by Magnat

Another race meeting will be held on Sunday 24th March, including eight trot races and starting at 1.30pm.

The highlight consists of two exciting Dragonara Brasserie Tazza l-Kbira semi-finals over a 2,640m distance, with the first six from each composing the 12 finalists.  The first semi-final sees the following horses:  Beckham Bob, Sultan November, Nicos de Peneme, Nitesco d’Antony, Quebec, Carnegie Hall, Poppes Fighter, Count of Life, Night Inlet, Ofackevo, Mig of the Wood and Kakisis.

Seven French horses, three Swedes, one Finn and a German.

This semi-final has the distinction of including two former Tazza l-Kbira winners, i.e. current holder Mig of the Wood and previous winner Kakisis.  The other competitors range from seasoned campaigners such as 2011 Assikura A championship winner Count of Life, to recent Prix d’Enghien winner Night Inlet, to recent newcomers of quality such as Ofackevo, with all participants being equally valid and deserving of a place in the final.

The second semi-final includes another high profile field:  Nino de Saintho, Original Blue, Fire, Simb Mark,Odedjalo, Arnie Sensation, Zilver Boko, Nabab du Chatelet, Normand d’Oger, Okilaibo, Ouragan de Sita and Versace Boko.

Seven French horses, four Swedes and a Dutch horse.

With a list like this, one understands why the Malta Racing Club has, in the last couple of years, opted for 6 qualifiers from each Tazza l-Kbira semi-final.  Whoever will not make it is likely to feel unlucky!

Last year’s most consistent horse Zilver Boko, last December’s Prix de Vincennes winner Nabab du Chatelet, Nino de Saintho and Normand d’Oger both coming from three consecutive wins, exciting recent imports Odedjalo, Original Blue and Okilaibo, past multiple championship winner Arnie Sensation and horses coming from wins or good places Fire, Simb Mark, Ouragan de Sita and Versace Boko.

The other races are also semi-finals, leading to the selection of the last Condition race finalists for each of the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper classes, over the shorter 2,140m distance.

These include two great Gold class semi-finals with full fields of 15 and 16 participants respectively, with only three qualifying from each race. 

These are replete with in-form horses, including some having at least a win and a place in their last three outings, such as Charm Hammering, Pirate d’Urzy, Ironbar, Kapro Wareco and Pepone de Castelet.  Various others have managed some fine performances recently.

We also have three newcomers, i.e. French Prince de Blequin and Paolin de Bannes and Finn Uncle Kemp.

The two Silver class semi-finals comprise 12 and 13 participants respectively with the first four in each making it to the final.  These include horses such as Mr Snowman coming from two wins and a place, Oscar des Racques (a win and two places), Daring Daylight (a win and a place in its last three races), recent winners Cal Win and Octobre En Fete and many other quality horses.

The meeting starts with a Copper class semi-final (4 qualifiers from 11 participants) and a Bronze class semi-final (2 qualifiers from 12 participants).

Since the first Tazza l-Kbira I remember (34 years ago), the semi-finals of this most prestigious championship here in Malta have always been exciting affairs.  By qualifying for these semi-finals, the participants have already booked a place in Maltese horse-racing history.  Now, they try to progress to the Big Race ... but to do so is no mean feat because it implies beating some of the cream of Malta’s trotters!

Last Meetings

Various attractions characterised the last two meetings.

We saw numerous semi-finals from the Condition Races for the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper classes on the 2,140m distance.

In the first Gold class semi-final, the final straight provided an attractive struggle between Skars Hanna and Natif de Fontaine.  Ultimately it was the former that claimed its first win in Malta at only its second race here, less than a length ahead of Natif de Fontaine in a time of 1’16’9 per kilometre.  Keeping Quality took the remaining place in the final, finishing 3rd.  Natif de Salvi was 4th.

In the 19th March meeting, the Gold class semi-final saw a very compact finish, with no less than nine horses being within just a few tens of metres from each other.  However, Orage du Pont was the fastest of the lot to notch its second consecutive and seasonal win in a time of 1’16’3 per kilometre, a length ahead of Ouragan d’Any, with L’Ideal de Fersan following them into the final.  Reado November finished in fourth place.

The other semi-finals were won by Mint Condition, Wonderofyou, Pile ou Face and Ackaturbo in the Silver class, Niko de Chamant, Pittacos, Quingen de Bussy and Noli de Marray in the Bronze class, and Royal Qui and Esmeralda Run, in the Copper class.

The protagonist of last Sunday’s Premier class race was relative newcomer Ohime Mag which managed to claim its first win in Malta in its second race here.  At the beginning it was newcomer Oleron Senonchois which took the lead, maintaining it until around a lap to go, when Ourasi Diams overtook the leader.

But Ohime Mag attacked strongly on the backstraight, going in front with around half a lap to go and this horse continued imposing its strong pace until the end, winning by more than four lengths from Mars, followed by Ourasi Diams and Utah Hornline.  The winner’s time was a splendid 1’14’4 per kilometre, which is not just this season’s best time to date on the 2,140m distance, but also the best time in Malta on this distance for the last 4 years and 8 months.

In the 19th March Premier class race, Bonus Kall practically led from start to finish to also comfortably claim its first win in Malta, also around 4 lengths ahead of runner-up Magic de Assigny, followed by Oncle Sam and Noble d’Ete.  Bonus Kall’s time was a good 1’15’3 per kilometre on 2,140m.

Our thoroughbreds participated in the semi-finals of the Chukkas Cup over a 1,750m distance.  Six horses participated in Sunday’s semi-final, a race dominated by Irish newcomer Rosso Med, which took an early lead and maintained it throughout the race, finishing over 6 lengths in front of Royal Fleece, followed by fellow-qualifier Four Richer.

In Tuesday’s semi-final, Henderlik was the fastest horse out of the starting gates among the 5 participants, maintaining its lead until around 300m from the end, when it was overtaken by Timolin which claimed its first seasonal win in the season’s best time to date on this distance of 1’46’90, around three lengths ahead of Henderlik, which was followed into the final by Privileged Boy.

During Sunday’s meeting, we also saw the presentation of the Driver of the Month Award for January – February 2013 to winner Cliferty Calleja, by Mr Patrick Cachia on behalf of sponsors Patrick Cellars.  Well done to Cliferty and sincere thanks to Patrick Cellars for supporting this initiative.

The Tazza l-Kbira semi-finals in days gone by – 40 and 35 years ago...

As we have done in the last years, in the run-up to this year’s Tazza l-Kbira semi-finals, we take a look back at the semi-finals that were held at the Marsa racecourse 40 and 35 years ago. 

I really enjoy mentioning the trotters that were the protagonists of those days and that form part of Maltese horse-racing history.

At the time the race distance was 1.75 miles or around 2,816m.

1973

Forty years ago, the 1972/73 season will be remembered for the postponement of many race meetings due to bad weather.  At one time racing was postponed for 11 consecutive weeks!

That season, the Tazza l-Kbira semi-finals were both held on the 29th April 1973.  The following trotters participated in the first one:  Azor, Reza de Pibrac, Ut Majeur III, Va Bien S, Uranium VIII, Viscrit, Urzy III, Quiscale III, Tournesol and Toutankhamon.

At first it was Ut Majeur III which took a good lead, with this lead being as much as six lengths at times.  However the real spectacle arrived in the final straight when Ut Majeur III lost ground and Toutankhamon and Uranium VIII challenged each other head-to-head until the end.  The former won by the slimmest of margins, with Uranium VIII finishing second, followed by fellow qualifiers Tournesol, Reza de Pibrac and Urzy III.

The second semi-final featured the following horses:  Ribercourt A, Quillaja, Trigny, Ultimatum A, Troubadour L, Renov Vit, Terborch, Turlututu, Solide Espoir and Un Reve Royal.  In this race, Ultimatum A took the lead with around 1,000m to go and maintained it comfortably till the end, notwithstanding the challenges of Un Reve Royal and Trigny.  At the post the winner was followed by the latter two horses in that order, which were joined in the final by Solide Espoir and Terborch.

1978

The 1977/78 season was marked by the severe financial crisis faced by the Malta Racing Club which was brought about by punters abandoning betting on the club’s tote and turning to illegal bookmakers.  Eventually the latter were made legal but not before racing had been stopped for some weeks, with the consequence that the Tazza l-Kbira championship did not start until April.

The two semi-finals were held on the 8th May.  The first was contested by only seven participants when two horses were scratched before the race.  Furthermore Curdin Song threw its driver and also lost all chance of qualifying, so that only six horses finished the race.

This race saw veteran Urbain L leading a compact field for most of the race.  However with around 200 metres to go, Urbain L was overtaken by various horses. Capimon took the lead but was ultimately beaten by Echassier’s strong finish.  Capimon finished runner-up, followed by Beatnick II, Urbain L and Cousin Jules which all made it to the final, after beating Bambi.

Nine participants took part in the second semi-final, with De Batilly, Cesar d’Orge and Teseide soon falling back behind the others and never having a chance of making it to the final.  Douaire took an early lead followed by Erard du Mirville, which lead was of around three lengths with around 1,000m to go.

In the last kilometre Espoir des Marais attacked the leader and they both appeared neck and neck as they entered the final straight.  However, Espoir des Marais had some difficulty as they were tackling the canteen corner and Douaire seized its chance to increase the lead and won by around a length from Espoir des Marais followed by Beguin du Mesnil.  Cornichon M and Erard du Mirville finished fourth and fifth and also made it to the final, beating 1976 Tazza l-Kbira winner Alcyon III which did not qualify.

We all know how the respective two finals finished but we will relive those memories in a couple of weeks’ time when we look back to remember the protagonists!

We wish you another exciting meeting next Sunday.