by Magnat
After last Sunday’s return to racing, the season continues with another two meetings next Sunday (3rd February) and the following Sunday (10th February), both starting at 1.30pm. The next meeting involves eight races with the following one having a race card of seven races.
All are trot events over a 2,140m distance, except for one Class A flat race over the sprint 1,250m distance.
Even at this early stage of the season, we already have the first championship, the Assikura Cup for trotters which are neither French nor Swedish, starting in the 10th February meeting and is over a 2,140m distance. The number of these trotters is not particularly numerous in Malta but it includes various quality horses.
The participants originate in no less than eight countries, i.e. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the United States. The “A” championship combines horses in the Premier class, the Gold class and the top 30 points range of the Silver class, whilst the “B” championship features horses in the lower part of the Silver class together with the Bronze and Copper classes.
We have two semi-finals from the “A” championship with nine horses in each semi-final and with the first five in each semi-final qualifying for the final. These include among others Premier class trotters Troy Boshoeve (winner of last year’s Cassar Petroleum Autumn Championship), Count of Life (winner of the Assikura A championship in 2011), Sultan November, Argus Hanover, Mars and newcomer Pro Shop.
Indeed Pro Shop is registered with the highest number of points for a newcomer. Although its country of origin is the USA, it used to race in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden and Norway. It is a 10 year old stallion having winnings of NOK940,069 and a best time of 1’12’9 per kilometre registered on a 2,140m distance.
These two semi-finals also feature another US newcomer, i.e. Keystone Chad, which is registered in the Silver class.
The “B” championship consists exclusively of a final being held during the said 10th February meeting and being contested by 13 horses – 4 Dutch, 3 Finns, 2 Germans, 2 Danes, 1 American and 1 Belgian. The full list is as follows: Divinis, Finnish newcomer Fuoco Nel Fuoco (Silver class), My Shamrock, Willesden Hanover, Andri Boko, Ariane A, Ackaturbo, Sir de Landerije, Morgan Kane, Baronello, Daring Daylight and You Cant Be Me.
We also have two “normal” Premier class races in these two meetings. That of the 3rd February meeting includes 11 horses in the lower range of points of this class, but all being interesting horses.
These feature among others last week’s Premier class runner-up Nicos de Peneme and horses like Energy Launcher, Net de Ginai, Belafonte, Veikko Hornline, Versace Boko and Magnifique Sablais which all either won or placed during last month.
The 10th February Premier class race then pits against each other 12 participants from the highest range of points in Malta.
The quality of these horses is one worthy of a final, with last year’s June VOB Cup winner Label Chouan, Skip Dimanche coming from four consecutive Premier class placings, multiple past championship winner Arnie Sensation, Nevaio des Bordes which is coming from a win and a runner-up place, last week’s winner Fire, December’s Prix de Vincennes winner and VOB Cup runner-up Nabab du Chatelet, December’s Prix d’Enghien winner Night Inlet and Malin Roro, which returns after six and a half months away from racing.
We also have three interesting French 11 year old newcomers, i.e. Odedjalo, Olympien Major and Oran.
Of these, Oran is registered with the highest number of points for newcomers. It has winnings abroad of Euro347,910 with 15 wins and many places. Among its best performances in 2012, we find a win in the Prix Maurice Uzel (2,650m) at Marseille Vivaux and two runner-up positions, one at Cagnes Sur Mer in the Prix des Gorges du Verdon (2,925m) and the other at Vincennes in the Prix de Savigny-Sur-Braye (2,175m) when it registered its personal best of 1’11’7 per km.
Close attention should also be given to the three Gold class races we have in these two meetings, each having just 11 or 12 participants, thus certainly providing extremely open races.
In addition to the above-mentioned, five other trotters are making their debut in these two meetings, i.e. Ukulele Cehere (FR) in the Copper class and Quingen de Bussy (FR) in the Bronze class in the 3rd February meeting and Swedes Lonshults Erik and Rika Rico in the Silver class and the Gold class respectively in the following meeting.
The first flat race of the year sees only four participants two of which are well-known in Malta, i.e. 2011 Mediterranean Derby winner Buttermilk and Maltese thoroughbred Bon Santos, with the other two being 4 year old newcomers, i.e. British Maya Queen and Irish Potere d’Acquisto.
As the new sand at the racecourse settles down, as more horses return to competition after the start of year break and with more newcomers making their debut, the season will gradually start gaining momentum. Indeed, the number of horses registered to race grew by nearly 70% from the first to the second registration. The start of the first championship should add further interest in this new season...
Carnival
Due to the fact that Carnival Sunday falls on the 10th February, during the meeting being held held on that day, the Malta Racing Club is organising a special parade for children on ponies with the children being dressed in Carnival costumes. Interested parties should contact Mr Joe Zerafa (il-Prins) for more information.
Last Meeting
All races in the first seasonal meeting were trot events over a 2,140m distance, with the racecourse surface being softer than usual due to the addition of the new sand in the last couple of weeks. This naturally had the effect of slowing down the horses’ speed and the consequent timings.
The meeting’s highlight was the Premier class race which saw Fire shooting to the front thanks to a magnificent acceleration with around half a lap to go and comfortably holding on till the end. Ultimately it notched its fifth win in Malta by over two lengths from Nicos de Peneme, followed by Skip Dimanche and True Q, in a very good time (given the soft ground) of 1’17’9 per kilometre.
The Gold class race saw both the first and the second placed horses being disqualified, with the win ultimately going to Simb From Abroad (second win in Malta), half a length ahead of Oolong, with Jerry Eme and Nobleness Dubrio finishing in third and fourth place respectively. The winner’s time was 1’19’5 per kilometre.
Quo Vadis Phedo claimed its first win in Malta in the first Silver class race, after resisting all attacks and finishing clear winner by over a length from Mr King, followed by Kosai L.J. and Noe de Loudat, in a time of 1’19’6 per kilometre.
Then it was the turn of Lovely Mab to claim its fifth win in Malta after leading for a good part of the race and finishing around a length ahead of Otas Fighter, followed by Peasant Gallant and Olifant du Pouy, in a time of 1’20’6 per kilometre.
After winning in the last race of the 2012 season, Daring Daylight resisted all challenges in the final straight to take its second win in Malta in the last Silver class race, around a couple of lengths from Baronello, followed by Mint Condition and Dacoit. The winner’s time was 1’20’4 per kilometre.
The other races were won by Ackaturbo (sixth win in Malta) and Ariane A (fourth win in Malta in the meeting’s second best time of 1’18’6 per kilometre) in the Bronze class and Loulou de la Rose (ninth win in Malta) in the Copper class.
Driver of the Month Award – December 2012
Charles Camilleri won the Driver of the Month award for the month of December 2012 on the basis of the six wins he obtained during that month, including the Prix de Vincennes final, as well as his nine places (including two runner-up places in the finals of the VOB Cup (Nabab du Chatelet) and that of the Prix de Cabourg (Orage du Pont)).
He won on Orage du Pont (Silver class and Gold class), Nabab du Chatelet (once in the Premier class and the Prix de Vincennes final), Judon du Cap Vert (Bronze class) and Daring Daylight (Silver class).
Charles had also won this award in March 2012.
We convey our heartfelt congratulations to Charles for this success! We also thank Chukkas Bar and Grill for supporting this initiative by sponsoring this month’s award.
Facts and Figures 2012 (Part 2): Trot best times and championship winners
(a) Best Times
Once again, 2012 was a productive year in terms of the best times registered on the various trot distances – flat races will be featured separately in a coming article. Interestingly, the best times on 1,640m, 2,140m and 2,640m were all under 1’15’0 per kilometre. Three out of the four best times were the best we have had in Malta in over three years.
The best time on the 1,640m distance was 1’14’0 per kilometre. This was registered by two trotters in “normal” races on the 21st October, i.e. French trotter Oncle Sam in the Premier class and Dutch mare Ariane A in the Copper class. The latter was indeed an extremely rare occurrence, i.e. having a joint seasonal best time being made in the Copper class.
The best time on the 2,140m distance was made by French trotter Milord Barbes when it stopped the clock on 1’14’6 per kilometre in the Summer Championship Premier class final on the 27th July. Such a time had not been made on this distance since March 2009.
Our racecourse also saw a time of under 1’15 on the 2,640m distance for the first time since June 2009, when veteran French horse Kakisis clocked 1’14’9 per kilometre on this distance in the VOB Grand Final held on the 30th December.
Finally, the best time on the 3,140m distance was 1’16’2 per kilometre made by French Nevaio des Bordes in a “normal” Premier class race on the 15th April, the best time on this distance since November 2008.
(b) Championships
As regards championships, it is interesting to note that only one trotter (Ouragan de Crouay) managed to win more than one final this season (a final plus a consolation final), providing indisputable evidence of the strong competition existing among our trotters.
One cannot help noticing the number of championships organised, all major attractions which help to generate interest and enthusiasm among all horse-racing enthusiasts.
I list below (in date order) the championships in which Premier class trotters were involved, together with the race distance and the respective 2012 winner:
1. Assikura Championship (A) (2,140m): Knockout Molar;
2. Dragonara Tazza l-Kbira (2,640m): Mig of the Wood (Dragonara Casino Consolation Final (2,640m): Nasko Pride)
3. Skyparks Swedish Trotters Premier class Championship (2,140m): Wiss Night Hawk
4. Sette Giugno Cup (2,140m): Zilver Boko
5. Prix de Vincennes (French Trotters) June Final (2,140m): Lady de Vindecy
6. VOB June Grand Final (2,140m): Label Chouan
7. Summer Championship Premier class (2,140m): Milord Barbes
8. Cassar Petroleum Autumn Premier class Championship (2,140m): Troy Boshoeve
9. President’s Cup (2,640m) – sponsored by various businesses: Mont Cenis Honey
10. Prix de Vincennes (French Trotters) December Final (2,640m): Nabab du Chatelet
11. VOB December Grand Final (2,640m): Kakisis
The winners of the other championships and Condition races (all on 2,140m, except for the December SECF French trotters championships having a 2,640m distance) were:
Prince Regent (Assikura Championship B),
Oscar Mati (Gold class), Lovely Mab (Silver A class), Lonestar Somolli (Silver B class), Ackaturbo (Bronze class) and Kejser Engely (Copper class) (all winners of Easter Condition Races),
Lover Boy Index (Gold class), Victory Farming (Silver class), Nicole L.H. (Bronze class), Emil Brebro (Copper class), all winners of the respective Skyparks Swedish Trotters finals,
Nuevo Musette and Night Inlet (Gold class – Prix d’Enghien), Ollico Pellois and Korentin (Silver class – Prix de Cabourg), Nympheta de Bisoir and Ouragan de Crouay (Bronze class – Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer) and Icare de Jemma and Neron Pierji (Copper class – Prix de Caen) in the SECF French Trotters championships,
Naracat Campbell (Gold class), Call Win (Silver class), Quouky du Soir (Bronze class), Loulou de la Rose (Copper class), Ouragan de Crouay (Silver class Consolation Final) and Orio de Marancourt (Bronze class Consolation Final), all winners of the Summer Championship finals, and
Netter Williams (Gold class), Simb From Abroad (Silver class), Napol de Mai (Bronze class) and Esmeralda Run (Copper class), all winners of the Cassar Petroleum Autumn Condition Finals.
A big thank you to all the sponsors without whose help these great championships would not have been possible.
Undoubtedly two impressive lists, which whet our appetite for more brilliant times and great championships which the 2013 season has in store for us.
We wish you another two exciting meetings over the next week.
