by Magnat
After a short fifteen day break, horse-racing returns at the Marsa racetrack with the beginning of the 2012 season. Two meetings will be held this weekend, one on Saturday 14th and the other on Sunday 15th January, both starting at 1.45pm and each featuring a race card of seven trot races, all over a 2,140m distance.
It will be interesting to follow how this break impacts the horses’ form at the start of the new season.
The main attractions will be a Premier class race in every meeting. Saturday’s race has fourteen registered horses with the majority having been active in December and thus effectively continuing their racing season, whist Kojak d’Isques, Nico d’Aussy and Magnific As have not raced since June.
The list includes various horses which have been successful last year, such as Energy Launcher, Master Lupin, Naja In Blue, Anguz R.C. and others, as well as newcomer Nabor Star (FR).
The thirteen horses in Sunday’s race also include some trotters having at least one win in the last months of last year, such as Fire, Lou Petiot, Bello Fratello and Solid Lady Spin, as well as other popular horses and newcomer Orion d’Ostal (FR).
The three Gold class races spread across the two meetings are also extremely balanced. The first race on Sunday sees a number of horses which would be promoted to the top class with a win or a good place, with some of them having been competing in that class until recently. Nagano Phedo, Nomade de Mai, Label Chouan and others are all coming from some very good performances.
The same is the case for the other two Gold class races, featuring among others newcomer Reado November (GER) and many popular horses which can all be protagonists on their day.
The remaining races are one for the Copper class and four for each of the Bronze and Silver classes. Nicole L.H. (SE) and Ygor of Pass (NL) are registered to make their debut in the Bronze class, whilst Prince Feulavoir (FR) and Zilver Boko (NL) are expected to debut in the Silver class.
After last year’s successful season, another year of great racing is anticipated. Good luck and safe racing to all participants.
Last meeting
Although somewhat cold, the winter weather was sufficiently kind to racing enthusiasts in the last seasonal meeting, with the rain only starting in the last race.
The main attraction, the VOB Grand Final on a 2,640m distance, lived up to expectations, with the leading horses from the Prix de Vincennes and the President’s Cup finals battling it out between them for this honour.
True Q took an early one length which it maintained until the last half lap, when it faced challenges from Joker de Choisel, Livi Cantona and Nevaio des Bordes.
Livi Cantona (Charles Camilleri) was clearly the strongest, as usual attacking on the extreme outside, going ahead in the last curve before the final straight and winning comfortably by over two lengths from Joker de Choisel, Nevaio des Bordes and Arnie Sensation.
Livi Cantona registered a good time of 1’16’3 per kilometre. This was its ninth seasonal win and the third major championship, after the Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship (2,140m) and the President’s Cup (2,140m), plus its runner-up place in the Equestrian Festival Premier class final (1,640m); impressive performances on various distances.
Another major attraction was the Pavo Feeds Championship for Gold Class trotters on the sprint 1,640m distance. The three heats held during the same meeting resulted in wins for Nacarat Campbell, Vasterbo Hitchiker and Lime Casted.
The final was contested by twelve finalists and saw Vasterbo Hitchiker taking an early lead which it maintained until the final straight when it had to surrender it to Nacarat Campbell’s (Rodney Gatt) strong attack which led the latter to its fifth seasonal win in a time of 1’15’3 per kilometre, ahead of Lime Casted (which registered the meeting’s best time of 1’15’1 in its heat), Vasterbo Hitchiker and Dream Leader.
There were also various races where the horses were driven by their respective owners. These resulted in wins for Bello Fratello (in front of Energy Launcher) in the Premier class, Lutan Villetot (preceding Oscar de la Vallee) in the Gold class, Sir de Landerije (in front of Sweep the Floor) in the Silver class, Nereus Galbe (ahead of Owens Kim) in the Bronze class and Miami du Coq (before Mailbag) in the Copper class.
The class A flat race saw a splendid performance by German newcomer Timolin which triumphed ahead of Tarruji and Ollie Fliptrik.
The meeting also had other interesting features, particularly a special trot race where regular drivers drove horses accompanied by former players of the Maltese national football team in jogcarts – an initiative linking the football and horse-racing sports which was very well received by both spectators and participants - and pony races for youth trainee drivers.
Doping test results
Recently the Malta Racing Club received nine doping test results which all gave a negative result. Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of Fyelehk (Burmarrad Commercials Coronation Cup Final – 11th December), Koko Loco (SECF Prix de Caen Final), Olifant du Pouy (SECF Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer Final), Label Chouan (SECF Prix de Cabourg Final), Night Inlet (SECF Prix d’Enghien Final), Nomade de Mai (SECF Prix d’Enghien Final), Mig of the Wood (SECF Prix de Vincennes Final), Nevaio des Bordes (SECF Prix de Vincennes Final) and Joker de Choisel (SECF Prix de Vincennes Final), the last eight of which were all held on the 18th December, whose results all confirmed that they were clean from prohibited substances.
Best times of the season
Impressive times were registered over all distances this year, including various which had not been registered in over two years.
The best time on the 1,640m distance was 1’13’8 per kilometre made by each of French trotter Mon Daniel and Swedish trotters Livi Cantona and Candy Fantasy at the Equestrian Festival on 5th June. This was the best time registered in Malta on the distance since April 2009.
The best time on the 2,140m distance was 1’14’7 per kilometre made by Swedish trotter Livi Cantona at the Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship Premier class final on 30th October. This was the best time over the distance since May 2009.
The best time on the 2,640m distance was 1’15’0 per kilometre made by French Mig of the Wood at the SECF Prix de Vincennes final on 18th December, the best time over the distance since June 2009.
The best time on the 3,140m distance was 1’17’5 per kilometre made by French horse In Vitro du Bourg in a Premier class race held on 6th May.
The seasonal best in Monte’ racing was that of 1’17’8 per kilometre registered by Dutch trotter Sir de Landerije on the 2,160m, which is a national record on that distance for monte’ racing.
In the flat racing scene, the best time on the 1,250m distance (1’12’33 mins) was registered by Irish thoroughbred Fyelehk in a class A race held on the 23rd September. The same horse also had the seasonal best over the longer 1,750m distance, with a time of 1’47’70 mins made on the 14th October in a class A race.
In another class A race held on 20th February, British thoroughbred Uncle Bertie registered a time of 2’15’58 mins over a 2,250m distance, the best time on that distance for 2011.
Some truly great times on all distances by both trotters and thoroughbreds. We look forward to a 2012 season which would also be characterised by further brilliant times.
We wish you all an exciting start to the new season.
