by Magnat
Two race meetings will be held at the Marsa racetrack this weekend; the first on Friday (25th November) and the other on Sunday (27th November), with the former starting at 7pm and the latter at 1.30pm. Each meeting will comprise nine trot races.
The highlights of this weekend’s races are four semi-finals from the President’s Cup reserved for Premier class trotters over a 2,640m distance. We will see in action horses hailing from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
The splendid number of 43 registered participants include a number of popular trotters such as Malta’s prize-winning record holder In Vitro du Bourg, last year’s President’s Cup winner Lucas Ness, current year championship winners Mon Daniel (Equestrian Festival Premier class), Livi Cantona (Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship Premier class), Isolated (VOB Cup) and others.
We note with satisfaction the initiative taken by some businesses serving the equestrian community, to sponsor prize-money relative to the President’s Cup, thus supporting the horse-racing sport and the philanthropic cause promoted through this championship. These are Anthony Axisa Importers, Krafft, Finn Tack, FM Italia Products Pharmavet, P&M Farrugia Tan-Niger and Vetplus. Well done to all of them.
These semi-finals also feature five interesting newcomers, i.e. Eastwood OM (IT), Harmonic Silvio (SE), Matin de Manche (FR), Norde de Littry (FR) and Utah Hornline (SE).
Interestingly, three of these are registered with the highest number of MRC classification points for newcomers. Ten year old Eastwood OM is the first Italian trot newcomer this season, with winnings of Euro237,317 abroad, a best time of 1’13’1 per kilometre, having 27 wins and numerous places overseas – among its best performances since October 2010 we find three wins on distances of 2,040m, 2,060m and 2,220m.
Ten year old Swedish trotter Harmonic Silvio has winnings of SEK2,719,300 overseas, a best time of 1’11’4 per kilometre on 1,640m with 21 wins and many places – among its best performances in the last year, it had a win at Boden racecourse on 2,160m and two fourth places on 1,640m and 3,160m respectively.
Utah Hornline is an eight year old Swedish trotter having winnings of SEK1,002, 393 overseas, a best time of 1’13’7 per kilometre on 2,140m with 11 wins and various places – among its best performances this year, we find a win at Jagersro racecourse on 2,140m and four runner-up places on distances of 2,140m and 2,200m.
Another attraction on Friday is the three Prix de Caen (Copper class) semi-finals from each of which the first three horses will make it directly to the final. These are balanced races featuring various horses coming from recent wins or runner up positions.
The other races are “normal” ones involving non-French trotters, with three races for each of the Gold, Silver and Bronze classes and two for the Copper class. These feature three Swedish newcomers, i.e. Zmaj Boko in the Bronze class, Bankiren in the Silver class and Anguz R.C. in the Gold class.
Another top class racing weekend is in the offing, assuring an extremely enjoyable experience for spectators...
Last meetings
The last meetings featured no less than 18 heats from the SECF championships reserved for French trotters on a 2,640m distance, with horses from the Premier, Gold, Silver and Bronze classes being in action in their respective championship. Eighteen horses qualified for the semi-finals from the Premier class, nineteen from the Gold class, twenty four from the Silver class and another twenty Bronze class qualifiers.
As anticipated, the three Prix de Vincennes (Premier class) heats took the limelight. Saturday’s race saw Mig of the Wood taking an early lead and keeping it until the last half lap, when Milord Barbes, till then occupying a place at the back-end of the field, launched a strong attack five-wide, took the lead in the last few hundred metres and went on to notch its third seasonal win, from fellow-qualifiers Mig of the Wood, Norman d’Avril, Lou Petiot, Normand d’Oger and Nabab des Corvees.
The first heat on Sunday then saw Lipouz Lesmelchen taking an early lead, only to be overtaken by a number of horses close to the start of the final lap, with the last phase of the race resulting in a keen tussle between Major Chaleonnais and Master Perrine, which was won by the former, earning its sixth seasonal win in the best time of the weekend of 1’16’0 per kilometre. Master Perrine, Madis Boy, Joker de Choisel, Podium and Nuper also made it to the semi-finals.
The final heat was dominated by newcomer Nelson du Val, which took an early lead and maintained it till the end resisting the attack coming from runner-up Mica Bonero. The other qualifiers were Kakisis, Noble d’Ete, Nevaio des Bordes and Mont Cenis Honey.
Two other newcomers won their respective Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) heats. These were Oscar de la Vallee which triumphed thanks to a strong sprint at the end and Ouest du Vivier which took the lead in the last lap and maintained it till the end. The other two Prix d’Enghien winners registered their second seasonal win, i.e. No Comprendo which led practically from start to finish and Night Inlet which managed to beat favourite Magnifique Sablais quite comfortably.
The other winners were Korentin and Nagano Phedo (both in a good time of 1’16’6 per kilometre) as well as Noble d’Urzy, newcomer Oscar Mati, Mealington (fifth seasonal win) and Kaki de Peyrahout in the Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) and Kamido, Oregeat, Orlov du Poncelet, Marchallah (fifth seasonal win) and November Oaks in the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class).
The Class B flat race resulted in the first win at the Marsa race track for Prince Yarraman, ahead of Lite North Wind and Little Benny.
Pavo Feeds Monte Championship
It is worth noting that in the next registration which is scheduled for next Saturday and Sunday, horses may be registered for the Pavo Feeds Monte Championship the heats from which will be held around a couple of weeks’ afterwards. Even trotters which are eliminated from the SECF championships and the President’s Cup semi-finals are eligible to be registered in this Monte’ Championship.
President’s Cup
After an absence of five years (the last edition was held in 2004), I confess that I was extremely pleased with the re-introduction of the President’s Cup last year.
This championship is rich in meaning because it commemorates Republic Day, honours our head of state and confirms horse-racing enthusiasts’ civic and philanthropic sense through contributing to and supporting the Community Chest Fund.
It also enables us to join other Republics around the world, in reserving a prominent place in the racing calendar for a Cup dedicated to the President.
I still remember the first edition, the final of which was held on the 23rd July 1992. It was reserved for trotters from classes A1, A, B, C and D (Premier, Gold and Silver classes today), with qualifiers being held for classes A1 and A together and for B,C and D together. Four qualified from the former, i.e. Zito Bob, My Glesca, Waylon Bee and Rio Airlines (scratched in the final), and another four horses qualified from classes B, C and D, i.e. Ricky du Lac, Riverman, Naldos and Persan de Souvigne.
This was a handicap race over 2,190m, with classes A1 and A horses departing at a 25m handicap to the others. Naldos had a good start and led for some time, but mid-way through the race, Swedish horse Zito Bob driven by its owner Tony Tanti, caught up with the leader and went ahead, followed closely by favourite Waylon Bee.
From then on, no horse could match Zito Bob’s speed, which continued to increase in the final straight, to win comfortably by around two lengths from Waylon Bee which was disqualified. Ricky du Lac finished runner-up with Riverman third. The winner’s time was 1’17’7 per kilometre.
Then-President of Malta Dr Censu Tabone followed the race at the racecourse, and he also presented the President’s Cup to the winning driver/ owner. Nearly 20 years on, I still remember the pleasure of the spectators at the honour of having the President of the Republic among them, as well as His Excellency’s satisfaction at sharing an evening with Malta’s racing community.
We look forward to another successful and exciting President’s Cup championship this year and hope to have the opportunity of seeing the President of Malta among us on the day of the final, in order to demonstrate tangibly our respect for Malta’s head of state and the values associated with this highest state office, particularly the philanthropic ones promoted through the Community Chest Fund.
We wish you all two exciting meetings this weekend.
