Thursday 9th February 2012
6th and 7th horse-racing meetings 2012 – 10th and 12th February

by Magnat



Two horse-racing meetings will be held at the Marsa racetrack next Friday 10th February (St Paul’s Shiprwreck public holiday) and Sunday 12th February, both starting at 1.30pm. They are all-trot race cards, Friday’s consisting of seven races and Sunday’s of eight races, all on a 2,640m distance.


The main attractions of this weekend’s racing are the two Premier class races, one in every programme, each having a list of 15 registered horses.


In Friday’s race four of the participants are French 11-year old newcomers, i.e. Nabab du Chatelet, Net de Ginai, Nino de Saintho and Nono de Crouay, together with a number of established trotters, such as Bonus Kall which took an optimal runner-up place in its last outing, December Prix d’Enghien winner Night Inlet, Normand d’Oger which registered a very good 1’15’3 per kilometre on 2,140m a few weeks ago and other well-known trotters.


Sunday’s race also includes various popular horses, such as Fire, winner of four out of its six outings in Malta, True Q winner of its last race, recent winner Noble d’Ete, horses which placed well in recent times, such as Arnie Sensation and Bello Fratello, as well as three newcomers registered with the highest points for newcomers in the MRC classification.


Ten year old Swede Matrix Reloaded has winnings overseas of SEK1,774,218, a best time of 1’11 per kilometre on 1,609m, with 11 wins and various placings. Its best performances in 2011 include a win and two third places all on 1,640m.


French eleven year old Narval d’Ecajeul has winnings abroad of Euro386,526, a best time of 1’11.7 per kilometre on 2,100m, with 18 wins and many placings. Its best performances in 2011 include a win on 1,680m and two runner-up positions on 2,600m and 2,925m.


Nine year old Swede Versace Boko has overseas winnings of SEK1,114,657, a double best time of 1’12’7 per kilometre, in both instances on 1,640m, with 11 wins and various placings. Its best 2011 performances include two fourth places both on 2,680m and registering one of its 1’12’7 best timings.


There are also two Gold class races in every race card, all of which are extremely balanced and interesting. Thus for instance, the first one on Sunday groups together horses which are extremely close to promotion to the Premier class, such as Vasterbo Hitchiker, coming from a win and a runner-up place, Jobie Lucky coming from a win and a third place, December Prix de Cabourg winner Label Chouan, coming from two wins in its last three outings, Le Bolide du Suret which won its last race and all the other interesting horses.


Apart from the above-mentioned Premier class newcomers, four French horses are also expected to make their debut in the Silver class: Pacha de Sassy, Phenix d’Or, Prince du Moutier and Prince Orange.


After last Sunday’s Assikura Championship semi-finals, we now return to normal racing as horses of all nationalities are being prepared in earnest for the Tazza l-Kbira heats, which should be held at the beginning of March.


Last meeting


Although it included just seven races and was held in wintery weather, the last meeting had a variety of interesting features.


Primarily we saw four semi-finals from the Assikura Championships reserved for non-French and non-Swedish horses on the 2,140m distance. Ten horses qualified for each of the Category A and Category B finals.


In Category A (Premier, Gold and the top part of the Silver class), the first semi-final saw an interesting challenge in the last half lap between Indian Attack, Zilver Boko and Reado November, with the former ultimately gaining its first win in the last five months by about three lengths in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre. Zilver Boko, Reado November, Darco As and Socrates also made it to the final.


The second semi-final was characterised by the meeting’s closest finish, when Knockout Molar and Count of Life thundered down the final straight virtually together. Finally the photo-finish declared Knockout Molar as winner (its second win in Malta) by a minimal margin, with Count of Life, newcomer Side Spin, Newman and Big Hit being the other qualifiers for the final. The winner’s time was also 1’17’1 per kilometre.


In Category B (remainder of the Silver class, together with the Bronze and Copper classes), Belgian newcomer Ackaturbo led for most of the way, but was overtaken by Lady Holmely (its first seasonal win) in the last part of the final straight, with Garden Pax, Joker Pitstop and Klokkeblomst also taking their place in the final.


The other Category B semi-final had a similar story, with Morgan Kane producing a strong sprint to overcome Giant Game in the final straight and take its second consecutive and seasonal win, with Hawkear, Splanky and Prince Regent being the remaining qualifiers.


The Premier class race on a 2,640m distance saw a domineering performance by Nuage de Bourgogne at its second race in Malta. This horse took an early lead and was never troubled throughout the race, ultimately taking its first win in Malta by about ten lengths from Candy Fantasy, Energy Launcher and Oviedo Vici, yet again in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre.


Kimberley Downs also dominated its class A flat race on 1,750m, winning by a number of lengths from Ollie Fliptrik and Just The Best.


The remaining race, for Bronze class horses, was won by Noe de Loudat.


Driver of the Month - January 2012


As from this year, the Malta Racing Club has launched the Driver of the Month award, which is aimed at giving recognition to the driver who would have most distinguished himself for some specific reason in the particular month. This award is being sponsored by Top Horse.


The first edition of this award was won by 24 year old driver Shaun Portelli, whose three wins (on True Q, Morgan Kane and Newmarket Boy) during the fourth seasonal meeting landed him the award. A big well done to Shaun.


Farewell to George “Bubuna” Schembri


Shortly before the start of last Sunday’s meeting, we were all saddened by the news of George Schembri’s (known as “Il-Bubuna”) death. During next Friday’s meeting, the Malta Racing Club will commemorate George in a ceremony at which, in addition to his funeral, we will give him our last farewell at the racecourse where he was a protagonist for so many years.


George was a constant at the racecourse for as long as I can remember. I remember myself as a boy asking why they called him “Bubuna”. He was talented and tactically shrewd in whatever concerns horse-racing, whether as a trainer or driver and in both flat and trot racing, something that one does not often encounter.


He won the Champion driver award a number of times, won many prestigious titles when riding a variety of thoroughbreds and trotters, was owners and drivers’ representative on the MRC Council. In brief, he occupied as many roles as one can think of in the racing field.


So many fond images of George come to mind. I can still see him guiding Kysko to a brilliant attack on Isard du Pont in the last half lap of the last phase of the Farsons (league-style) championship 1986 to annul the latter’s six length lead, taking the lead and winning by a clear six lengths to claim the championship. Then, in the same meeting, George went on to guide Mont Saint Aubert to lead all the way to victory securing also second place in that championship - an impressive first- second for him!


Then, the image of Bubuna driving Nicolas de la Fuye to the lead in the last 500 metres of the Tazza l-Kbira final 1988 and going on to an impressive win from various well-known horses, crossing the finish line with Schembri actually standing up on his sulky in a scene reminiscent of the movie Ben-Hur (an antic that he had also performed before on Kysko).


And then a year later, he shone in flat racing, by expertly riding Swing Singer to winning the Mediterranean Derby. And what about the image of Reviens taking the rails early on in the Coca Cola Cup final 1992, and maintaining the lead all the way to the post despite the various challenges it had – I can still remember George actively encouraging his horse to give its best as it was being strongly attacked by Sanit in the final metres!


How many images ... how many victories! Although not tall in size, George will always stand tall in terms of his contribution to Maltese horse-racing.


We convey sincere condolences to George’s family and to those who were close to him.


We wish you all two exciting meetings at the end of this week.