by Magnat

Two varied meetings are in the offing this weekend; first an eight race card on Friday starting at 7pm, followed by a ten race programme on Sunday starting at 2pm.

Friday’s programme is dedicated exclusively to the SECF French trotters’ championships on a 2,140m distance, whilst Sunday’s involves a mix of two great Premier class heats from the SECF championships, seven “normal” trot races over the longer 2,640m distance featuring only non-French horses and a Class A flat race on the 1,750m distance.

The first Prix de Vincennes heat (the first six from each heat make it to the semi-finals) sees horses such as former Tazza l-Kbira winners Kakisis and Mig of the Wood, Summer Championship 2012 Premier class winner Milord Barbes, horses such as Oran, Of Course Ramble, Ourasi Diams and Magic de Assigny which have already won or placed well this year, newcomer Phenix de Milo and five other extremely valid horses.

Sunday’s first Prix de Vincennes heat seems like a repeat of the Tazza l-Kbira final (but over a shorter distance) with four of the first five placed horses featuring in it, i.e. Nabab du Chatelet, Nino de Saintho, Okilaibo and Original Blue.  This race also includes twice winner this year Ohime Mag which holds the seasonal best time on 2,140m, 2012 President’s Cup winner Mont Cenis Honey, recent newcomers Olry Meslois, Orgueil de Nganda and Reves de Magalou and newcomer Quelino d’Amour.

The last Prix de Vincennes heat includes other popular horses such as among others twice winners this year Normand d’Oger and Odedjalo, horses which have placed well such as June 2012 VOB Cup winner Label Chouan, Mark de Chamant, Ouragan de Sita and Ouf Boy, recent newcomers Maiou and Orne des Olivettes and newcomer Orly Montaval.

11 year-old stallion Orly Montaval is registered with the highest handicap points for a newcomer.  It won the sum of Euro400,430 overseas, through 17 wins and numerous places.  It clocked its best time of 1’11’7 per kilometre at Vincennes in August 2010 on 2,100m in its last and most prestigious French win, in the Prix de Chateau du Loir (total prize-money of Euro65,000) beating trotters of the calibre of Onyx d’Em, Pomerol de Laumac and Power Jet.  Orly Montaval competed in various prestigious races, some of which having total prize-money of between Euro80,000 and Euro200,000, sometimes managing to place in the face of stiff opposition.  

The two Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) heats should also attract great interest, with only the first five from each heat booking a ticket for the semi-finals.

Some participants having already proved themselves this year, such as triple winner Octobre En Fete, double winners Nobleness Dubrio and Orage du Pont, race winner L’Ideal de Fersan and others, and it will be interesting to observe how these horses compare with those which previously racing in the Premier class, such as Lipouz Lesmelchen, Natif de l’Hommee, Nerval d’Ecajeul, Nuper, Oscar Indien and Orion d’Ostal among others, recent newcomers Pancho Villa, Pegase d’Ariane and Perdreau Rapide, newcomers Petit Pierricais and Quartz Clayettois, as well as all the other valid horses.

The other heats are three from the Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) and two from the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class) with four horses qualifying from each of them.  These are also expected to be extremely balanced and exciting races.  Qualou Chouan, Quaroldo, Quartz de Glyere, Quasar de Subligny and Quitus Rapide are registered to debut in the Silver class heats.

Sunday’s “normal” trot races on the longer 2,640m distance involve two races for each of the Gold, Silver and Copper classes and one for the Bronze class.  Swedish trotters Chippen Bob and Mind Your Head are expected to debut in the Gold class and Belgian Verdi du Bosquet in the Bronze class – thus this weekend we should exceed the 100 newcomer mark so far this season.
 
The Class A flat race over the 1,750m distance features six interesting thoroughbreds hailing from Germany, Ireland and the USA.  Chukkas Cup winner Timolin, recent winner Diamante Grande, 2011 Mediterranean Derby winner Buttermilk, Darielli and Ollie Fliptrik which all placed well earlier this year and recent newcomer Alto Monte should provide a nice challenge even in this discipline.

Last Sunday, the start of the French trotters’ championships already provided us spectactular races, with qualifiers involving both favourites and outsiders.  More entertaining races are in the offing this weekend, with the added attraction of the Premier class horses providing spectators with another occasion to view some of Malta’s best trotters duelling between them to continue advancing in this prestigious competition.

Last Meeting

Sunday’s “normal” Premier class race on the 2,640m distance was characertised by the changes that took place in front.  The early stages saw different horses taking the lead, such as Skip Dimanche, Vanmaker Limburgia and Veikko Hornline.  The latter took over after around 800m followed by Arnie Sensation which took its place around 1,200m to go.

With under half a lap remaining, T.X. Zoogood went four wide to start a strong attack, reaching and overtaking the race leader in the middle of the final straight and claiming its first win in Malta in its second race here in 1’16’9 per kilometre.  It was two and a half lengths ahead of Sultan November, followed by Poppes Fighter and Pro Shop in that order.

The heats from the SECF French trotters’ championships were all held over the shorter 2,140m distance.

In the first Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) heat, Oviedo du Sam took an early lead, which it only maintained for a few hundred metres as it was overtaken by Pepone du Castelet with around a mile to go.  

From then on, Pepone du Castelet controlled the race and despite a good attack by Phenix de la Roque in the last half lap, the former continued to impose its rhythm, and detached itself comfortably in the final straight to claim its third seasonal win in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre, three lengths ahead of Phenix de la Roque, followed by other qualifiers Noble d’Ete, Niky du Donjon and Natif de Salvi.

The second Prix d’Enghien heat resulted in the first win in Malta for Nitesco d’Antony, which took the lead from Podium with around 1,250m to go.  Nitesco d’Antony managed to preserve this lead successfully from the attack of no less than three horses in the final straight, to finish one length ahead of Ouest du Vivier which was disqualified for hooking, with newcomer Prince Gaillard thus finishing runner-up, followed by Podium, L’As de Seuilly and Paradis du Lupin all making it to the semi-finals.  The winner’s time was 1’17’1 per kilometre. 

The first Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) heat was dominated by Quingen de Bussy which took the lead after less than 500m from the start, kept its pace until the start of the last half lap, when it accelerated impressively to be undisburbed throughout the final straight, managing to record its fourth seasonal win by some five lengths in 1’17’4 per kilometre, from the other qualifiers Panda des Fleches, Ogor and Orgeat.  

Onwards Star was in front for most of the second Prix de Cabourg heat.  However newcomer Quozak Prior launched its attack around 800m from the end soon going head-to-head with the race leader, but Onwards Star appeared to resist well, remaining in front until the last bend before the final straight.  At that stage, Quozak Prior made its second attack, this time going in front with around 200m to the finish post and finishing in 1’18’4 per kilometre, a length ahead of Ouraki du Drochon, followed by Oscar de Racques and Man Quick, all making it to the semi-finals.

The story of the third Prix de Cabourg heat was similar to that of the first one, when Obiscus Del Fa took an early lead and maintained it throughout.  Around 800m from the end, it even accelerated further to detach itself from the other horses, dominating the final straight to claim its second consecutive and seasonal win by over four lengths from fellow qualifiers Que Je T’Aime Rush, Partisan de Bouere and Quick Et Rare, in a good time of 1’16’9 per kilometre.

The other races were reserved for Bronze class horses. 

The three Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer heats were won by Marchallah (the other qualifiers were Navaroso de Khepri, Noli de Marray and Lorenz de Noyelles) and Mezio Josselyn (with Lucky d’Hercla, Napol de Mai and Magnum also making it to the semi-finals), both at their first seasonal win, as well as Quindici at its second consecutive and third seasonal win, followed by fellow qualifiers Lys de l’Oasis, Obscur de Busset and Nerlo Villetot. 

The “normal” Bronze class race on 2,640m resulted in a triumph for Royal Qui also at its first seasonal win.

During this meeting, as was fitting, the Malta Racing Club also commemorated in a dignified manner driver Michael Zammit who unfortunately lost his life in an accident last week.   Once again we convey our sincere condolences to his relatives and loved ones.

Doping test results

Recently the Malta Racing Club received four further doping test results. Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of Nabab du Chatelet, Nino de Saintho, Okilaibo and Original Blue the result of which doping tests relative to their respective placing in the Tazza l-Kbira Final on the 14th April showed that they were all clean from prohibited substances.

HOADA Nominations

A call for nominations has been issued for owners, drivers and jockeys (from both trot and flat racing) who are interested in contesting the Horse Owners and Drivers Association (HOADA) election.  This association represents owners, drivers and jockeys within the Malta Racing Club. 

The three candidates obtaining most votes in this election will be the owners and drivers/jockeys’ representatives on the Malta Racing Club Council.  Every application needs to be submitted at the MRC offices during office hours and must include the names of the individuals nominating and seconding the particular candidate.  Candidates as well as all individuals making or seconding a nomination must be members of the Malta Racing Club.

Trot Maiden Race

In this weekend’s registration, the Malta Racing Club is introducing another innovation, i.e. a maiden race involving trotters which have raced at least three times in Malta but never won as yet.  On this occasion the race will be reserved for Silver class horses; other classes will get their chance in future registrations.  Should more than 16 trotters register for this race, those with the lowest MRC handicap points would be selected.

Thirty years ago – The introduction of the photo-finish

Two or more horses are challenging each other head-to-head at full speed in the final straight.  At the finishing post nothing seems to divide them at that crucial moment.  Afterwards, spectactors argue about which was the first horse in.  Some say that it was the one close to the rails whilst others seem sure that it was the one on the outside?  Who is right?

Today, we take it for granted. Whilst discussing the result, we know that this doubt is going to last only a few minutes, because a small photographic machine will identify the winner through a precise photo even if the difference between them was a mere nose!  That machine ... the photo-finish!

But it was not always like that.  Before its introduction the stewards also had the unenviable task of having to take a decision on this matter on the basis of their vision.  And I still recall the massive arguments that we used to have regularly in those times on whether the stewards were right or otherwise.  And sometimes, tempers would flare ending up in unpleasant fights and incidents!

It’s been 30 years since the introduction of the photo-finish at the Marsa racecourse!  Since then, the machine has been upgraded, but the concept has remained the same.

On Saturday 26th March 1983, The Times reported that earlier that week, Mr Paddy Stubbs, Chariman of the Management Council and Senior Steward had addressed a Press Conference at which apart from the launching of the Janatha Stubbs Stakes final for that year, “it was also made known that the long awaited photo finishing and electronic timing equipment had finally been installed and would be officially used in the very near future, while unofficially it will be making its maiden voyage during tomorrow’s meeting ... ”.

Indeed, officially or unofficially, the photo-finish was inaugurated on Sunday 27th March 1983.  The next day, The Times reported this event hailing this to be a “successful debut of the photo finishing equipment which will finally put an end to all finishing line problems.”  The Times’ correspondent had also suggested that horses’ race numbers should be placed on their heads so as to make even easier the photo finish judges’ task, something that did not prove necessary with the benefit of hindsight.

The first photo-finish picture featured Antoine D winning ahead of Erard du Mirville in a Class H race, the first on that programme.  Do you remember those horses?

Not that this development put an end to all finish post problems, however. One instance I remember is what happened in the 9th race (Class A) on the programme of the 4th November 1990, when although Neroli de Vaure appeared reaching the finish line first, the Stewards declared it to be runner-up. 

This situation was addressed by the Malta Racing Club through the ex gratia payment of the winner’s prize-money to Neroli de Vaure’s owners and this horse’s promotion to the class A1 as well as the launching of a police investigation.

And sometimes even the photo-finish itself cannot detach two finishers as happened this year in the 3rd March meeting when Soren Sufflor and Max Galbe finished joint runners-up and in the 17th March meeting when Pilote de Nganda and Geronimos Cadillac finished jointly in fourth place. 

But at least when things like this happen, the photo-finish gives one and all the opportunity of checking the finishing position in the most transparent manner.  Today, the photo-finish photos are even posted on the Malta Racing Club website, for the general public’s open access.

So, it’s a case of a 30 year old innovation which is still going strong.  The Isard du Pont – Jouteur du Clos 1982 – 83 season was memorable for more than one reason; the introduction of the photo-finish is certainly not the least of them!

Although let’s be frank: when one’s horse is decreed the winner by the photo-finish we applaud this machine, but when the win goes to the other horse, some may get nostalgic for the time before its introduction :)

We wish you another two great meetings this weekend.