by Magnat
Two horse-racing meetings will be held at the Marsa racetrack this weekend. First we have a return to Friday evening racing after the winter break with the meeting starting at 6.30pm, whilst another meeting will be held on Sunday starting at 1.30pm.
Each meetings comprises 8 races, being all trot races over the sprint 1,640m distance, except for one flat race in Friday’s programme on the equally short 1,250m distance.
Interestingly, the trot participants hail from ten different countries, whilst the competing thoroughbreds originate in five countries.
The main trot attractions in Friday’s card are four extremely balanced Silver class races.
Thus for instance, the penultimate race is reserved for horses with the highest points in this class, where a good result can lead a horse to promotion to the Gold class. Indeed, practically all participants have raced in the Gold class in recent times. Some horses, such as Zerbin, Must du Buisson, Schejken Bill, Notice As, Lovely Mab and others have either won or placed recently.
We also have an attractive Class A flat race having a full field of eight registered horses. These include recent winner Darielli, 2011 Coronation Cup winner Fyelehk, 2011 Exotique Challenge Cup and Coronation Cup runner-up Cheeky Jack and the other horses which are all capable of challenging for a win or a good place.
The highlights in Sunday’s programme are four Gold class races featuring a number of in-form horses, including various winners last month such as Nicos de Peneme, Orlando Tejy, Osiris des Kids, Orphee Kadesh, Oviedo du Sam, Oscar Mati and Matador Knick.
Much is also expected from numerous horses whose form has been improving in recent times and in particular from the various short distance specialists competing in these races.
Twelve trot newcomers are also registered to debut this weekend – Swedes Question Brew and Simb Groovy in the Silver class on Friday, whilst on Sunday we have French horses Panito, Petit Veinard (previously scratched) and Polytain in the Silver class and Chippy Laday (SE), Figaro A. West (SE), Frisco PE (DK), Global Hunt (SE), Nellyto du Lys (FR), Okir de Leau (FR – previously scratched) and Oscar du Meu (FR) in the Gold class.
Although no championship races feature in these programmes, the sprint race distances often give rise to spectacular races with fast times, as all horses give their best from the initial stages and must maintain a strong rhythm until the end.
Last meeting
Last Sunday’s meeting was dominated by the heats from the Dragonara Casino Tazza l-Kbira on a 2,640m distance. Six heats were held with twelve participants registered in each (of which only 2 were scratched across all heats), coming mainly from the Premier class plus a few from among the horses with the highest points in the Gold class. At the end, we got to know the 24 semi-finalists.
In the first heat, Nuage de Bourgogne led for nearly all the way to win by a good margin and record its third consecutive win in a time of 1’16’2 per kilometre. The other qualifiers from this heat were Bello Fratello, Normand d’Oger and Label Chouan.
Then, it was Nabab du Chatelet’s turn, going in front with around a lap to go and taking its second win in Malta, by about four lengths from fellow qualifiers Marathon Villers, Mystere d’Urfist and Natif de Fontaine, in a time of 1’16’7 per kilometre.
After an absence of around two months, last season’s revelation Livi Cantona celebrated its return to racing in style when its strong acceleration in the last 400m enabled it to just pip at the post newcomer Naxos de France which had led for most of the way, after the photo-finish was consulted. Its time was 1’16’9 per kilometre. Apart from these two, Troy Boshoeve and Eastwood OM also qualified.
The fourth heat saw Arnie Sensation taking the lead during the last lap and notching its first win in the last ten months by about two lengths from Magic de Assigny, Nagano Phedo and Onyx Speed in a time of 1’16’6 per kilometre.
The best seasonal time on this distance so far (1’15’5 per kilometre) was registered in the next heat. Here Nelson du Val took the lead in the last 700m and maintained it till the end, despite Mig of the Wood’s determined attack in the final straight, which however only got it within half a length from winner Nelson du Val. The other qualifiers were Ouest du Vivier and Energy Launcher.
In the final heat, a strong attack on the outside lanes with around half a lap to go gave True Q the lead, which he maintained until the end, to win comfortably for the third consecutive time this year in a time of 1’16’9 per kilometre. Noble d’Ete, Nasko Pride and Lou Petoit placed in that order to become the remaining three qualifiers.
Now, the first semi-final will be held on Sunday 18th March, with the second being held on Monday 19th March (public holiday).
The other races were won by What’s Up (Copper class) and Noli de Marray (Bronze class).
Doping test results
Recently the Malta Racing Club received two doping test results. Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of Knockout Molar (Assikura Championship Category A Final) and Nuage de Bourgogne (Premier class race), which races were both held on the 19th February, whose results both confirmed that they were clean from prohibited substances.
After a victory
With the season now having entered the championship phase, our thoughts wander on likely winners of the different championships. And after a win, even a “normal” race win, a feature which strikes me is the festivities that take place in many stables.
We Maltese like festivities, whether religious, cultural, family or others. When we have an enjoyable occasion, we like to share our happiness with others. But as a horse-owner once told me, another reason for celebrating even a “normal” race win is that “with the competition existing in this sport you know when you have won a race, but you never know whether you are going to win another one ...”.
The characteristics of the festivities vary somewhat. However, some common features exist. On arriving at dusk after the horse-racing meeting, one would be met by a larger number of cars than usual parked close to the stables – something is sure to be happening inside.
On entering, one can notice a variety of people, male and female, spread around the stables, some sitting, others standing. There are the owners of the winning horse, the driver, various members of their families, some of whom are horse-racing enthusiasts whilst others have come to participate in the joy of the occasion even if they are not normally passionate about horse-racing.
A number of friends and acquaintances also join in, all congratulating the owners and driver.
Drinks are offered as in all family gatherings, together with typically pizza, pastizzi and sometimes sandwiches.
An owner’s mobile phone rings – it’s someone who could not make it, but wishes to congratulate him for a great race.
People excitedly recount the race as they saw it and lived it. Everybody wants to describe it from his perspective, gesticulating to explain his point. I’m always impressed by how many opinions a two or three minute race can elicit! Some crack a joke or pull one another’s leg in an amicable mood, whilst the more serious ones are already discussing the horse’s prospects in the next race.
Those who are not so much into horse-racing are quietly discussing other things, whether family news, the latest football results or other stuff.
I look around me. I notice the photos of past race wins on the wall, some involving today’s winner or other horses in the stables, whilst others bring to mind exploits of past horses, some of which have not been around for quite some time. Although the oldest photos may have faded a bit, they still bring back vivid flashbacks of memorable races and horses.
After today, another photo will be added ...
And last but certainly not least, in the background there is the main protagonist, the winning horse, whatever its nationality, age or other characteristics. I always struggle to believe that this quiet animal is the same that just a few hours earlier was fascinating everyone with its speed and power. Now, it has been cleaned, examined for possible injuries, fed and all its needs were attended to. Even if tired, it looks happy with its performance and ready for a deserved good night’s rest.
I confess that I love these occasions in which a nice, friendly atmosphere reigns. Another image of Malta and the horse-racing community ...
We wish you all two exciting meetings this weekend.
