by Magnat
Two race meetings will held at the Marsa racetrack this weekend; the first on Friday (Sette Giugno public holiday) starting at 4.30pm and then on Sunday, with the first race being scheduled for 1.30pm. Each meeting contains 9 races, all reserved for trotters over a 2,140m distance.
There are two major attractions this weekend, i.e. the brilliant Sette Giugno Cup final open for Premier class trotters of any nationality and five great finals from the French trotters’ championships sponsored by the French trotters association, the SECF.
Undoubtedly the highlight of Friday’s meeting is the Sette Giugno Cup final with horses originating in four countries, i.e. France, Germany, Sweden and the USA.
All participants are geldings and their age varies between 7 and 12 years. The full field is as follows:
1. Lage, Swedish 10 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,299, 990 and a best time of 1’11’2 per kilometre. It holds one win from its only race in Malta with a time of 1’15’1 per kilometre on 2,140m.
2. Simb Mark, Swedish 9 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK704,900 and a best time of 1’12’0 per kilometre. It has 2 wins and 4 places from its 11 races in Malta and a best time here of 1’15’5 per kilometre on 2,140m.
3. Sultan November, German 9 year, with overseas winnings of SEK582,179 and a best time of 1’11’8 per kilometre. It won twice and placed seven times in its 14 races in Malta and has a best local time of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m.
4. Wiss Night Hawk, Swedish 12 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,483,991 and a best time of 1’13’4 per kilometre. It won twice (including last year’s Skyparks Swedish trotters’ Premier class championship) and placed another nine times in its 23 races in Malta and has a best time here of 1’15’1 per kilometre on 2,140m.
5. Argus Hanover, US 7 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK494,015 and a best time of 1’11’9 per kilometre. It won 4 times (including this year’s Assikura A championship) and placed another 4 times in its 12 races in Malta, having a best local time of 1’14’6 per kilometre on 2,140m.
6. Belafonte, Swedish 11 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK904,000 and a best time of 1’13’5 per kilometre. It won twice and placed another 12 times since it made its debut among us in April 2011, with a best local time of 1’14’5 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’15’5 per kilometre – twice – on 2,140m).
7. Nino de Saintho, French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro263,840 and a best time of 1’12’4 per kilometre. It won 5 times and placed twice (including being runner-up in this year’s Tazza l-Kbira final) in its 13 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m.
8. Orcas Bac, Swedish 9 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK627,750 and a best time of 1’13’6 per kilometre. It won once and placed another time in its 4 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’4 per kilometre on 2,140m.
9. Ofackevo, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro252,765 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. It won once and placed twice in its 6 races in Malta, with a best local time of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,140m.
With a tally of 20 wins between these horses and all of which having a best time of 1’15’5 per kilometre or better in their racing career in Malta, a hard-fought out race (having a total prize-money of Euro2,450) is anticipated, with an uncertain outcome.
Then the main attraction of Sunday’s meeting is naturally the Prix de Vincennes final for Premier class French trotters with a field of 7 geldings and 2 stallions aged between 9 and 14 years, being:
1. Orly Montaval, 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro400,430 and a best time of 1’11’7 per kilometre. It has not yet won nor placed in its 2 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’16’5 per kilometre on 2,140m.
2. Mark de Chamant, 13 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro305,951 and a best time of 1’12’1 per kilometre. Although it has not yet won, it placed 13 times in its 20 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’14’8 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’15’7 per kilometre – three times – on 2,140m).
3. Olympien Major, 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro226,173 and a best time of 1’13’8 per kilometre. It placed 4 times in its 9 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’3 per kilometre on 2,140m.
4. Orne des Olivettes, 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro237,710 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. It placed twice in its 4 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’8 per kilometre on 2,140m.
5. Mig of the Wood, 13 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro432,710 and a best time of 1’12’2 per kilometre. It won 5 times (including the December 2011 Prix de Vincennes and the 2012 Tazza l-Kbira) and placed another 8 times in its 17 races in Malta with a best time here of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,640m (1’15’6 per kilometre on 2,140m).
6. Label Chouan, 14 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro222,716 and a best time of 1’13’8 per kilometre. It won 9 times (including the December 2011 Prix de Cabourg and the June 2012 VOB Cup) and placed another 14 times since its debut in Malta in February 2010, with a best time in Malta of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m.
7. Okilaibo, 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro237,460 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. It has a win and 5 places in its 6 races in Malta, with a best time among us of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m.
8. Quelino d’Amour, 9 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro195,162 and a best time of 1’12’5 per kilometre. It placed once in its 2 races in Malta, with a best time of 1’16’9 per kilometre on 2,140m.
9. Nabab du Chatelet, 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro205,198 and a best time of 1’13’9 per kilometre. It has won 8 times (including the December 2012 Prix de Vincennes and the Tazza l-Kbira 2013) and placed 6 times in its 24 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’3 per kilometre on 2,640m (1’15’8 per kilometre on 2,140m).
With 23 wins (including 6 championships) between them and with seven of them having a best time of 1’15’8 per kilometre or better, these horses involve a mix of seasoned campaingers among us and relative newcomers, guaranteeing a truly hard-fought race with handsome prize-money (Euro4,150 in total).
That of the Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) is another great final, with ten horses aged between 10 and 12 years, winners of no less than 11 races between them this year, together with 25 places, and with all finalists having a best time this year of 1’16’9 per kilometre or better.
These are Niky du Donjon, Natif de Salvi, Nitesco d’Antony, Orion du Vaumicel, Oscar Indien, Orage du Pont, Noble d’Ete, Phenix de la Roque, Prince Gaillard and Pepone du Castelet.
The three other finals pit against each other extremely in-form horses, being:
(i) Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) comprising ten horses aged between 9 and 13 years, with the full list being: Quozak Prior, Pirate d’Urzy, Marco Barbes, Quick Et Rare, Quaroldo, Man Quick, Panda des Fleches, Passons d’Ortige, Que Je T’Aime Rush and Ostheo d’Havetot;
(ii) Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class) featuring nine horses aged between 9 and 14 years, as follows: Nerlo Villetot, Navaroso de Khepri, Marchallah, Nevermind, Napol de Mai, Noli de Marray, Lys de l’Oasis, Pittacos and Quindici.
(iii) Prix de Caen (Copper class) with ten participants aged between 5 and 17 years (could such an age difference of no less than 12 years be a record?), being: Noble Candeen, Ideal de Suce, Larissa du Breil, Ksar, Marathon d’Isques, Qualaudry, Nylan du Mouloire, Ugo de Malte, Natif de Monsures and Minou de Perdriat.
The remaining “normal” races are equally interesting, always on the short 2,140m distance, with no less than four races reserved for the Gold class, six for the Silver class and four Bronze class races. Seven horses are registered to debut therein, i.e. Dutch Bob Wielinga in the Bronze class, French Quimper de l’Iton, Swede Vasterbo Diego and Dane Navaho Simoni in the Silver class and French Pic Soyer and Player du Mirel as well as Italian Narciso Grif in the Gold class.
Undoubtedly one really cannot ask more from these two meetings! Not worth missing this show!
Last Meetings
The highlight of the last two meetings was the Mediterranean Derby, the top accolade for thoroughbreds in Malta. Indeed, last week we recounted the exciting finish we had in the edition held 50 years ago and who would have imagined that this year’s finish would emulate that!
The fastest two horses out of the starting gates for the 1,750m race were Kimberley Downs (Michael Sultana) hugging the rails and Ollie Fliptrik on the outside lanes. These two horses impressed a fast pace on the race running neck and neck for the first kilometre.
With 750m from the end, Ollie Fliptrik could not stand the pace and up came Cheeky Jack which in a few tens of metres caught up with Kimberley Downs at the helm. These two horses ran neck and neck throughout the remainder of the race providing a great spectacle – sometimes one horse went a head in front only to suffer the other’s reaction.
In the final straight there were times when it seemed that Cheeky Jack would take the lead, but Kimberley Downs’ resilience won the day, triumphing by just a nose from the same Cheeky Jack followed by Timolin, to claim its second seasonal win and carve its name on the Mediterranean Derby. The race time was 1min 47’87 sec.
The other races were all reserved for trotters on a 2,140m distance.
The highlights of Friday’s meeting consisted of two semi-finals from the SECF French trotters’ Prix de Vincennes (Premier class) championship and another two from the Prix de Caen (Copper class) championship.
The first Prix de Vincennes semi-final saw Olympien Major being off fastest, with Nabab du Chatelet coming up two wide to challenge it at the start of the last lap and Mig of the Wood hugging the rails immediately behind Olympien Major.
Mig of the Wood found space at the beginning of the final straight, came out and sprinted till the end, challenged all the way by Okilaibo’s strong sprint. Mig of the Wood reached the finishing post just a head before the said Okilaibo for its first seasonal win in 1’15’7 per kilometre. Nabab du Chatelet, Mark de Chamant and Olympien Major also made it to the final.
It was Orne des Olivettes which took the lead at the start of the second semi-final, followed by Quelino d’Amour. Odedjalo launched its attack on the back straight, gaining places until it caught up with Quelino d’Amour. In the final straight Orne des Olivettes was attacked by both Quelino d’Amour by the rails and Odedjalo on the outer lanes. The latter two horses sprinted the last 200m together, with the photo-finish ultimately giving Odedjalo its fourth seasonal win in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre, just a nose ahead of Quelino d’Amour, followed by Orne des Olivettes, Label Chouan and Orly Montaval which all made it to the final.
Ugo de Malte went in front at the beginning of the first Prix de Caen semi-final, with the situation remaining the same until around 800m from the end, when Larissa du Breil made its move and went in front. However with around 450m remaining, Qualaudry went three wide and attacked the front horses. It took the lead at the beginning of the final straight and did not look back, notching its first win in Malta in a time of 1’18’9 per kilometre, half a length ahead of Larissa du Breil, with the other qualifiers being Marathon d’Isques, Ugo de Malte and Minou de Perdriat in that order.
Mistral du Chene was in the lead for long stretches in the second Prix de Caen semi-final but in the back straight Natif de Monsures accelerated brilliantly on the outer lanes progressing fast from the last places to the front. The last 400m were a tussle between Natif de Monsures and Nylan de Mouloire with the win going to the former (first win in Malta in 1’19’1 per kilometre) half a length from the strong finishing Ideal de Suce, followed by fellow-qualifiers Nylan de Mouloire, Noble Candeen and Ksar.
Sunday’s first Gold class race saw Simb Tyrant taking the lead after around 650m managing to open around a two length lead for some time. As the horses turned to enter the final straight Nophenio de Lune went three wide to launch its attack, going comfortably in front around 150m from the end to claim its first win in Malta just under two lengths ahead of Hulot, followed by Jerry Eme and Energy Launcher, in a time of 1’17’7 per kilometre.
In the next Gold class race, Matrix Reloaded startly strongly to take an early lead but around 750m from the end Opal Hall started the determining action of the race, by accelerating and going neck and neck with the race leader. It took the lead with around 200m to go and successfully resisted Blizzard AD’s strong attack in the last 150m to take its first win in Malta by about a length from the same Blizzard AD followed by Carnegie Hall and Splendido Star in an average time of 1’17’8 per kilometre.
Eject took an early lead in the last Gold class race followed by the other horses in a compact group. The position remained the same until the horses reached the last bend before the final straight, when Eject suffered Ouest du Vivier’s and Xray Hornline’s determined attacks. Although Ouest du Vivier initially took the lead, Xray Hornline’s acceleration led it to catch up, with the two sprinting neck and neck until the end. The photo-finish awarded the second seasonal win to Xray Hornline (1’17’1 per kilometre) by a nose from Ouest du Vivier, followed by Mind Your Head and Petit Pierricais.
A big well done also goes to Rodney Gatt for managing, in Sunday’s meeting, to join a select group of drivers in the history of our racecourse, who won no less than four races in a single meeting.
The winner of this year’s Tazza l-Kbira
In a weekend full of important trot finals, I wished to present a complement to all finalists – horses of quality of all nationalities – which will be in action, by making a short biography of the horse which this year won the biggest trot honour here in Malta. Through Nabab du Chatelet’s example I wish to congratulate all finalists participating this weekend because even arriving to this stage is an honour in its own right.
Indeed, every year, at the end of the Tazza l-Kbira I always think on how much the big horse-racing countries give prominence to their best horses and bring them to the public’s attention. In the process they publicise their horses’ quality.
This year I tried to do something similar on Tazza l-Kbira winner Nabab du Chatelet. It is not always easy to collect this type of information but when, as I always try to do, I went to the stables to congratulate the owners of the winning horse, a few of us including one of the owners, the driver and its dedicated handler, went out near the horse and the discussion focused on its characteristics.
Nabab put its head among the people who were talking, as if he realised that we were speaking about it. I continued thinking whether he was understanding what was being said ... who knows how much he would have corrected us had it been able to speak!
Nabab du Chatelet is a French trotter, a 12 year old gelding, having a Bay colour, sired by stallion Chef du Chatelet out of the mare Feinte du Chatelet. Chef du Chatelet, a beautiful horse is a popular French stallion.
Among the best horses it produced we find Mage du Martellier which won more than a million euro, Quokine Berry, Profile de Rossi, Old du Hautvent, Satin d’Avril, Quel Chef etc. Its father was Kimberland, a successful stallion which was half American from the line of the famous Nevele Pride, and its mother Quirola, produced various good horses.
Feinte du Chatelet was sired by stallion Jet du Vivier (from the famous Sabi Pas and Ua Uka) and Nicaba des Etangs, lines which also produced various winning horses.
Nabab du Chatelet won Euro205,198 overseas, quite a good amount without being phenomenal. This can be explained by the fact that it ran some of its races in Belgium where prize-money is not as high as in France and also by the fact that it ran various races against strong opposition – among its opponents we find horses such as Quif de Villeneuve, Paladin Bleu, Quentin Rose and others.
It started its career aged 3 years and ran nearly 100 races overseas in various different racecourses, mainly sulky races but it also competed in a few monte’ events. It won 11 times and when it did not win it often placed – no less than 37 places between 2nd and 5th.
Its best seasons were those when it was 8, 9 and 10 years old when it competed in more than half its races and won 4 times and placed in the first five 19 other times. Its best time was 1’13’9 per kilometre which it registered aged 10 years on 2,550m at the Beaumont-de-Lomagne racecourse.
Facts which confirm how much this horse was still going strong when it finished racing in France at the end of 2011, and also the fact that this horse’s preferred distance is around two and a half kilometres, although among its 11 wins outside Malta we also find wins on longer distances such as 3,100m and 3,200m and shorter distances, i.e. 2,350m.
It made its debut in Malta in February 2012 and until now it has raced 24 times from which it won eight and placed in another six, with prize-money of Euro10,505. Among its most memorable races we certainly find the winning of the Tazza l-Kbira on the 14thApril, the winning of the Prix de Vincennes on the 16th December 2012 and its runner-up place in the VOB Grand Final on the 30th December 2012, when it clocked its best time in Malta to date of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,640m.
In line with its past, its favourite race distance among us appears to be that of 2,640m on which it achieved all its wins and places except for a win and two places on 2,140m.
Nabab is a beautiful, good-sized horse with a gentle character. It is calm but it notices everything and any changes tend to affect it. It is not enthusiastic about training and races themselves serve also as training in its case. A horse with high morale and a big heart it gives its best till the end of the race, but does not like being pushed and thus the whip is not that useful with it.
An honest horse with a nice gait. It does not have a strong start (indeed it prefers to start from the second row), but its main characteristic is its impressive physical strength which can be witnessed in its races – in the Tazza l-Kbira semi-final it ran three wide for nearly the entire race and still managed to win.
Another characteristic is that with around half a lap from the end it takes a few deep breaths and it sort of finds the necessary energy to achieve a strong finish.
Last year it nearly died due to complications in its stomach, but its owners cured it with material expense and after a stop of 5 months it came back better than before.
Overseas, it raced various times barefooted, although it also had various beautiful performances wearing horseshoes. Here in Malta as protection for its hooves, it only raced once barefoot (and it won), and on all other occasions it raced with its horseshoes and won seven other times and claimed various places.
Naturally this is not the entire story of this horse which has just entered into Tazza l-Kbira history but I hope that this little information gives a photo of its main characteristics. It is important that we appreciate the successful horses we have in our country, which make us proud with the quality of our races. Well done to its owners, trainers, to its importer, the horse’s handlers as well as to its drivers in Malta, Charles Camilleri, Redent Magro and France Cassar.
We wish you another two great meetings this weekend.
