by Magnat
Two race meetings will held at the Marsa racetrack this weekend; the first on Friday starting at 7pm and then on Sunday, with the first race being scheduled for 1.30pm. The first meeting includes nine races with Sunday’s containing ten races.
Flat racing takes centre stage this weekend with the Mediterranean Derby, over the 1,750m distance, the most important race of the thoroughbred racing season, a cup with a prestigious history with its first edition being held way back in 1889.
Seven horses had been registered for this race, but unfortunately two were scratched, with this honour now being contested by five well-known horses aged between 6 and 9 years, hailing from Germany, Ireland and the USA, being:
1. 9 year old US gelding Cheeky Jack, winner of seven (and seven places) out of its 15 races in Malta (including last year’s Coronation Cup);
2. 7 year old US gelding Kimberley Downs, winner of seven (and one place) out its 10 races in Malta and returning among us after a year of successful racing in France and Belgium;
3. 6 year old German stallion Timolin, winner of six (and five places) out of its 11 races in Malta (including this year’s Chukkas Cup);
4. 8 year old US gelding Ollie Fliptrik, winner of four (and eleven places) out of its 23 races in Malta;
5. 6 year old Irish stallion Buttermilk, winner of two (and seven places) of its 17 races in Malta (including the 2011 Mediterranean Derby).
We wish all the participants a great race and may the most deserving horse carve its name on this most prestigious cup.
Some great racing is also expected in Friday’s two Prix de Vincennes semi-finals reserved for French Premier class trotters over the 2,140m distance, each containing nine participants.
The first semi-final features two Tazza l-Kbira winners, Mig of the Wood and Nabab du Chatelet, Ohime Mag winning twice this season and having this year’s best time on the distance, Okilaibo winner of its last race, as well as the other quality horses Olry Meslois, Mark de Chamant, Olympien Major, Ourasi Diams and Magic de Assigny, with all horses having won Euro186,550 or more during their French career.
The second one has an equally impressive list of participants including three time winner Odedjalo, twice winner Oran, last year’s President’s Cup winner (and previous Prix de Vincennes winner) Mont Cenis Honey, last year June VOB Cup winner Label Chouan and exciting current year imports Orly Montaval, Of Course Ramble, Phenix de Milo, Orne des Olivettes and Quelino d’Amour, all having winnings of Euro195,162 or more overseas.
Undoubtedly two extremely balanced and uncertain semi-finals!
Also on the 2,140m distance, Friday’s meeting features two semi-finals reserved for French Copper class horses (Prix de Caen) with eight participants in each. Although naturally not as renowned as horses from more senior classes, these horses are all capable of rising to the occasion and some keen semi-finals are anticipated.
Curiously, these semi-finals include one of Malta’s youngest trotters, Ugo de Malte (just five years old), and one of Malta’s oldest horses Ideal de Suce (seventeen years old).
All participants in the first semi-final are seeking their first seasonal win, being Monte Cinto Mag, Qualaudry, One Fouteau, Marathon d’Isques, Mirage d’Ete, Minou de Perdriat, Ugo de Malte and Larissa du Breil.
Only Ideal de Suce has won this year among the participants in the second semi-final, with the other horses being: Noble Candeen, Mistral du Chene, Neron Pierji, Natif de Monsures, Nylan de Mouloire, Ksar and Parce Que.
The other races in Sunday’s meeting are “normal” races for the Copper, Bronze, Silver and Gold classes.
Special attention will be given to the three Gold class races featuring various in-form horses such as Hulot (twice winner and runner-up in its last three outings), Blizzard AD which won and placed second in its last two outings, Cal Win coming from a win and a third place, Power Night Star and Xray Hornline each having a good win in its penultimate race and various horses coming from good places recently.
Two French newcomers, i.e. Pitchpin des Bois and Prince The Best are scheduled to debut in the Gold class, with Swedes East Spartacus and Via Rapido making their debut in the Silver class and in the Bronze class respectively.
But the Mediterranean Derby takes pride of place this weekend. The number of participants is somewhat of a disappointment but their quality is undisputed and a keen race is anticipated. The Prix de Vincennes semi-finals are equally awaited with the 18 competitors being top-notch horses with a great reputation, making all of them deserving of a place in the final ... but with only 10 being in a position to make it. Don’t miss the spectacle!
Last Meeting
The last meeting consisted of three semi-finals from the Sette Giugno Cup reserved for Premier class trotters of all nationalities and two semi-finals from each of the Prix d’Enghien (Gold class), Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) and Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class) from the SECF championship reserved for French trotters, all over the short 2,140m distance.
A number of the Sette Giugno Cup and Prix d’Enghien semi-finals were characterised by horses which took an early lead and maintained it till the end.
Indeed, in the first Sette Giugno Cup semi-final, Ofackevo went in front after just around 650m, dictated the pace and even increased speed in the last half lap as Sultan November launched its attack. These two horses went head-to-head as they entered the final straight but Ofackevo was the stronger and maintained its lead till the end, winning its first race in Malta by about one and a half lengths from the same Sultan November with third placed Wiss Night Hawk also making it to the final. Absolut Spender finished fourth. The race time was 1’16’1 per kilometre.
Simb Mark was the first to take the lead in the second semi-final, but it was soon substituted by Original Blue which in turn was overtaken after just around 600m from the start by Orcas Bac, with Original Blue continuing to follow in second place. The race kept this pattern until the last half lap at which stage Simb Mark advanced to challenge the race leader.
However the real drama took place mid-way through the final straight when Nino de Saintho, which had remained in the middle of the pack throughout the race, produced an impressive sprint on the outer lanes which in a matter of seconds took it to the front to register its third seasonal win in 1’15’3 per kilometre, half a length before qualifiers Orcas Bac and Simb Mark. Original Blue finished fourth.
The last semi-final had no story as newcomer Lage dominated it with an incredible performance which saw it leading after just 300m (followed for most of the distance by Argus Hanover) increasing its pace further in the last half lap, keeping in front till the end and winning by no less than about four lengths from runner-up Belafonte in the meeting’s best time of 1’15’1 per kilometre. The other qualifier was Argus Hanover with Give To Get finishing fourth.
Noble d’Ete went in front after just around 400m from the start of the first Prix d’Enghien semi-final, maintaining for most of the race a slight lead from the other participants, particularly Podium and L’Ideal de Fersan. In the final straight Orion du Vaumicel advanced strongly to attack the race leader, but Noble d’Ete responded in kind with a strong sprint to notch its first seasonal win (1’16’5 per kilometre) by nearly two lengths from the same Orion du Vaumicel, followed by Prince Gaillard, Orage du Pont and Natif de Salvi, which all made it to the final.
Pepone du Castelet led from start to finish in the second Prix d’Enghien semi-final followed for most of the distance by Quartz Clayettois. In the last half lap Phenix de la Roque came on the outer lanes and attacked courageously even arriving close to Pepone du Castelet, but the latter had the strength to sprint the last 300m and to comfortably notch its second consecutive and fourth seasonal win in a time of 1’16’6 per kilometre, nearly 3 lengths ahead of Phenix de la Roque, with Niky du Donjon, Nitesco d’Antony and Oscar Indien being the last horses to make it to the Prix d’Enghien final.
In the first Prix de Cabourg semi-final it was Okir de Leau which took an early lead which it maintained until around 500m from the end, when it could do nothing to resist Quaroldo’s attack, with the latter going in front and sprinting well throughout the final straight to claim its first win in Malta in 1’16’7 per kilometre, more than two lengths ahead of Quozak Prior, with Panda des Fleches, Man Quick and Quick Et Rare all making it to the final in that order.
Obiscus del Fa took an early lead in the second semi-final followed closely by Marco Barbes. However with around 900m from the end, the race leader changed pace and was disqualified, and Marco Barbes took over at the front. Despite attacks from the other participants this horse increased its pace further in the last 500m to notch its second consecutive and seasonal win about a length ahead of fellow qualifiers Que Je T’Aime Rush, Passons d’Ortige, Ostheo d’Havetot and Pirate d’Urzy, in a time of 1’17’9 per kilometre.
The Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer semi-finals saw Quindici’s third consecutive and fourth seasonal win in a time of 1’16’8 per kilometre and Noli de Marray’s second seasonal win in 1’17’9 per kilometre.
Overseas training for our drivers
A ceremony for the awarding of contracts to successful applicants under the Leonardo da Vinci mobility scheme was held today Friday 31st May, at the agency for European Union Programmes in Santa Venera. The Malta Racing Club was successful in obtaining funds from the EU amounting to Euro10,165 which will be used to send selected Maltese drivers to carry out a specialised course in Sweden.
This course will help these drivers to improve their capabilities in both the theoretical as well as the practical aspects of horse driving and would result in certification being awarded to successful drivers.
Among other obligations, the selected drivers who would be successful in obtaining this certification, would be obliged to deliver courses for Maltese drivers and jockeys here in Malta in collaboration with the Malta Racing Club.
The Mediterranean Derby ... 50 years ago
With its first edition being held no less than 124 years ago, the Mediterranean Derby has a brilliant history of extremes, from years in which it was characterised by some fantastic racing carried out by high quality thoroughbreds to other years in which it was not even organised.
Coincidentally, recently I came across the 13th February 1971 (over 42 years ago) edition of The Times of Malta which reported tersely that “the Stewards have decided that there will be no Mediterranean Derby Race this season as there are not enough First Class horses to compete.” There were various other years in which this race was not held for one reason or another.
This year we have a final composed of just five horses but all being thoroubreds of quality.
But this week I decided to take a look at the edition of this race held 50 years ago, in the Mediterranean Derby of the 23rd March 1963 hailed by The Times of Malta as “one of the most exciting races one could hope or wish for”. At the time the race used to be held on the mile distance (1,609m) – the race distance has not changed much since then with the current being 1,750m.
Confirmation of how much this race was considered as an event of national importance at the time is highlighted by the fact that the Governor himself, Sir Maurice Dorman, attended that race meeting and by the bumper crowd present at the racetrack, hailed as “probably a record for the Marsa”.
At the beginning it was Greek Branch which took an early lead, followed by Comore, Raywell, Bull Ring and TWA in that order. By mid-race Greek Branch had even managed to increase its lead to three lengths but eventually it started to tire out and before the entry into final straight Comore, the previous year’s runner-up, had overtaken it and gone in front.
But this horse’s opportunity to go one step better than the previous year was shattered in a dramatic fashion as TWA, which until that time was languishing in one of the last places, produced an impressive burst of speed, when its jockey Ninu Cassar noticed a gap though which he guided its charge.
In a matter of seconds TWA was challenging Comore along the final straight with the latter holding the lead by the skin of its teeth! But Comore could do nothing more as TWA reached it with only around 10 yards (just under 100m) to go and at the finishing post the latter had managed to go ahead by just a head!
Thus TWA had managed to repeat its 1961 feat when it had won the Mediterranean Derby for the first time, but this time it had done so in the most dramatic of fashions, managing to go from the end of the field to the front within a matter of two furlongs (around 400m). Its time was an impressive 1min 37 sec, which would be a respectable time even today.
Thus Comore finished runner-up for the second year running, followed by Greek Branch, Raywell and Bull Ring in that order.
The winner’s jockey Mr Ninu Cassar was quoted by The Times of Malta as stating that “TWA is a great horse. As soon as I found the opening, he responded magnificently and I knew I could just make it.” Owner Mr A Gambin added that “Being last did not worry me. I knew that TWA’s speed and stamina over the last two furlongs would prove the deciding factor.”
How I like these short comments taken from owners and jockeys/ drivers! When we read them years later, they also give us a historic outlook. May our media continue to capture these great moments and the protagonists’ thoughts and emotions!
And now fast forward to 50 years later and back to the present! May Sunday’s Mediterranean Derby be as exciting and fast as that of 50 years ago so as to provide racegoers and enthusiasts with a great spectacle!
We wish you another two great meetings this weekend.
