by Magnat

Two race meetings will be held at the Marsa racetrack at the end of this week; a meeting this Friday (14th October) and another on Sunday (16th October).

Friday’s meeting will start at 7pm and includes 8 races while Sunday’s will commence at 2pm and features 9 races. All are reserved for trotters on a 2,140m distance, except for one flat race in Friday’s race card which will be held on 1,750m.

Attention will be focused principally on the two Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship semi-finals, which will be held one in each meeting. Ten trotters are scheduled to take part in each one.

The first includes among others horses such as Keelan and Solid Lady Spin which won their respective heats and Lipouz Lesmelchen, Livi Cantona and Oscarina which were runners-up, but with all the others being equally valid horses. The second semi-final features horses such as Carnegie Hall and Flash Coger winners of their heats, Happiness Photo which was runner-up and seven other in-form horses.

The remaining trot races also involve semi-finals for the other classes, with three races for each of the Copper and Gold classes (the first three horses from each race qualify for the final) and four for each of the Bronze and Silver classes (the winner and runner up in each race qualify for the final).

All races are extremely balanced and tight finishes are anticipated. For instance, the Gold class races include various interesting trotters, such as Magnifique Sablais (winner of seven races this year), Maitre des Bannes and Zerbin (winners in their last race), Lime Casted (winner in two of its last three outings), Nacarat Campbell (winner of the Gold class Summer championship, Kingpin La Marc (winner of the Equestrian Festival Gold class final) and many others.

Three trotters are registered to debut in the Gold class, i.e. Beckham Bob (SE), Touch The Diamond (GER) and Go D. Samara (SE). Interestingly, the latter horse, despite being only 6 years old, already has winnings of SEK477,300, with four wins and numerous places and a best time of 1’13’5 per kilometre on 1,640m. Among its best performances over the last year, we find 2nd, 3rd and 4th places on distances varying between 1,640m and 2,180m.

The other trot newcomer is West Life (SE) in the Silver class.

The Class A flat race has a small field of five participants, but includes quality horses such as recent winners Cheeky Jack and Fyelehk, 2009 and 2010 Mediterranean Derby winner Just The Best, Pride of India which won a race earlier this season and newcomer Prince Yarraman (IR).

Undoubtedly, these are two meetings which should not be missed …

Last meeting

Last Sunday’s meeting took place in cloudy weather which however remained good enough for the holding of the eight race card. The highlights were two Premier class races and a number of qualifiers for finals involving the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper classes.

In the first Premier class race, Arifant took an early lead but it was soon overtaken by favourite Major Chaleonnais which dominated the rest of the race and its lead was never under threat. It took its fifth seasonal win by a considerable margin in a very good time of 1’15’0 per kilometre over 2,140m. Bonus Kall was runner up in another good time of 1’15’8 per kilometre, followed by Arnie Sensation and Arifant.

In the second Premier class race Noble d’Ete increased its speed in the backstraight to challenge and ultimately manage to beat Niky du Donjon by half a length to record its first victory in Malta. Energy Launcher and Dialect Af Prinfo finished in third and fourth positions respectively.

Another exciting finish occurred in the Gold class race when Lucky Fan and Kejser Flamingo sprinted together in the final straight, with the photo-finish awarding the first seasonal win to the former.

The other trot races were won by Nashville Victory (Copper class), Above Roland (Bronze class) and Charlie Smitt and Odelvio (Silver class).

The Class B flat race saw Virginia Med taking a good lead early in the race but in the last half lap it could not resist Ollie Fliptrik’s strong attack with the latter taking its fourth seasonal win by a comfortable margin.

Doping test results

Recently the Malta Racing Club received two doping test results relative to races held on the 9th September 2011.

Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of Natif de Salvi whose result confirmed that it was clean from prohibited substances. Unfortunately the other result disclosed prohibited Category 3 substances in respect of thoroughbred Pride of India.

Part of the family?

Recently a friend of mine was telling me that many years ago, his father owned a popular trotter in Malta. After all these years he could still describe vividly the colour and features of the horse and some of its main competitors as well as their respective owners. Even I remember that horse well and it was indeed a quality horse.

My friend added how proud the whole family was of the horse’s racing achievements and of its great heart which made it give its best in every race.

But he also mentioned the concern they felt whenever it was injured and the fact that they never took any risks in such circumstances. They rested the horse and gave it all the necessary treatment. He remarked that horses are similar to crystal, beautiful creatures but extremely delicate and fragile.

In particular, he recounted the sadness they felt on the death of their horse which they considered as a family member and which they still remember till this day.

I continued pondering on this simple conversation and thought about how common such a story must be among Maltese horse owners. It is a good example of the fondness many of us feel for our horses. It is no exaggeration to say that for many, they become like part of the family; not an object, but a creature which is appreciated on an individual basis and with its own story abroad and in Malta.

Indeed, given the restricted financial resources in our sport here in Malta, in most cases, for us horse racing is not a business but rather a matter of passion, with the particular horse remaining in its owner’s heart long after it is no longer with us …

We wish you all two exciting meetings this weekend.