by Magnat
These two race-cards bring down the curtain onto the 2012 season at the Marsa racetrack. The 23rd December meeting has a ten race card starting at 1.30pm and consisting of nine trot events and one flat race, whilst the last meeting of the season consists of 12 trot races and starts at 1pm.
These two meetings include a variety of attractions. The most prestigious one is probably the VOB Cup final on a 2,640m distance which pits against each other 12 Premier class horses which placed in the first six in the President’s Cup final and in the Prix de Vincennes final.
The full list of these finalists (10 geldings, 1 stallion and 1 mare) aged between 6 and 14 years and hailing from France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden is:
1. Milord Barbes, French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro231,990 and a best time of 1’14’2 per kilometre. It has 4 wins (including the Summer Championship Premier class 2012) and 12 places since it made its debut in Malta in March 2011 and a best time among us of 1’14’6 per kilometre on 2,140m (1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,640m);
2. Natieu d’Echal, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro207,585 and a best time of 1’13’6 per kilometre. It has 6 places from its 9 races in Malta with a best time here of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m (best time on 2,640m, 1’15’7 per kilometre);
3. 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 four places from its eight races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m (best time on 2,640m, 1’16’9 per kilometre);
4. Magic de Assigny, French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro344,350 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. It has 9 places from its 17 races in Malta with a best time here of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m (best time on 2,640m, 1’15’6 per kilometre);
5. Nabab du Chatelet, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro205,198 and a best time of 1’13’9 per kilometre. It has won 5 times (including this month’s Prix de Vincennes) and placed twice in its 15 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’3 per kilometre on 2,640m;
6. Kakisis, French 14 year year old, with overseas winnings of Euro554,696 and a best time of 1’13’0 per kilometre. It won 10 times (including the Dragonara Autumn Championship 2010 and the Emirates Tazza l-Kbira 2011) and placed another 19 times since it made its local debut over 3 and a half years ago, having a best time here of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,640m;
7. Zilver Boko, Dutch 6 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK235,743 and a best time of 1’13’4 per kilometre. It won 7 times (including this year’s Sette Giugno Cup) and placed another 8 times (not lower than 3rd place) in its 15 races in Malta and a has a best time here of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m (best time on 2,640m, 1’16’0 per kilometre);
8. 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 7 wins (including the December 2010 Prix de Vincennes and this month’s President’s Cup) and 2 places from its 15 races in Malta with a local best time of 1’14’8 per kilometre (twice) on 2,140m (best time on 2,640m, 1’15’7 per kilometre);
9. Label Chouan, French 13 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro222,716 and a best time of 1’13’8 per kilometre. It won 9 times (including the December 2011 Prix de Cabourg and the June 2012 VOB Cup) and placed another 10 times since its debut in Malta in February 2010, with a best time in Malta of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m (1’15’5 per kilometre on 2,640m);
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 22 races locally with a best time of 1’15’5 per kilometre (twice) on 2,140m (1’15’7 per kilometre on 2,640m);
11. Oltedo de Rieux, French 10 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro183,230 and a best time of 1’13’5 per kilometre. It has won twice and placed once in its three races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’4 per kilometre on 2,640m;
12. 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 15 races in Malta and has a best time here of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,640m.
With no less than 50 wins (including 10 championships) and 89 places between them and with six championship winners this year, these horses promise a spectacular race and ending for this season.
On Sunday 23rd December, we also have Malta’s top flat racing sprint final, the Coronation Cup, over a 1,250m distance.
We only have four participants (2 geldings and 2 stallions) in this race this year, but they all have excellent winning credentials:
1. Cheeky Jack, US 8 year old, having 5 wins and 5 places from its 11 races in Malta;
2. Darielli, US 5 year old, having 2 wins and a place from its 4 races in Malta;
3. Timolin, German 5 year old, having 3 wins and 3 places from its 6 races in Malta;
4. Little Anthony, Irish 4 year old, having 3 places from its 4 races in Malta.
We augur an exciting final with the quality of the participants certainly making up for the relatively restricted number of competitors.
On the same day, we also have a number of attractive “normal” trot races over a 2,140m distance. These include two Premier class races, featuring various in-form horses, such as recent Gold class winners Energy Launcher, Noble d’Ete, Argus Hanover and others in the first one and recent winners or runners-up in the Premeir class Net de Ginai, Count of Life, Nino de Saintho, Nevaio de Bordes, Nuage de Bourgogne, True Q and others.
Swede five year old Markus Klipp is registered to make its debut in one of the Gold class races.
Then on the last Sunday of the year, apart from the VOB Grand Final and some “normal” races, we also have five “owners” races for the Copper, Bronze, Silver (two) and Gold classes. These should provide a number of owners with the opportunity of driving their horses and measuring their driving skills in the season’s final race meeting.
Another successful season is coming to an end and once again we will reach the 60 meeting mark. However the last two meetings are far from being merely “normal” meetings, but indeed include a prestigious final for both thoroughbreds and trotters and other entertaining features which continue to light up this festive season.
Last Meeting
The last meeting was undoubtedly dominated by the five SECF finals reserved for French trotters over a 2,640m distance.
The main final was naturally the Prix de Vincennes for Premier class trotters, with 11 participants. Nuage de Bourgogne took the lead at the start and maintained it until around half a lap from the end. Then, Nabab du Chatelet went in front but in the final straight it suffered Nino de Saintho’s attack with the latter passing the post first.
However Nino de Saintho was disqualified for hooking, with Nabab du Chatelet (Charles Camilleri) notching its fifth seasonal win and claiming the prestigious Prix de Vincennes in a time of 1’15’4 per kilometre, a head in front of Oltedo de Rieux which had a strong finish, with Label Chouan and Magic de Assigny claiming the remaining places.
Night Inlet (Noel Baldacchino) led throughout the Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) final to ultimately finish one and a half lengths ahead of Magnifique Sablais, with Niky de Memartin and Quebec taking third and fourth places respectively. For Night Inlet, this was the fifth seasonal and fourth consecutive win, in a time of 1’16’2 per kilometre.
Prao de Bussy led for most of the Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) final but it could not resist the challenge of various horses in the final straight, with the fastest being Korentin (Julian Farrugia) which claimed its second seasonal win in a time of 1’15’9 per kilometre, a length ahead of Orage du Pont, followed by Narcus du Roc and Prao de Bussy in that order.
In the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class), Ouragan de Crouay (Larson Mifsud) led practically throughout the race, but faced various challenges in the final straight, still ending up taking its fourth seasonal win by half a length from Polytain, followed by Mezio Josselyn and Nereus Galbe. The winner’s time was of 1’18’8 per kilometre.
Finally, in the Prix de Caen (Copper class), we had an interesting head-to-head struggle in the final straight between the first two horses, Neron Pierji (Julian Farrugia) and Nox Blue. The former took its first win in Malta by half a length in a time of 1’17’8 per kilometre from Nox Blue, followed by Kaolin de Bannes and Loulou de la Rose.
Mr Benoit Fabrega, senior SECF official, presented the prizes to the owners and drivers of all the winning and placing horses in these finals.
In the same programme, we also had five “normal” trot races over a 2,140m distance, including two interesting Gold class races.
In the first, Love Heart led practically throughout the race to finish over a length ahead of Lime Casted, with Hulot and Oolong claiming the other places. This was the winner’s second seasonal win registering a time of 1’16’7 per kilometre.
In the second, we saw an interesting combat between three horses in the final straight, with Okir de Leau crossing the finishing line first, a head before Darco As.. However Okir de Leau was disqualified for hooking with Darco As taking its third consecutive and seasonal win in a time of 1’16’4 per kilometre, a head before Kapro Wareco, followed by Plaisir d’Amour and Novak.
The remaining races were won by Olifant du Pouy (Silver class - second seasonal win), Jens (Bronze class –first seasonal win) and Luriga Liz (Copper class – second seasonal win).
Doping test result
Recently the Malta Racing Club received another doping test result, referring to the Cassar Petroleum Autumn Championship final held on the 28th October 2012.
Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of Shakira Trot whose result confirmed that it was clean from prohibited substances.
Win for Michael Sultana in France
Congratulations go once again to jockey Michael Sultana for managing to win the Prix de Bordes at the Pau racetrack on the 18th December, when partnering Kimberley Downs which used to race in Malta in the past. This race was held on a 2,400m distance.
VOB Cup Final 1984-85
As a prelude to this end-of-year VOB Cup final, we will take a look at another great edition of this Cup, that which was held in the 1984-85 season (28 years ago) which had an exciting ending and was also reserved for Malta’s top-flight horses, at the time those of the class A1.
The system used that year involved two semi-finals, the first six horses from each of which would make it to the final. The semi-finals were held on the 9th December 1984 and the idea was for the final to be held two weeks later, just before Christmas. This championship’s race distance was 2,650m.
The first semi-final comprised 14 participants with Kasco taking an early lead but with constant changes among its followers. Kasco maintained the lead till the end with a strong challenge taking place for the places, which ultimately went to Iman Pacha, Kadet du Mont, Jaguar du Nord, Karim de Causse and Koqsour in that order.
Ivry dominated among the 10 participants in the second semi-final, leading from start to finish and won in a very good time of 1’18’6 per kilometre. The winner beat runner-up Kypro Pile by about two lengths and other qualifiers were Joyeux du Cadran, Jollus, Issou and Gretz.
However, the final was not in fact held on the 23rd December, because bad weather conditions caused the postponement of the next two meetings and thus the final could only be held on the 6th January 1985.
That was an extremely eventful meeting with a number of jockeys protesting at the race track and deciding not to continue racing midway through the programme, after rain had rendered the track quite muddy. This resulted in a 30 minute delay, with the drivers’ decision creating many arguments among the public and also among the drivers themselves.
However the final was held and indeed lived up to all expectations. Gretz was scratched leaving eleven trotters to contest this prestigious prize.
Issou took an early lead and did a good job of resisting all challenges until the final straight. Kypro Pile was kept in reserve behind the race leaders but produced a great sprint on the outside lanes in the final straight, coming head-to-head with Issou which also reacted by increasing its speed and the two horses hit the post seemingly together, leaving the final decision on the winner to the photo-finish.
Ultimately the win went to Kypro Pile by a nose from Issou, which was followed by the winners of the two semi-finals, Kasco and Ivry in that order. Its driver was France Cassar, still a successful driver, and won the July 2012 Driver of the Month award.
Interestingly Kypro Pile was then a 9 year old which had started racing in Malta in March 1984. The 1984-85 season was its best here, managing to win 6 times and to take another 8 places. It continued racing here until 1989, ending with a total of 12 wins and 26 places in its 5 and a half year local career.
We hope that the forthcoming final will also provide us with an exciting race, thus giving us a fitting ending for another successful racing season.
We wish you two exciting meetings to end the season on a brilliant note, and we take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous and Healthy New Year.
