by Magnat
Two race meetings will be held this weekend; starting with an eight race card on Friday at 6.30pm, followed by a seven race card on Sunday at 2pm.
The Big Day is with us once again. The race of the year awaits us. The legendary Dragonara Casino Brasserie Tazza l-Kbira final with its 80 year history (the first edition was held in 1934) will be held next Sunday on a 2,640m distance!
After claiming a place in Maltese horse-racing history the finalists will try to do the last – but most difficult – jump to glory, by attempting to win this glorious event.
We have twelve finalists (11 geldings and 1 stallion) aged between 9 and 15 years and hailing from Finland, France and Sweden. All are racing in the Premier class. The full list is:
1. Count of Life (Claudio Refalo), Finnish 14 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 41 places since it made its local debut in April 2007 and has a best time in Malta of 1’14’5 per kilometre on 1,640m ( (best time on 2,640m, 1’15’4 per kilometre);
2. Nino de Saintho (Cliferty Calleja), French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro263,840 and a best time of 1’12’4 per kilometre. It has 4 wins and a place from its 10 races in Malta with a best time here of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m (best time on 2,640m, 1’16’3 per kilometre);
3. Nitesco d’Antony (David Ellul), French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro182,730 and a best time of 1’15’0 per kilometre. It has 6 places from its 12 races in Malta with a best time here of 1’14’3 per kilometre on 1,640m (best time on 2,640m, 1’15’7 per kilometre);
4. Mig of the Wood (Rodney Gatt), French 13 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro432,710 and a best time of 1’12’2 per kilometre. It has 4 wins (including the December 2011 Prix de Vincennes and the Dragonara Tazza l-Kbira 2012) and 6 places from its 14 races in Malta with a best time locally of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,640m;
5. Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia), French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro237,460 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. It has been runner-up in both its races in Malta so far, with a best time here of 1’15’5 per kilometre on 2,640m;
6. Arnie Sensation (Carmelo Farrugia), Swedish 13 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,485,468 and a best time of 1’12’0 per kilometre. It has 13 wins (including the MRC Premier Trot, the VOB Cup and the Premier class Summer Championship, all in June-July 2009, and the Trofeo del Mediterreaneo Consolation Final 2010) and 24 places since it made its local debut in March 2009 with a best time here of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m (best time on 2,640m, 1’15’5 per kilometre);
7. Kakisis (Johann Axisa), French 15 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro554,696 and a best time of 1’13’0 per kilometre. It won 12 times (including the Dragonara Autumn Championship 2010, the Emirates Tazza l-Kbira 2011 and the December 2012 VOB Cup) and placed another 20 times since it made its local debut in May 2009, having a best time here of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,640m;
8. Poppes Fighter (Francis Cassar), Swedish 12 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK973,600 and a best time of 1’12’8 per kilometre. It gained 2 places from its 6 races in Malta, with a best time of 1’15’6 per kilometre on 2,640m;
9. Original Blue (Christopher Cassar), French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro213,230 and a best time of 1’14’1 per kilometre. It has a win and a place in its two races in Malta so far, with a best time here of 1’16’1 per kilometre on 2,640m;
10. Odedjalo (Noel Baldacchino), French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro255,650 and a best time of 1’13’7 per kilometre. It has won twice and placed another two times from its four outings in Malta so far, with a best time here of 1’15’4 per kilometre on 2,640m;
11. Nabab du Chatelet (Charles Camilleri), French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro205,198 and a best time of 1’13’9 per kilometre. It has won seven times (including the December 2012 Prix de Vincennes) and placed another 4 times from its 20 races to date, with a best time among us of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,640m;
12. Quebec (Mark Mifsud), French 9 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro131,900 and a best time of 1’13’9 per kilometre. It has won once and gained 8 places in its 12 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’1 per kilometre on 1,640m (best time on 2,640m, 1’16’2 per kilometre).
With 54 wins (including 11 championships) and no less than 117 places between them, and all except one having their best time in Malta of 1’15’6 per kilometre or better, the great class of these horses is undisputed!
For four of them, this will not be their first Tazza l-Kbira final. For Kakisis (after its runner-up position in 2010 and its win in 2011) and Arnie Sensation (6th place in 2009 and disqualified last year), this will be their third Tazza l-Kbira final, whilst it will be the second Tazza l-Kbira final for each of Mig of the Wood (last year’s winner) and Nabab du Chatelet (fifth place last year).
As is to be expected, the race will be surrounded by some attractive events prepared by the Malta Racing Club. Apart from the other races, before the final the racecourse will host a parade of Vintage Cars and Motorcycles, presentations to participating owners/drivers and a parade of competing horses (led by the legendary In Vitro du Bourg, winner of the 2010 edition), plus a spectacular presentation after the final.
This is however not the only final this weekend because during Friday’s meeting, we also have two Condition Race finals on a 2,140m distance.
That for the Bronze class features 10 in-form trotters aged between 7 and 17 years, being: Marchallah, Icare de Jemma, Quingen de Bussy, Pittacos, Zeta Jones A, Navaroso de Khepri, Narcus du Roc, Niko de Chamant, Noli de Marray and One Fouteau.
Hailing from France and the Netherlands these horses have already won 8 times between them in the first three months of the season with two wins for each of Quingen de Bussy and Pittacos, and one win each for Zeta Jones A, Navaroso de Khepri, Niko de Chamant and Noli de Marray.
The equally interesting Copper class final includes the following participants: Ballad Ribb, Pronto du Lys, Royal Qui, Andri Boko, Loulou de la Rose, Zmaj Boko, Esmeralda Run, Minou de Perdriat, Jibilo du Terme, Pine Wood Harry, Ideal de Suce and Monticello.
Trotters aged between 5 and 17 years originating in France, Sweden and the Netherlands. They have won 5 times between them this year so far, two wins for Loulou de la Rose, one for Royal Qui, another for Andri Boko and another for Esmeralda Run.
We also have an interesting class A flat race over the sprint 1,250m distance with three newcomers, i.e. Irish stallion Alca Driver, Irish mare Enthrall and British mare Pelle di Luna together with 2012 Coronation Cup winner Cheeky Jack returning after a three and a half month rest. It will be interesting to see whether the newcomers will outsmart the seasoned participant or vice versa.
Friday’s other attraction is a normal Premier class race on a 2,640m distance with a field of 15 participants, some of which have either won or placed well in their last couple of outings, e.g. Nicos de Peneme, Sultan November and Noble d’Ete. Swedes Orcas Bac and Absolut Spender are also registered to debut in this race.
The other newcomers this weekend are Sjohultets Tigra (SE) and Ywema’s Pine (NL) in the Bronze class and French trotters Quezario, Quintin Malin and Quipo du Tronquay in the Silver class.
But naturally, the main attraction remains the Tazza l-Kbira final. After all the deserved presentations of this race in various sections of the media, the crowd present at the racecourse will go silent at the start of the race. Centre-stage will be left to the protagonists, participating horses and drivers ... all looking to win the coveted prize, together with a higher place in Maltese horse-racing and sports history.
Don’t miss this spectacle!
Last Meeting
We had three major attractions in last Sunday’s meeting, three trot Condition Race finals, a flat racing final and a normal Premier class race.
In the main Condition Race final, that for the Gold class, Pepone du Castelet driven by Charles Camilleri came strongly from the outside lanes in the last half lap and took a decisive lead which it maintained comfortably throughout the final straight to claim its second win in Malta by around 2 and a half lengths from Charm Hammering followed closely by Skars Hanna. Orage du Pont finished in fourth place. The winner’s time was 1’16’4 per kilometre on the 2,140m distance (the distance of these Condition Race finals).
An entertaining challenge between Orio de Marancourt, Ostheo d’Havetot, Cross Country F.C. and Wonderofyou in the final straight characterised the first Silver class Condition Race final. Orio de Marancourt driven by France Cassar was the strongest of the lot to claim its first seasonal win by nearly one and a half lengths from Ostheo d’Havetot, followed closely by Cross Country F.C. and Wonderofyou in that order. The winner’s time was 1’16’8 per kilometre.
Octobre En Fete confirmed its current excellent form claiming its third consecutive and seasonal win in the second Silver class Condition Race final, after successfully resisting Pilote de Nganda’s determined challenge throughout the final straight. Octobre En Fete driven by Cliferty Calleja ultimately won by half a length in a time of 1’16’9 per kilometre. Pilote de Nganda was runner-up, followed by Okir de Leau and Ouragan de Crouay.
In the Chukkas Cup final for thoroughbreds, Privileged Boy took a small early lead from Timolin and Henderlik. However with around half a lap to go, Timolin (mounted by Ramon Grima) overtook the race leader and maintained its strong pace until the end, to claim its second consecutive and seasonal win and win this honour by nearly three lengths from Henderlik, followed by Privileged Boy in a total time of 1’49’56 on a 1,750m distance.
The remaining trot races were over the longer 2,640m distance.
Mont Cenis Honey was in the lead for long stretches in the normal Premier class race but Fire attacked strongly at the start of the last half lap and from then on there was no stopping this horse from taking its second seasonal win around one and a half lengths from Label Chouan closely followed by Shakira Trot, with Normand d’Oger finishing fourth. The winner’s time was a good 1’15’9 per kilometre.
After nearly four months of absence Nagano Phedo celebrated its return to racing in style with a strong sprint in the final straight of the normal Gold class race, which led it to a comfortable first seasonal win and promotion to the Premier class beating runner-up Carnegie Hall by around two lengths in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre. Blizzard AD and Reado November finished behind the first two in that order.
In the other races Orgeat won the Bronze class race by just a nose in the closest finish of the day to claim its first win in over a year, whilst Lemon Solo claimed its first win in Malta after three years of racing here, in the Copper class.
The Tazza l-Kbira final in days gone by – 40 and 35 years ago ...
The two finals we are featuring this year were held rather late in the season, i.e. on the 13th May 1973 and 2nd June 1978.
1973
In 1973, the qualifiers were Toutankhamon, Uranium VIII, Tournesol, Reza de Pibrac, Urzy III, Ultimatum A, Un Reve Royal, Trigny, Terborch and Solide Espoir. However, Uranium VIII was scratched as a sign of bereavement after the death of its owner and driver Mr Salvu Mangion which had occurred a few days before the final, with the final thus being contested by the remaining nine horses.
Ultimatum A, Trigny and Terborch were among the early front runners, but whilst the former two remained among the leaders, Terborch fell back as the race progressed. Around the final bend, no less than five horses were in a line at the front, i.e. Ultimatum A, Un Reve Royal, Toutankhamon, Urzy III and Trigny, followed by Reza de Pibrac.
It soon became a two-horse race between Un Reve Royal and Toutankhamon but the former was clearly the stronger and ultimately emerged winner by over two lengths. Toutankhamon preserved its runner-up position after resisting Trigny’s determined challenge by just half a length.
Un Reve Royal was driven by a young driver by the name of France Cassar. Forty years later and a bit older, France will participate once again in this year’s Tazza l-Kbira final.
1978
The participants in the 1978 final were Echassier, Capimon, Beatnick II, Urbain L, Cousin Jules, Douaire, Espoir des Marais, Beguin du Mesnil, Cornichon M and Erard du Mirville.
Interestingly, three French drivers were brought to Malta to drive on this occasion, i.e. C. Bottoni on Erard du Mirville, P. Lecoeur on Beguin du Mesnil and O. Monnier on Espoir des Marais.
Cousin Jules had a bad start and was never in the race. On the other hand, Douaire, Beguin du Mesnil and Capimon took an early lead. Espoir des Marais and Erard du Mirville soon joined the leaders.
By mid-race Douaire was in front followed by Espoir des Marais, which was in turn followed by Erard du Mirville, Beguin du Mesnil and Capimon. However as Espoir des Marais continued its attack on the leader it broke and forfeited all its chances.
As the horses approached the final straight, Douaire was still in the lead but it was challenged strongly all throughout the final straight by Beguin du Mesnil. However, driven by Mr A. Briffa (Junior), it was Douaire’s day and it managed to hold on by just a neck to win the coveted Cup.
Beguin du Mesnil was runner-up and Erard du Mirville third, with two of the French drivers thus managing a place.
It is interesting to note that the winner’s prize-money amounted to Lm400 (equivalent to Euro932 but which were certainly more meaningful 35 years ago) and also The Times’ correspondent’s comment that Douaire was “the horse nobody really wanted when he was first imported into Malta”.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that coincidentally the translation into English of the name of the 1973 winner Un Reve Royal is “A Royal Dream”. Does’nt it remind you of a French horse which is a recent winner of the Prix d’Amerique?
We wish you two great meetings this weekend.
