by Magnat
The 2011 season will end in style with an extremely varied end of year meeting on Friday 30th December starting at 1.30pm and comprising twelve races.
The main attraction is the VOB Grand Final for Premier class trotters over a 2,640m distance, featuring top placed horses from the Prix de Vincennes and the President’s Cup finals, which have undergone one selection process after another.
These ten horses consist of six French and four Swedes aged between 7 and 14 years, being:
1. President’s Cup final runner-up Malin Roro, twice winner this year,
2. Prix de Vincennes winner Mig of the Wood, winner of more than Euro430,000 in France and having registered a great time of 1’15’0 per kilometre in winning the Prix de Vincennes,
3. 2009 MRC Premier Trot, VOB Grand Final and Summer Championship final winner Arnie Sensation, winner of more than SEK1.5 million in Sweden,
4. three times seasonal winner Milord Barbes, having its best time in Malta of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,640m in the recent Prix de Vincennes final,
5. relative newcomer Nec Carmolo, winner of one of the President’s Cup semi-finals and having a very good overseas record of 1’13’2 per kilometre,
6. Utah Hornline, winner of another President’s Cup semi-final and more than SEK1 million in Sweden,
7. eight time winner this season and winner of the President’s Cup and of the Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship, Livi Cantona, with its best time in Malta of 1’13’8 per kilometre,
8. Prix de Vincennes runner-up Nevaio des Bordes, winner of more than Euro450,000 in France, having a best time of 1’11’9 per kilometre overseas,
9. Tazza l-Kbira and Dragonara autumn championship 2010 winner Kakisis, having won more than Euro550,000 in its overseas career,
10. past Prix de Vincennes winner Joker de Choisel, holder of the Malta 2,640m record of 1’13’6 per kilometre registered in 2008, and having won around Euro450,000 in France.
A brilliant line-up, promising a VOB Grand Final of the highest level.
The Gold class horses will also be protagonists on Friday, this time on the sprint 1,640m distance. Three semi-finals will be held, with four qualifiers from each contesting the Pavo Feeds Gold final which will be held later on during the same meeting.
These include various trotters coming from recent wins or good places, some others which have raced in the Premier class, various short distance specialists, as well as newcomer Najac (FR) which had been scratched recently when it was due to debut.
We also have six trot races in which the owners will be protagonists in the capacity of drivers. These involve a race from each class with two races from the Silver class, all over a 2,140m distance.
The Premier class owners’ race sees a line up of eight horses hailing from Denmark, France, Germany and Sweden, including four horses which have won at least once this year, i.e. Isolated, Energy Launcher, Obi Wan Kenobi and Kejser Flamingo, and another four horses seeking their first seasonal win.
We also have a Class A flat race on a 1,750m distance with a full eight horse line-up, aged between 4 and 6 years, hailing from France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the USA. These also include newcomer Timolin (GER).
An entertaining meeting containing a lot of variety, which constitutes a fitting end to the season.
Last meeting
French trotters were the talk of the town on Sunday 18th December when the SECF Championship finals were held in a great atmosphere in front of the season’s largest crowd.
The Prix de Vincennes final for Premier class trotters was the most prestigious race and it did not disappoint. Nelson du Val took an early lead setting a fast pace ahead of Nevaio des Bordes and Noble d’Ete. However around 650m from the end, it changed pace and was disqualified, leaving the lead for Nevaio des Bordes ahead of Milord Barbes.
In the last 400 metres came the strong attack in the outside lanes from 11 year old Mig of the Wood (Noel Baldacchino), which had until then occupied one of the end places, an attack which led it to the front in the middle of the final straight and to its second win in Malta, in an excellent time of 1’15’0 per kilometre, the best time on the distance in Malta for the last two and a half years. Nevaio des Bordes, Joker de Choisel and Milord Barbes finished behind it in that order.
The Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) final saw Magnifique Sablais take an early lead ahead of Ouest du Vivier and Naja In Blue. Ouest du Vivier took over around half a lap from the end ahead of Naja In Blue, but around 350m to go, 10 year old Night Inlet (Noel Baldacchino) started a strong attack, taking the lead in the early part of the final straight, to comfortably take its third seasonal win, from Nomade de Mai, Lys des Etroits and Naja In Blue, in a very good time of 1’15’7 per kilometre.
In the Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) final, Mealington went in front early on, ahead of Narval du Donjon and Nagano Phedo. Around half a lap to go, Nagano Phedo took the lead, but shortly later, 12 year old Label Chouan (David Ellul) started a sprint which led it to a head to head tussle with Nagano Phedo in the final straight. Label Chouan went ahead a few metres from the post, taking its fourth seasonal win from Nagano Phedo, Mealington and Nevada Silver, in another optimal time of 1’15’8 per kilometre.
The Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class) final saw 9 year old Olifant du Pouy (Frans Tanti) and Marchallah challenging each other in their sprint in the final straight, with the win finally going to the former. Orgeat and Monte Cinto Mag finished in third and fourth places respectively. In the Prix de Caen (Copper class) final, 13 year old Koko Loco (Jesmar Gafa) won by more than a length from New Hope, Joker du Cornica and Jeo de Touvois.
Thus the five SECF championships reserved for French trotters were won by a 9 year old (Olifant du Pouy), a 10 year old (Night Inlet), an 11 year old (Mig of the Wood), a 12 year old (Label Chouan) and a 13 year old (Koko Loco).
The remaining two “normal” Copper class races were won by Gamin Launcher and Mirall Composite.
Doping test results
Recently the Malta Racing Club received five doping test results which all gave a negative result. Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of Noble Spirit (Silver race – 2nd October), Lascoste I.T. (Gold race – 2nd October), Flash Coger (Premier race – 2nd October), Naja In Blue (Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship (Gold) final – 30th October) and Livi Cantona (Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship (Premier) final – 30th October), whose results all confirmed that they were clean from prohibited substances.
Best seasonal performers
In this last write-up of the season it is appropriate to take a look at some statistics of this season.
French trotter Major Chaleonnais won the honour of most consistent trotter with seven wins and five runner-up positions from fifteen starts, just ahead of French Magnifique Sablais and Swedish trotter Livi Cantona.
The honour of most consistent thoroughbred was won by American Ollie Fliptrik with three wins, two runner-up positions and three third places from fourteen races, ahead of two other Americans, i.e. Kimberley Downs and Cheeky Jack. The Best Jockey accolade was won by Ramon Grima with 100 points, ahead of Michael Sultana and Oliver Briffa.
The U/25 Best Driver competition was again dominated by Rodney Gatt who won ahead of Shaun Portelli and Redent Magro.
Finally the impressive challenge for the Best Driver competition. A great tussle between two worthy drivers, which was only resolved at the last race of the last meeting. This year’s championship ultimately went to Noel Baldacchino with 517 points, just one point ahead of Charles Camilleri (who competed in less races over the season), with Rodney Gatt finishing in third place.
Congratulations to all the above, whether horses, jockeys or drivers. You are all contributing strongly to the growth of this sport in Malta and we are very proud of you.
I also wish to thank various people who have helped me in writing these articles throughout the year.
It is impossible to mention them all, but the following are a few examples: Dr Matthew Brincat, Chairman of the Malta Racing Club for his constant support, Mr Mark Vella, MRC Marketing Director, with whom I have so many discussions about racing history, past horse racing episodes and championships, and last but certainly not least Mr Nicholas Farrugia, who is so very impressive with his encyclopaedic information and data about Maltese trot racing, and who is always so patient and forthcoming in providing his very useful input.
We wish you an exciting last seasonal meeting next Friday, as well as a Happy New Year 2012 to you and your loved ones.
