by Magnat
Two race meetings will be held at the Marsa racetrack over the next week, first on Friday 14th June and then on the following Friday 21st June, both starting at 6.30pm and consisting of 10 trot races all on a 2,140m distance.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the next meetings is the Variable Odds Betting Grand Final with horses originating in France, Germany and Sweden, being the first five placed horses in last week’s Sette Giugno Cup and Prix de Vincennes finals (except for one horse which is not participating).
Eight geldings and one stallion, the participants’ age varies between 9 and 14 years. The full field is as follows:
1. Olympien Major, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro226,173 and a best time of 1’13’8 per kilometre. It placed 5 times in its 10 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’3 per kilometre on 2,140m.
2. Orcas Bac, Swedish 9 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK627,750 and a best time of 1’13’6 per kilometre. It won twice (including this year’s Sette Giungio Cup) and placed another time in its 5 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’14’7 per kilometre on 2,140m.
3. Mark de Chamant, French 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 14 times (including finishing runner-up in this month’s Prix de Vincennes) in its 21 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’14’8 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’15’4 per kilometre on 2,140m).
4. Orne des Olivettes, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro237,710 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. It placed three times in its 5 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’6 per kilometre on 2,140m.
5. 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 eight times in its 15 races in Malta and has a best local time of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m.
6. Okilaibo, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro237,460 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. It has two wins (including this month’s Prix de Vincennes) and 5 places in its 7 races in Malta, with a best time among us of 1’14’8 per kilometre 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 three times (including being runner-up in this year’s Tazza l-Kbira and Sette Giugno Cup finals) in its 14 races in Malta, with a best time here of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m.
8. 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 7 races in Malta, with a best local time of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,140m.
9. Label Chouan, French 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.
With a tally of 21 wins (including four championships) and no less than 55 places between these horses and all of which having a best time of 1’15’6 per kilometre or better in their racing career in Malta, a hard-fought out race (having a total prize-money of Euro3,000) is anticipated, with an uncertain outcome.
These two meetings also herald the start of the Summer trot championships, which will reach their peak in the last week of July with a final for each class and two for the Silver class. Whilst not gaining or losing points in the MRC official classification, participants in the coming races will gain special summer championship points which will enable the top horses to qualify for the finals. The race distance will once again be 2,140m.
The main races in this Friday’s programme consist of two Premier class races featuring various great trotters. The first includes a number of horses which have already won this year such as Absolut Spender, Belafonte, Opal Hall, Skars Hanna and Simb Mark together with all the other valid horses. This race should also see the return of former Prix de Vincennes winner Master Perrine, which has been absent from racing for the last year and a half.
The second is reserved for the horses with the highest points in the MRC’s classification including multiple winners this year Fire and Normand d’Oger, recent winner T.X. Zoogood, championship winners in past years Arnie Sensation, Mont Cenis Honey and Wiss Night Hawk, Swedish newcomer Start Brodde and all the other extremely valid participants.
10 year old gelding Start Brodde is registered with the highest number of points for newcomers in the MRC classification. It has winnings of SEK1,060,273 overseas, earned through 13 wins and various places. Its best time is that of 1’12’5 per kilometre made at Aby on 1,640m in May 2011. Among its best races abroad over the last 18 months, we find four places in the top five in short distance races of between a mile and 2,140m and a good time of 1’13’5 over 1,600m.
The four Gold class races are equally entertaining. This week’s two races feature various horses which were recently racing in the Premier class, such as Ouf Boy, Nuevo Musette, Veikko Hornline, Phenix de Milo and others, as well as in-form trotters such as Blizzard AD, Carnegie Hall, Nuper, Perdreau Rapide, Ironbar, Player du Mirel and others.
The same is the case for next week’s two races. Here, horses such as Xray Hornline, Nophenio de Lune, Power Night Star, Oolong, Pirate d’Urzy and Lucas Ness have all registered at least one win in their last three races this year while various other horses are in good shape and capable of challenging for the honours. Two Swedish newcomers are also registered to debut in these races, i.e. Cappuchino M.S. and Cowboy Tooma.
The other races in these two meetings consist of six for the Silver class, four for the Bronze class and three for Copper class horses. The following newcomers are registered to debut in these races, i.e. Swede Men Gumman Da, Italian Insomnia Grif and French Querido Censerie, Quirana A Wood and Quivan de Visais, all in the Silver class and Dutch Bep Swagerman in the Bronze class.
Two ten race programmes, including a grand final, two Premier class races, four races for Gold class horses, numerous balanced races, a number of interesting newcomers ... a great open air spectacle under a beautiful Mediterranean summer sky!
Last Meetings
The last two meetings were magnificent, containing no less than six finals for different trot classes, all over the short 2,140m distance.
The first of these finals, held on Friday, was for the Sette Giugno Cup open to Premier class horses of all nationalities.
Here, Argus Hanover was the fastest after the autostart, originally followed closely by Simb Mark and Lage. However a determining moment arrived after just 600m when Orcas Bac progressed fast from the middle of the pack to take the lead, followed by most of the remaining horses (except for Wiss Night Hawk and Belafonte which had a difficult start and were disqualified) in a compact group.
Driven by Rodney Gatt, Orcas Bac went from strength to strength and reserved the best for last with a blistering sprint in the last half lap that could not be matched by any other participant to finish easy winner by about four lengths in a very good time of 1’14’7 per kilometre, from the strong finishing Nino de Saintho which pipped Sultan November for the runner-up place, ahead of Argus Hanover and Ofackevo which all made it to the VOB Grand Final.
On Sunday, Nylan de Mouloire took the lead at the start of the Prix de Caen (Copper class) final, but it was overtaken after just 400m by Marathon d’Isques. With around a lap and a half to go, Qualaudry progressed on the outer lanes to challenge the race leader.
Marathon d’Isques and Qualaudry continued running next to each other until 350m from the end when Kevin Sciberras’ Qualaudry pulled away and sprinted to the end, resisting all challenges to notch its second consecutive and seasonal win in 1’17’6 per kilometre, half a length from Nylan de Mouloire, followed by Minou de Perdriat and Ideal de Suce.
Marchallah started very strongly in the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer final (Bronze class), followed by Nevermind, Lys de L’Oasis and the remaining horses. It appeared well in command, opening a two length lead, with 400m to go. However just before the horses entered the final straight Noel Baldacchino positioned Pittacos on the outer lanes to attack Marchallah.
The last 250m saw a head-to-head challenge between these two horses, with Pittacos managing to go in front less than 100m from the end and to become the first horse to win five races this season, over a length ahead of Marchallah, Navaroso de Khepri and Quindici. The race time was 1’16’5 per kilometre.
The pace setter in the Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) was Marco Barbes which maintained a length’s lead for most of the race. But as the horses entered the final straight, Noel Baldacchino made his move putting Quozak Prior on the outer lanes for a brilliant sprint that saw this horse going in front in the middle of the straight and notching its second seasonal win about a length ahead of Panda des Fleches followed by Quaroldo and Marco Barbes in a time of 1’17’0 per kilometre.
With favourite Pepone du Castelet having a difficult start, the Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) final was practically dominated by Orion du Vaumicel which went in front early on, originally shadowed by Oscar Indien and then by Phenix de la Roque in the last lap.
Notwithstanding strong attacks from various horses in the last 300m, France Cassar’s Orion du Vaumicel found new strength at that stage, running determinedly towards its first seasonal win (1’16’8 per kilometre) and the Prix d’Enghien, over a length ahead of Phenix de la Roque, with Noble d’Ete and Niky du Donjon claiming the remaining places.
Quelino d’Amour was the first to lead in Sunday’s most important final, the Prix de Vincennes (Premier class), ahead of Orne des Olivettes. After about 600m, Julian Farrugia’s Okilaibo joined the race leaders in second place together with Orne des Olivettes.
At the start of the last lap, Nabab du Chatelet advanced from the back places to go in front but it soon changed pace and was disqualified, leaving the road open for Quelino d’Amour to maintain the lead. However with about 700m from the end, Julian Farrugia produced his ace card by prompting Okilaibo to a splendid sprint that catapulted it to a three length lead within a couple of hundred metres.
This horse continued to sprint undisturbed till the end, to notch its second seasonal win and the Prix de Vincennes accolade by more than four lengths from Mark de Chamant, followed by Olympien Major, Orne des Olivettes and Label Chouan in that order, which all made it to the VOB Grand Final. The winner’s time was a very good 1’14’8 per kilometre.
In the Gold class “normal races”, the three races had an identical ending, with the winner coming up and producing a strong sprint in the final straight, managing to pip the race leader in the final metres.
On Friday it was Onyx Lucernais which did so to notch its second seasonal win half a length ahead of Hulot in 1’18’1 per kilometre, whilst on Sunday, it was first Nuper’s turn to claim its first win in Malta in similar fashion in a time of 1’18’0 per kilometre beating runner-up newcomer Player du Mirel by just a head, and afterwards, Oolong beat (also by just a head) Ironbar to also claim its first win in Malta in 1’16’2 per kilometre.
Finally, in Friday’s meeting it was a pleasure to see 18 year old driver Anton Cassar notching his first career win (on Ogor in the Silver class) in a rather rare occurrence where he beat his father France Cassar who finished in second place with Orio de Marancourt. Well done Anton, keep it up. Best wishes also to all our young, promising drivers, the future of our sport, to whom we wish lots of success, fruit of their hard work.
Driver of the Month – May
The Driver of the Month for May is Patrick Spiteri, who won this award on the basis of the four wins and two places (once runner-up and another time third) he registered during that month from the nine races he competed in.
He won on Quindici (three times, Bronze class) and Noli de Marray (Bronze class) and placed on L’Ideal de Fersan (Gold class) and Noli de Marray (Bronze class).
We hopeheartedly thank Happy Belly Restaurant for supporting this initiative by sponsoring this edition.
The VOB Cup final 28 years ago
As we are about to witness another edition of the VOB Grand Final, my thoughts go onto the numerous occasions in which this championship was contested over the years.
The first edition I remember and the first I could trace in old newspapers was that held in January 1982 (featured in these columns on the 30th June 2011) which was an open championship won by Gael ahead of Flavacour and Hesdak.
From 1982 onwards, with the exception of 1986 and 1995, our trotters contested this trophy every year until 2001. In some years more than one edition of this championship was held.
In taking a look at the list of winners kindly sent to me by trotting encyclopedia Mr Nicholas Farrugia, whom I thank for his patience, my attention fell onto the VOB (or the Bookmakers’) championship held in November 1985 – an edition that I remember well.
Although as is fitting, since 2009 this trophy is contested exclusively by Premier class horses, this was not always the case and between 1990 and 2001 it was never open for class A1 trotters.
This was the first championship organised in the 1985 -86 season and was open for horses in classes C and D (today's Silver class). No less than 49 horses were registered therefor. These were split into four heats, all held on the 3rd November over the short 2,150m distance, with the first three from each heat making it to the final.
The first heat saw Juvennior taking an early lead which it maintained until the last lap when Eddie Spagnol’s Julex attacked and took a length’s lead which it maintained till the end. Juvennior was runner-up and Japalaro claimed a place in the final thanks to a strong finish.
The front runners in the second heat were Joyeux Luberon, Janotin, Ian Bonheur and Irmak. However when the latter broke stride and was disqualified, the road was open for the other three horses. The final straight resulted in a head-to-head tussle between Joyeux Luberon and Janotin and they appeared to have reached the post together. However, the photo-finish gave the win by the smallest margin to Joyeux Luberon with Janotin and Ian Bonheur also making it to the final.
Keats du Vivier was in the lead for most of the third heat but there was no stopping Kenya de Bouce (Paul Gelanze) in the last part of the race, with the latter taking the lead less than 100m from the end and maintaining it till the end. Kalhommet finished strongly to pip Keats du Vivier for the runner-up position with the latter qualifying in third place.
Kaganovitch and Kerminy took an early lead in the final heat and maintained it until around 400m from the end, when Infant de Perron attacked and contested the final straight with Kerminy. The win went to George Schembri’s Infant de Perron in the fastest heat (1’18’6 per kilometre) by a head from Kerminy, with Illustre Chapeau claiming the last place in the final.
Naturally this was the time before non-French horses started being imported in earnest and thus the 12 finalists were all French – three 11 year olds (starting with letter I), five 10 year olds (starting with letter J) and four 9 year olds (starting with letter K).
The final was held a week later, on the 10th November. The day before, The Times declared that "Mid-week betting and present form have failed to produce an outstanding favourite in tomorrow’s Variable Odds Betting final (3.35) at the Marsa racetrack. The 12 runners in the final line-up have all the credentials to establish themselves as the best from among the field.”
Among the favourites, The Times correspondent “Trotter” mentioned Ian Bonheur, Joyeux Luberon and Julex.
However, the air of uncertainty was to be confirmed by the actual winner, a horse which was not mentioned in that report but which by the time of the race had crept up among the more fancied horses at 4-1.
Ian Bonheur was among the front runners after the autostart closed its wings, with these opening a two-length lead from Juvennior and Jaldon following them. Pre-race favourite Julex had a very difficult start and fell back a long distance from the remaining horses.
However in the last lap, Jalaparo, Kalhommet and Jaldon gradually crept up to the race leaders and as the participants entered the final straight, Jalaparo and Kalhommet went in front and brought all spectactors to their feet as they challenged each other neck and neck metre by metre to the post. Driven by Ray Cassar, Jalaparo ultimately got the verdict by a head from the same Kalhommet followed by Jaldon, one length behind the winner, with Kenya de Bouce placing fourth.
Then Marsa Racecourse Management Council chairman Mr G. Borg Cardona presented the VOB Cup and winner’s purse to Messrs Falzon, owners of Jalaparo.
The Times reported that “The unassuming Cassar, close to tears at the winners’ stables was indeed the centre of attraction ... The ten-year old Jalaparo, winner of his first ever major trophy, eyed the jubilant scenes with a calm, detached mood, a mood which earned him the bookmaker’s cup and an attractive winning purse.”
Born in 1975, gelding Jalaparo had won around French Francs 280,000 (around Euro42,565) in France with a best time there of 1’21’3 per kilometre until the end of 1983. It made its debut in Malta on the 29th April 1984 in class B, aged 9 years, having a relatively short career of 40 races (its last season was 1986 -87) here, of which it won 4 and placed 12 other times, improving its best time to 1’18’8 per kilometre (on 2,150m).
But our attention now shifts to the nine Premier class trotters which will contest this edition of the VOB Cup – quality horses which as in the 1985 edition, provide a very balanced field with an uncertain outcome, guaranteeing a brilliant race also on a short distance of 2,140m.
We wish you another two great meetings in the coming week.
