by Magnat

Another two all-trot race meetings will be held at the Marsa race track over the next few days.  The first meeting consisting of nine races will be held on Sunday with the first race starting at 1.30pm, whilst the second (comprising eight races) will be held on Thursday (Republic Day public holiday) starting at 1.15pm.

Undoubtedly the highlight of these two programmes is the President’s Cup final on a 2,640m distance.  This race features a truly European field of 12 of Malta’s best horses, with no less than six nationalities represented, i.e. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.  Horse ages vary between 6 and 14 years.

The full field (9 geldings, 2 stallions and 1 mare) is as follows:

1. Count of Life, Finnish 13 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro29,437 and a best time of 1’14’3 per kilometre.  It gained 10 wins (including the Assikura "A" Championship 2011) and 40 places since it made its local debut more than 5 and a half years ago and has a best time in Malta of 1’14’5 per kilometre on 1,640m.
2. Mystere d’Urfist, French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro302,630 and a best time of 1’13’2 per kilometre.  It has 2 wins and 7 places from its 14 races in Malta and has a best time here of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,640m.
3. Mars, Danish 8 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,917,059 and a best time of 1’11’7 per kilometre.  It won twice and placed once in its four races in Malta and has a best local time of 1’15’1 per kilometre on 2,640m.
4. Zilver Boko, Dutch 6 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK235,743 and a best time of 1’13’4 per kilometre.  It won seven times (including this year’s Sette Giugno Cup) and placed another seven times (not lower than 3rd place) in its 14 races in Malta and a has a best time here of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m.
5.  Kakisis, French 14 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro554,696 and a best time of 1’13’3 per kilometre.  It won 10 times (including the Dragonara Autumn Championship 2010 and the Emirates Tazza l-Kbira 2011) and placed another 18 times since its made its local debut around 3 and a half years ago, having a best time here of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,640m.
6.  Mont Cenis Honey, French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro339,520 and a best time of 1’12’5 per kilometre.  It has 6 wins (including the December 2010 Prix de Vincennes) and 2 places from its 14 races in Malta with a local best time of 1’14’8 per kilometre (twice) on 2,140m.
7.  Wiss Night Hawk, Swedish 11 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,483,991 and a best time of 1’13’4 per kilometre.  It has 2 wins (including 2012 Skyparks Premier class Swedish trotters’ championship) and 8 places from its 18 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’1 per kilometre on 2,140m.
8. Power Night Star, Swedish 7 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK569,570 and a best time of 1’12’5 per kilometre.  It won once and placed 3 times in its six races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’14’7 per kilometre on 2,140m.
9. Skip Dimanche, Swedish 9 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK961,750 and a best time of 1’12’4 per kilometre.  It won twice and placed 7 times in its 24 races in Malta, with a best local time of 1’15’5 per kilometre on 2,140m.
10. Troy Boshoeve, German 11 year old, with overseas winnings of DNK875,380 and a best time of 1’14’7 per kilometre.  It claimed 2 wins (including this year’s Cassar Petroleum Autumn Championship) and 9 places from its 21 races locally with a best time of 1’15’5 per kilometre (twice) on 2,140m.
11.  Shakira Trot, Swedish 9 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,477,200 and a best time of 1’12’0 per kilometre.  It gained two wins and three places from its seven races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m.
12.  Maximal Value, Swedish 10 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,769,409 and a best time of 1’12’1 per kilometre.  It has 1 win and 2 places from its 8 races in Malta with a best time of 1’15’4 per kilometre on 2,140m.

With a tally of 47 wins between these horses and all of which having a best time of 1’15’5 per kilometre or better in their racing career in Malta, a hard-fought out race (having a handsome total prize-money of Euro3,950) is anticipated, with an uncertain outcome. 

This final will be surrounded by an attractive programme which is intended to entertain the whole family. A Shetland pony race for children, presentation of the twelve drivers to the public in a parade of Shetland and other small ponies driven by children, the arrival of the President of Malta escorted by the mounted police, the singing of the national anthem by well-known singer Enzo Gusman and eventually the presentation of the prizes to the winners in the big race by the President himself.

The other “normal” races on Thursday’s card are on a 2,140m distance and include attractive races such as three Gold class races featuring recent winners such as Natif de l’Hommee, Key Value, Ozerio, Ygor of Pass and others and former Premier class trotters such as Oscar Mati, Target Player, Noble d’Ete and Simb Tyrant, among others, which will all be challenged by various valid horses, with some of them standing a good chance of making it to the Premier class with a win or a good place.

This Sunday’s meeting is one of the last this year which consists exclusively of “normal” races, all on a 2,140m distance.  However, it certainly includes a variety of points of interest.

In particular, it should reach its climax in the two Premier class races on the card.  The first race includes horses such as Nicos de Peneme and Argus Hanover which have been recently promoted to this class on the strength of some bright performances in the Gold class, horses which have recently returned after a rather long absence such as Indian Attack, Master Lupin and Play on Me and other valid horses seeking to improve their form after some not-too-satisfactory performances.

The second Premier class race is reserved for trotters with the highest points in this class.  All are extremely popular horses, with the full list being Carnegie Hall, Nec Carmolo, Belafonte, Versace Boko, Super Qui, Solid Lady Spin, Ollico Pellois, Nuevo Musette, Utah Hornline, Think Yatzee, Nevaio des Bordes and True Q.

As we get nearer to the festive season, the attractions at the Marsa racecourse tend to increase.  Undoubtedly, the President’s Cup final is one of the biggest races of the season and the twelve excellent finalists together with the colourful programme prepared by the Malta Racing Club include all the ingredients for a great afternoon at the racecourse.      

Last Meeting

Last Sunday’s meeting was mainly dedicated to the semi-finals of the French trotters’ championships sponsored by the Societe’ du Cheval Francais, for the Gold (Prix d’Enghien), Silver (Prix du Cabourg), Bronze (Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer) and Copper (Prix de Caen) classes over a 2,640m distance.

The main two races were naturally those from the Prix d’Enghien, in the first of which Orion du Vaumicel maintained the lead throughout the race and claimed its second consecutive and seasonal win in a time of 1’16’6 per kilometre (best time of the meeting), around a length and a half from Onyx Lucernais followed by fellow qualifiers Onyx Speed, Orion de Chapeau and Magnifique Sablais.

In the second Prix d’Enghien semi-final, Night Inlet went in front with around a lap to go and clung on to a half-length win, after resisting a strong challenge by runner-up Quebec in the final straight, to take its third consecutive and fourth seasonal win in a time of 1’18’0 per kilometre.  Niky de Memartin, Natif de Salvi and Niky du Donjon all made it to the final in that order.

The final straight of the first Prix de Cabourg semi-final was extremely entertaining with no less than five horses sprinting together.  The winner was Orage du Pont coming from the outer lanes, a couple of lengths ahead of Oscar de France, followed by Max Galbe, Octobre En Fete and Pascal d’Ablon which all qualified.  The winner claimed its fourth seasonal win in a time of 1’17’9 per kilometre.

Notre Allegro overtook Prao de Bussy and managed to take the lead in the middle of the final straight, to take its second consecutive and seasonal win in the second semi-final, less than a length ahead of the same Prao de Bussy, followed by Korentin, Passons d’Ortige and Narcus du Roc, which made it to the final.  The winner’s time was of 1’17’1 per kilometre.

Polytain claimed its third consecutive and fourth seasonal win after taking the lead in the last half lap of the first Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer semi-final in a time of 1’17’5 per kilometre, around a length ahead of Noe de Loudat followed by the other qualifiers, One Fouteau, Orlando Dix and Icare de Jemma.

The second semi-final saw a fine sprint by Mezio Josselyn in the final straight, giving this horse a two and a half length second seasonal win (1’18’5 per kilometre), from Mirage d’Ete, Nerus Galbe, Ouragan de Crouay and Obelix Blue which were the last qualifiers in this championship.

The Prix de Caen semi-finals were won by Nox Blue (first seasonal win – 1’18’3 per kilometre) and Kaolin de Bannes (also at its first seasonal win – 1’20’9 per kilometre), with Monticello, Loulou de la Rose, Qualou d’Axel, Ksar, Lorrain d’Oliverie, Neron Pierji, Lucky Sauconnier and Larissa du Breil all making it to the final.

We also had a Premier class race which saw Ouest Mabon taking an early lead and maintaining it until around the last half lap, when it was overtaken by Nabab du Chatelet.  But more was to come.  In the final straight the latter was attacked first by Lady de Vindecy which however changed gait and was disqualified and then by Nauge de Bourgogne which went in front and passed the post first. 

However, Nauge de Bourgogne was disqualified for hooking, with Nabab du Chatelet notching its fourth seasonal win, a length and a half ahead of Magic de Assigny, followed by Natieu d’Echal and Nino de Saintho, in a time of 1’16’9 per kilometre.

News from the present ... and the past

(a) The present
There are two pieces of current news both concern driver Noel Baldacchino.

Last week we reported that Noel was representing Malta in the Prix de Rencontres Internationales du Trotteur Francais race being held at the Vincennes racetrack in Paris over a 2,150m distance.  Unfortunately for him and for Malta, the horse he was due to partner, i.e. Quampo Mondo Sy, was scratched before the race and thus Noel did not get the opportunity to participate therein.  Truly, a piece of bad luck!

The race itself was won by Canadian driver Billy Davis Jr on 10 year old Orage Mauzun, followed closely by 7 year old Rapide du Bois (Matthieu Abrivard – France).

However, Noel also makes the headlines this week for becoming the first driver to win the Driver of the Month award by claiming the November edition, on the basis of his winning four races in the 9th November meeting and three others in the 16th November meeting, as well as managing to win at least once in every meeting (except one) during that month. 

Noel had a brilliant month winning no less than 11 times and placing another 10 times.  Undoubtedly, a well-deserved honour.  Congratulations Noel!

(b) The past
As we approach the end of this year, we start making our evaluation of the current season.

And by coincidence, I recently came across The Times newspaper of the 1st January 1970 which contained a brief evaluation of the 1969 horse-racing year (most of the 1968-69 season and the start of the 1969-70 season) and makes interesting reading:

“The year 1969 had its ups and downs for the racing fraternity.  Once again attendance rose to higher levels and the interest in horse-racing was further emphasized.

However there were many disputes over the year and at one time owners decided to withdraw their horses from important events because of the lack of prize-money.  The matter was ironed out, and at the beginning of this season prize-money was increased.

There were also conflicting interests.  While the trotting fields continued to swell and increase, so much so that for this season the Trotting “A” races have been split into two fields, the Flat racing scene has dwindled miserably and towards the end of last season and the beginning of this one there was hardly any flat racing at all.

This season, too, has seen the continued troubles between owners, trainers and the Malta Racing Club and there is a certain amount of impatience on the part of the punters at the way the races are being run.

The main events attracted the customary interest, with “Aloysius”, ridden by J. Buttigieg, winning the Mediterranean Derby, the premier event for flat horses, and “Tulean”, ridden by a French rider G. Demerchere, ... winning the ‘Club Trotting Challenge Cup’ (It-Tazza l-Kbira), the main event for trotters.”

Forty three years have passed since that day.  How much has our sport changed since then? I am sure that all of us have our views which certainly give rise to interesting discussions ...

We wish you two exciting meetings in the coming days.