been this technicality we would not have this now legendary horse participating in the Derby.The five times Derby Winner would definetly have been deprived of his chance to defend his title . The Derby remains yet full of surprises as Etoile Du Pic a french mare and Privileged Boy an Irish gelding can surprise Managing Director .The Award for the BEST Jockey of the season is still in contention . Alessien will be scratched as he is unfit and the Coronation Cup Winner Minglaz will be eligible  to compete in the final .Both Michael Sultana and Oliver Briffa stand a chance to overtake Eric Zammit who is out of action due to injury . Eric Zammit stands at 55 , Sultana at 54 and Briffa at 50. The Award for the most consistant Horse is also still in contention . Privileged Boy can overtake Generous Spirit only with a Derby Winner . Both Awards will be presented at the track after the DERBY Final .  The Prestigious Mediterranean Derby Trophy is this year being accompanied by a new Cup . The New Silver Cup will be held for one month by the Winner . It enlists all the previous Derby Winners over the Years and is named - THE MEDITERRANEAN DERBY HOLDER CUP . Since the Original Trophy is held in the Bank Vaults for security reasons The Club has thought fit to have this Cup for the Eventual Winner to take away on the DAY .It will be held at the Club during the rest of the season .     Dr Matthew Brincat Malta Racing Club Flat Racing