by Magnat
After a seven week summer break, the 2011 season continues at the Marsa race track with two race-meetings over the next week, the first on Friday 9th September and the other on Friday 16th September.
Each meeting will start at 7pm and will feature seven races; one race for the Copper class, another for the Bronze class, two Silver class races, another for Gold class horses and a Premier class race, all over 2,140m. Additionally in the first meeting we will have a Class A flat race whilst in the second we will see a ponies’ race.
The first Premier class race involves fourteen horses, whilst fifteen others are registered in the second one. There are various popular horses, some of which (Emirates Tazza l-Kbira winner Kakisis, Summer Championship winner Major Chaleonnais, Natif de Salvi and Lord The Best) recorded at least one win in their last three outings.
The Premier class race for this Friday 9th September also features Swedish newcomer My Gentleman, whilst next week’s race includes three new horses, i.e. Mighty (FR), Solid Lady Spin (SE) and Troy Boshoeve (GER).
Interestingly, the last two horses are both registered with the highest number of points for newcomers. Solid Lady Spin is an eight year old mare with foreign winnings of SEK1,155,428, a best time of 1’12’3 per kilometre and having garnered 10 wins and various places overseas. Troy Boshoeve is ten years old, has foreign winnings of DNK875,380 and a best time of 1’14’7 per kilometre.
The Gold class races are also attractive. They feature well-known horses such as She’s Dreamlike coming from straight wins in both its races in Malta, Prix de Cabourg winner Lys des Etroits, Kingpin La Marc winner of the Equestrian Festival Gold class final, and others. These races also include a total of 8 new horses, i.e. Jonah Frontline (SE), Knockout Molar (DK), Lacoste I.T. (DK), Naja in Blue (FR), Neptune Carisaie (FR), No Commentary (FR), Nouky Djim (FR) and Oui Oui de Briouze (FR).
Six other trotters are scheduled to make their debut in the four Silver class races being held in these two meetings, i.e. Galileo Bisa (SE), Goldfever (GER), Morgan Kane (DK), Orage d’Urzy (FR), Ostal (FR) and Third Time Lucky (SE).
A flat race over the short 1,250m distance is also included in the first meeting, with seven registered thoroughbreds. This features newcomer Cheeky Jack (US) and popular horses Mary Celest, Pride of India, Just The Best, Ollie Fliptrik, Mayfair Princess and Rougement.
No doubt, two entertaining meetings are anticipated …
Last meeting
The last meeting before the Summer recess was dedicated to the Summer Championship finals.
Top honours went to 11 year old trotter Major Chaleonnais, which won the Premier class final. It went in front in the last lap, building up a good lead until it faced a strong challenge in the final straight from favourite Fire. However, Major Chaleonnais held on and won comfortably in a time of 1’14’8 per kilometre, which is the best time on the 2,140m distance in the last couple of years.
The Gold class final saw an exciting finish with no less than five horses challenging each other in the last metres. The win ultimately went to Nacarat Campbell, through a splendid sprint which could not be matched by the other finalists.
The other finals winners were Master Lupin (Silver class), Apple Tooma (Bronze class) and Loulou de la Rose (Copper class), while the Consolation Finals were won by She’s Dreamlike (Gold class), Pout des Quelaines (Silver class) and Marchallah (Bronze class).
The numerous crowd present for the meeting also welcomed world-class French driver Jean-Michel Bazire, who presented trophies to some of the winners and mingled and spoke with spectators.
Other activities during summer
At the end of July, a contingent of Maltese drivers travelled to Sicily and participated in an international encounter with Sicilian drivers which was held in the Ippodromo del Mediterraneo in Siracusa. This was another successful event and a great experience for all concerned.
Then, in August, current champion driver Noel Baldacchino represented Malta in the Mediterranean Horse Racing Union’s drivers championship leg which was held in Cagnes Sur Mer, France and Tony Demanuele participated in the final leg of this championship which was held in Voronezh, Russia.
Our drivers had very good performances, with Noel managing to finish in fourth place among the MHRU drivers whilst Tony was third. This meant that Malta finished this year’s entire championship in third place, another prestigious result among some very tough competition, after last year’s win in this championship.
Let’s Go!
And so, here we go again. The excitement of races returns after the summer feeling of drowsiness!
At the end of the Summer Championship and with the heat reaching its peak in July and August, horses and those taking care of them took a deserved rest. Horses were still well maintained, the injured one received the necessary treatment, new horses arrived from abroad, but with no racing a clear reduction in horse-related activities occurs.
However the Summer months were also productive. There was the opening of the Expressions of Interest for the development of a Sports village in Marsa, an important initiative which could lead to further improvement in horse-racing facilities.
We also saw a lot of useful work taking place in the racecourse and in its general environment.
Among others, one could notice the maintenance work and increase in sand in the racetrack, the building of five new stables and a lecture room as well as new state-of-the-art offices for the Tote, the considerable work that took place to create an updated version of the Racing Regulations, the preparation of the calendar for the remaining part of the season, the installation of a new electronic result board in the racetrack and other things.
Such work takes place quietly, without fanfare, but requires a lot of commitment and sacrifice and is essential for the success of this sport. Additionally, the Malta Racing Club’s initiative to call a meeting for horse owners and drivers to inform them of these developments and to discuss with them openly matters of importance for this sport’s continued improvement is also commendable because it confirms the Club’s determination to remain close to the main players in this sport.
All this work has one aim – more successful horseracing. And this is where our attention now reverts … the long summer wait is over and more excitement awaits us as the racing season continues!
We wish you all an excellent return to racing and the best of luck to all participants.
