by Magnat

Two race-meetings will be held at the Marsa racecourse this weekend, the first on Friday starting at 7pm, and then on Sunday with the first race commencing at 1.30pm.  These two meetings are dedicated to the heats from the French trotters’ championship sponsored by the SECF, the French association for the promotion of the French trotter.

We have nine heats in each meeting, all on the rather long distance of 2,640m, plus one flat race on the sprint 1,250m distance in Sunday’s meeting.

The three Premier class races from the Prix de Vincennes are actually semi-finals, with 30 extremely valid participants (10 in each semi-final), the first four from each making it straight to the final. 

Friday’s semi-final includes horses such as June’s Prix de Vincennes winner Lady de Vindecy and past winner Joker de Choisel, this year’s Summer Championship Premier class winner Milord Barbes and last year’s winner of the same championship Major Chaleonnais, the current holder of the VOB Cup Label Chouan, Oltedo de Rieux which had a victorious debut last week, and all the others.

In Sunday’s first semi-final, horses such as Magic de Assigny, Nagano Phedo, Narval d’Ecajeul and Nophenio de Lune are coming from good places, we also have two 10 year-old newcomers Ouest Mabon and Ouragan de Sita, with the remainder of the field being also serious contenders.

In the third semi-final, we find horses such as past Prix de Vincennes winner Mont Cenis Honey, five-time winner this year Nuage de Bourgogne, 2011 Tazza l-Kbira winner Kakisis, 2010 end of year Grand Final winner Lou Petiot, this year’s Fairplay Bingo Gold class Condition Race winner Oscar Mati, horses coming from recent good places such as Nitesco d’Anthony and Nono de Crouay and other valid horses.

The Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) features 51 horses spread across 5 heats, the first four from each making it to the semi-finals being held on the 2nd December.  These involve a mix of recent good performers and various trotters which used to race in the Premier class.

In Friday’s semi-finals, one can note horses such as Night Inlet coming from a win last week, Milano du Gite, Quid de la Muette and Orion de Chapeau which placed well recently, and horses such as Max d’Avignere, Nougat Voideen and Nuper among others, which were racing in the Premier class until a few weeks ago.

The same is the case for Sunday’s semi-finals which include among others, Summer Championship Gold class winner Nacarat Campbell, horses such as Noble d’Ete, Norman d’Avril, Nick de Touchyvon, Niky du Donjon, Magnifique Sablais and Natif de Salvi which raced in the Premier class in the last weeks, and recent winners Ozerio, Quebec and Okir de Leau.

Participants such as Natif de l’Hommee, Novak, Natif de Fontaine, Orion du Vaumicel, Naja in Blue, Paradis du Lupin, Paleo de la Dives, Podium, Oolong and others have had good places recently, whilst all the other horses will certainly also make a strong challenge for a place in the semi-finals.

The Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) features no less than 74 trotters spread across six heats, with the first 4 from each making it to the semi-finals.  Four of these are eight year old newcomers Quamichi, Quattro de Tratas, Quindici and Quoka de Saint Pol, which if they all make their debut, would ensure that this year’s total number of newcomers exceeds 200.

The Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class) includes 40 horses split into four heats, with the first five from each making it to the semi-finals.  The Prix de Caen (Copper class) will enter into the fray directly with the semi-finals being held on the 2nd December.

The Class A flat race has a field of 5 participants hailing from Ireland, the UK and the USA, including Cheeky Jack, winner of two of its last three races, Four Richer which was runner-up in both its two outings in Malta, as well as three horses making their return after a five month absence, i.e. Darielli, Little Anthony and Uncle Bertie.

The French trotters’ championships have been with us since 2003 and now constitute one of the most attractive features of the Maltese racing calendar.  Since their first editions they have always provided us with exciting races and finals and we are sure that this edition will be no exception ... do not miss the spectacle!

Last Meetings

Last weekend’s meetings, involving entirely trot races on a 2,140m distance, provided us with various extremely interesting races.

As usual, the two Premier class races were among the most attractive, with both winners notching their first win in Malta.

In Friday’s race, Simb Mark made all the early running, but newcomer Oltedo de Rieux attacked strongly in the last half lap, went in front and registered a victorious debut, around a length and a half ahead of another newcomer Opal Hall, followed by Nagano Phedo and Nophenio de Lune.  The winner’s time was 1’16’4 per kilometre.

On Sunday, it was the turn of Versace Boko which took the lead from the earliest stages of the race and maintained it throughout, claiming its first win in Malta from its four races till now, in the best time of the weekend of 1’15’4 per kilometre, a length ahead of Wiss Night Hawk, Milord Barbes and Nono de Crouay in that order.

In the Gold class, even Okir de Leau was in front practically throughout the race to also claim its first win in Malta by just half a length in a time of 1’15’9 per kilometre, after repelling runner-up Milano du Gite’s strong attack.  Natif de l’Homme and Paleo de la Dives took the remaining places.

In the second Gold class race, Side Spin held the lead for most of the race, but a determined attack in the last half lap took Ozerio to the front and despite a strong challenge from Natif de Fontaine in the final straight, Ozerio was strong enough to claim its second seasonal win by a head from the same Natif de Fontaine, followed by Side Spin and Simb From Abroad.  The winner’s time was 1’16’2 per kilometre.

Then it was the turn of Lion McGuire to take its first win in Malta, thanks to a strong sprint in the final straight which led it to win by about one and a half lengths in a time of 1’18’2 per kilometre in front of Count Wiesnievski, Obi Wan Kenobi and Biggles Coquet.

In Sunday’s first Gold class race, Night Inlet went in front with around a lap to go and managed to retain the lead till the end to claim its second seasonal win in a time of 1’15’8 per kilometre, around a length ahead of Quebec, followed by Pinekiller and Quid de la Muette.

Finally, Key Value launched a strong attack in the last half lap which also led it to its second seasonal win, repelling Baron G.L.’s strong running in the final straight by merely a head in a time of 1’16’5 per kilometre.  Orion du Vaumicel and newcomer Argus Hanover claimed the places in that order.

In the other races, we had the following winners:  Wonderofyou (second seasonal win), newcomer Iatas Skid, Bankiren (first win in Malta), Darco As (first seasonal win) and Charm Hammering (first win in Malta) in the Silver class, Polytain (second seasonal win) in the Bronze class, and Malta Sara B (third seasonal win) and Esmeralda Run (fifth seasonal win) in the Copper class.

Characteristics of trot races in France

If I had to describe trot races in France in one word, I would choose the word “variety”.

Variety in racecourses, with over 225 racecourses of different lengths and ground (whether grass, sand, cinders etc) spread across the country, giving the possibility to trainers to choose the type of racecourse suited for the particular horse’s characteristics and preferences. 

The variety of racecourses also helps to ensure that horses do not get “bored” racing on the same racetrack, something which may sometimes be a drawback for us here in Malta.

Variety in race distances, from the mile to races of around four and a half kilometres.  A clear preference exists for distances of two and a half kilometres or longer, with fewer races of less than two kilometres than one finds in other European countries and in North America.

This may be attributed to the French trotter’s stamina which shines more over longer distances, but it does not mean that French trotters lack speed.  Indeed some of them have expressed themselves excellently even on the mile.

Variety in the starting method, with handicap races still being as popular, if not more, than autostart races and then racing both clockwise and anti-clockwise.

Variety in trot racing disciplines, with sulky racing (attele’) and racing under saddle (monte’) both being extremely popular, thus providing more variety to horses, trainers, drivers and spectators.

One aspect I really like in French racing is the fact that every race has a distinct name, the “Prix de ...”.  This does away with our “normal” races, giving a personality to each individual race, whether having large or smaller prize-money.

Names vary a lot.  Many of the biggest races tend to bear the name of a country or city, such as the Prix d’Amerique, the Prix de France, the Prix de Belgique, the Prix de Washington etc.  However there are also races named after individuals who are well-known in racing circles, commercial enterprises and others.

And this also helps to establish a list of winners to which a new winner is added every year,  enhancing the race’s reputation,  with current competitors trying to emulate the value and reputation of past protagonists and to join them in associating their name with the particular race.

This is why I believe that it is a positive step that even here in Malta our main championships should have a specific name which does not change from one year to another with changes in sponsor, say the Tazza l-Kbira, the President’s Cup, the Autumn Championship etc, even if then one adds the name of the particular year’s sponsor in front of it.

Another interesting aspect is that races are open for horses of particular ages, between 2 and 10 years (trotters’ retirement age in France).  The idea is that horses should be competing as much as possible with their contemporaries, i.e. trotters being at a similar phase of development.  

We also find variety in the nationalities to which races are open.  From national races open only for French trotters, to others open for European horses, whilst others are “International” races, open to all qualifying horses, whatever their nationality.  Incidentally, most of Maltese races are International races, except for those dedicated to horses of a particular nationality.

I will end with the variety in prize-money, from races where the winner earns as little as around Euro1,500, to the Prix d’Amerique where no less than Euro500,000 goes to the winner!  A figure that shows this sport’s financial strength in France, which we in Malta, with our limited resources, can only dream of! 

And after that trip across the French trot-racing world, we land back here in Malta; eager to follow another edition of the SECF championships.  Let’s remember that the rich background referred to above has formed our French horses and contributed to making them what they are today!  

We wish you two exciting meetings this weekend.