by Magnat
The first phase of the 2013 season comes to an end next Friday with the last summer meeting, which starts at 7pm and will consist of seven trot races over a 2,140m distance.
This is a splendid finals meeting with a summer championship final for each trot class with the Silver and Bronze classes being split into A and B finals. The finalists were selected on the basis of the ad hoc points system applied for these championships.
The highlight of this meeting is undoubtedly the final for Premier class horses. Missing from this line-up we have the four top class championship winners so far this season, i.e. Nabab du Chatelet (Tazza l-Kbira), Okilaibo (Prix de Vincennes and VOB Cup), Orcas Bac (Sette Giugno Cup) and Argus Hanover (Assikura A Cup).
However the participants are extremely strong horses with one of them becoming the fifth winner of a championship open for Premier class horses this year.
The full list of participants (7 geldings, 1 stallion and 1 mare) originating in Sweden, France and Germany is as follows:
1. Shakira Trot, Swedish 10 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,477,200 and a best time of 1’12’0 per kilometre. It has won 3 times and placed another six times from its 15 races in Malta so far and has a best time among us of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m.
2. Lage, Swedish 10 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,299,990 and a best time of 1’11’2 per kilometre. It won 3 of its four races in Malta so far and has a best time here of 1’14’6 per kilometre on 2,140m.
3. Absolut Spender, Swedish 10 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK686,713 and a best time of 1’12’8 per kilometre. It won 3 times and placed another time in its seven outings in Malta so far and has a best time here of 1’14’5 per kilometre on 2,140m.
4. Give to Get, Swedish 9 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK860,850 and a best time of 1’13’0 per kilomere. Although it has not yet won in Malta, it placed four times from its ten races in Malta so far and has a best time here of 1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,140m.
5. Vanmaker Limburgia, German 10 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK977,418 and a best time of 1’12’2 per kilometre. Although it has not yet won in Malta, it has placed twice in its five races in Malta so far, with a best time of 1’14’6 per kilometre on 2,140m.
6. Magic de Assigny, French 13 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro344,350 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. Another horse that is searching for its first win in Malta, it has however placed no less than 12 times since it made its debut in February 2011, with a best time of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,140m.
7. 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 16 times since its debut in Malta in February 2010, with a best time in Malta of 1’15’0 per kilometre (twice) on 2,140m. This horse has appeared in an impressive number of finals since December 2011, this being its 10th final.
8. Olry Meslois, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Eur186,550 and a best time of 1’14’2 per kilometre. It won once and placed in another two races from its six outings in Malta so far and has a best time here of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m.
9. Orne des Olivettes, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro237,710 and a best time of 1’14’0 per kilometre. Although it has not yet won in Malta it has placed five times from its eight races in Malta so far and has a best time locally of 1’14’8 per kilometre on 2,140m.
With no less than 19 wins (including two championships) and 48 places between them, and with all participants having a best time in Malta of 1’15’2 per kilometre or better, this mix of veterans and relative newcomers should provide us with another great final!
The total prize-money for this final amounts to Euro1,915, with Euro1,250 going to the winner.
The Gold class final also includes various high profile trotters. An international line-up with participants hailing from Austria, Denmark, France and Sweden and aged between 8 and 12 years, they already have 15 wins and 32 places between them this season. All finalists have a best time this year of 1’16’6 per kilometre or better and half of them have made 1’15’7 per kilometre or better.
The full list is: Player du Mirel, Oolong, Orage du Pont, Perdreau Rapide, Nophenio de Lune, Little Nick, Blizzard AD, Veikko Hornline, Chippen Bob and Simb Tyrant.
Also extremely in-form, the Silver A class finalists are aged between 7 and 13 years. A more international field than those of the Premier and Gold classes, the finalists originate from Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA.
These have already registered 11 wins plus a good number of places between them and all of them have a best time this year of 1’17’0 per kilometre or better, with half making 1’16’3 per kilometre or better.
The participants are: Manuel Jet, Side Spin, Udice Boko, Anguz R.C., Quaroldo, Obi Wan Kenobi, Nasdaq du Closet, Zandina Boshoeve, Paolin de Bannes and Pilote de Nganda.
The eleven Silver B class finalists are aged between 7 and 14 years. Their countries of origin are Denmark, France, Germany and Sweden and they have notched 13 wins and numerous places between them. All of them have a best time this year of 1’17’3 per kilometre or better, with nine of them making 1’16’8 per kilometre or better.
The finalists are: Passons d’Ortige, Really Good, Socrates, Newman, Ouragan de Crouay, Que Je T’Aime Rush, Lys de l’Oasis,Quartes, Command Coger, Pile Ou Face and Notre Joyeux.
The eleven participants in the Bronze A final are Polytain, Law Suit, Missionimpossible, Quick Et Rare, Quadrige de Mai, Obelix Blue, Nerlo Villetot, Zerbin, Magnific As, Inkato and Poete de la Sarthe.
Aged between 9 and 15 years, these horses which originate in France, Germany and Sweden, have won just 6 times between them this year, but they have had numerous places, proving their consistency. Nine of them have a best time of 1’17’8 per kilometre or better this season.
On the other hand, the Bronze B finalists have won 14 times between them. Hailing from France, the Netherlands and Sweden, these horses are aged between 7 and 15 years and nearly all of them have registered a time of 1’17’9 per kilometre or better this year.
The participants are: Queps de Retz, Zeta Jones A, Quintin Malin, Gin T. Dalimo, Quella des Moyeux, Ywema’s Pine, Above Roland, Jet Starline, Loulou de la Rose and Kiton de Bouere.
Among the Copper class horses we find the largest age variety of these finals; i.e. between 4 years and 17 years. These are Mistral du Chene, Buckens Stjarna, Claude Carnevale, Ballad Ribb, Noble Candeen, Minou de Perdriat, Royal Qui, Stormy Sand, Andri Boko and Ideal de Suce.
Five Swedes, four French and a Dutch will be the protagonists of this final. They have won 12 races (plus numerous placings) between them this year, with eight of them having a seasonal best of 1’18’2 per kilometre or better.
One meeting ... seven races ... seven balanced finals between the most in-form horses in action during the past month. No better way to finish the first phase of the season ... then on holiday for the next seven weeks!
Last Meetings
The last two meetings comprising the last qualifiers from the Summer championships (all on the 2,140m distance) lived up to expectations, with some interesting performances and good times.
Premier class
Oviedo Vici went in front at the start of the 12th July Premier class race and soon opened a two length lead from Absolut Spender. The latter launched its attack around 600m from the end going in front at the start of the last half lap.
Absolut Spender then dominated the remainder of the race remaining comfortably in front notwithstanding Vanmaker Limburgia’s strong sprint in the final straight which brought it a length away from Absolut Spender which however notched its second consecutive and third seasonal win in a great time of 1’14’5 per kilometre, the second best in Malta on this distance this year.
Mont Cenis Honey took an early lead in the Premier class race held on the 19th July, closely followed by Nevaio des Bordes, but Lage advanced strongly three wide around the start of the last lap to join the two race leaders. Lage went up to second place and attacked Mont Cenis Honey on the back straight.
These two horses entered the final straight head-to-head, but Lage had the better of its challenger in the middle of the final straight and claimed its second consecutive and third seasonal victory over three lengths ahead of Mont Cenis Honey, followed by Label Chouan and Orne des Olivettes. The winner’s time was 1’16’3 per kilometre.
Gold class
In the Gold class race held in the 12th July meeting, Viekko Hornline was in the lead for most of the distance followed closely by Carnegie Hall and Ygor of Pass. However, the real drama arrived in the final straight! Veikko Hornline seemed to remain in control of the race, but suddenly from the middle of the pack like a flash of lightning out came Niky du Donjon with an impressive sprint in the last 200m to surprise everyone and obtain its first seasonal win by just a head from Veikko Hornline, followed by Ouf Boy and Carnegie Hall, in a time of 1’16’7 per kilometre.
On the 19th July, the first Gold class race saw Eject take an early lead which it maintained until the final straight. However, in the backstraight, newcomer Midnight Passion produced an impressive acceleration three wide and advanced from the back places to come head to head with Eject in the middle of the final straight and despite challenges from various other horses it went in front about 100m from the end and claimed victory by about one and a half lengths from the same Eject, followed by Player du Mirel and Perdreau Rapide in 1’17’1 per kilometre.
In the second one, Little Nick went in front around 1,500m from the end, and it managed to control the race well and remain in front till the end. The final straight saw Oolong’s strong sprint on the outer lanes, but this was too late and it could only finish half a length from Little Nick which claimed its first seasonal win in a time of 1’16’2 per kilometre. Behing Oolong, the remaining places went to Simb Tyrant and Nophenio de Lune in that order.
Silver class
Just before the start of the last lap of the first Silver class race on the 12th July, Que Je T'Aime Rush sprinted strongly four wide to come from the back of the back up to second place behind then-leader Ouragan de Crouay. The former produced another burst of speed with 500m to go, took the lead and dominated the remainder of the race to notch its second seasonal win around four lengths from Passons d’Ortige, Isebel and Lys des Etroits in that order, in 1’16’5 per kilometre.
Ackaturbo was in front until the backstraight in the second Silver class race, when it started being attacked by Lacoste IT. These two horses entered the final straight together but they could do nothing to stop Quaroldo’s impressive sprint seven wide for its second consecutive and third seasonal win, one and a half lengths ahead of three other strong finishers, Quioco Dry, Pilote de Nganda and Navaho Simoni, in 1’17’4 per kilometre.
The first Silver class race in the 19th July meeting resulted in the second seasonal win for Lys de l'Oasis which went in front with around a lap to go and maintained its lead till the end, to win by about one and a half lengths from Men Gumman Da, followed by Napolitano Sun and Vasterbo Diego, in a time of 1'16'3 per kilometre.
In the second Silver class race, Vagabond Hornline attacked race leader Picabia des Audins on the back straight, going in front around 700m from the end and then dominating till the end to take its first win in Malta, with a wide margin in a time of 1’16’7 per kilometre, from newcomer Roma M, Nasdaq du Closet and Obi Wan Kenobi.
Then in the next race it was Markus Klipp which took an early lead which it maintained until the back straight, when it was attacked by various horses. Pared An Hoel took the lead with around half a lap to go but Udice Boko left its best till the end, producing a great sprint on the outer lanes which took it in front in with around 150m left, to claim its first win in Malta, one and a half lengths from Pared An Hoel, followed by Darco As and Argus R.C. The winner’s time was 1’16’1 per kilometre.
The last Silver class race saw Mealington holding the lead for long stretches, closely followed by Newman. The latter started its attack in the middle of the backstraight, going in front around half a lap from the end, continuing to increase its lead till the end, to win comfortably by over five lengths (Newman’s first win in over two years) from Lass Idol, Socrates and Notre Joyeux in that order, in a time of 1’16’3 per kilometre.
Malta Racing Club Council
The Minister for Education and Employment and the Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport have appointed the new Malta Racing Club Council.
Dr Matthew Brincat, has been confirmed as Chairman, a position which he has been occupying for the past 5 years. Messrs Mark Vella and Marco Millo have also be reconfirmed as members on the Council.
Messrs Tony Demanuele and Joe Zerafa, who until now had been the elected representatives of the horse owners and drivers have now been appointed Council members by the Government. Joining them will be two new members who will be serving on the council for the first time. These are Messrs Twanny Bugeja and George Farrugia.
These seven members will be joined by three other members to be elected by the owners and drivers. This election is scheduled to be held in the beginning of September.
The posts which will be occupied by each Council member are as follows:
Dr Matthew J. Brincat – Chairman
Mr Anthony Bugeja – General Secretary
Mr Mark Vella – Director, Marketing & Finance
Mr Marco Millo – Director, International Affairs & Infrastructure
Mr Anthony Demanuele – Director of Internal Affairs
Mr Joseph Zerafa – Director of Animal Welfare, Amateur Racing & Cultural Events
Mr George Farrugia – Director of Maintenance Projects
As always, Dr Brincat would like to encourage all owners and drivers having fresh and new ideas on how this sport can prosper, to contact him and schedule the necessary meetings. He promises to take seriously every valid and viable suggestion always insiting that there is a place open for anyone ready to give his contribution even though he does not form part of the Council.
Mediterranean Drivers Championship
Current champion driver Noel Baldacchino will represent Malta in the second leg of this year’s Mediterranean Drivers Championship, organised by the Mediterranean Horse Racing Union, which will be held next Saturday evening 27th July at the Ippodromo del Mediterraneo in Syracuse, Italy.
Noel will be accompanied by MRC Chairman Dr Matthew Brincat who will be holding a series of meetings which could be beneficial for the horse-racing sport in Malta.
The race is over a 1,600m distance and has Euro3,300 in prize-money. Noel has been drawn to partner 6 year old mare Novi Ligure in an eight horse race. This is the first leg that Malta will participate in this year.
We wish Noel all the best in representing our country once again in this international championship. We are sure that with his talent, dedication and experience he will project the best possible image of Malta in terms of both professionalism as well as sportsmanship.
Summer of ‘13
Bryan Adams’ song “Summer of ‘69” was being played whilst I was attending the Volleyball Marathon to collect funds for the Dar Tal-Providenza a couple of weeks ago, with the famous lyrics:
“That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah I’d always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life.”
We are now in the summer of 2013, but I confess that every summer gives me the impression of lasting forever. At this time of the year, the heat seems to be here to stay, it feels as if cold and rainy weather does not exist.
Work will slow down a bit and give us the opportunity of enjoying the lazy Mediterrean summer, the long days, the sea, the barbeques, the feasts, the afternoon siestas, that feeling of not wishing to do much, that one’s body simply wants to rest – a characteristic intrinsic to the Maltese quality of life.
Every year, I have the feeling that summer days are always “the best days of my life”! I admit that strangely enough I love very hot and very cold weather, i.e. the two extremes, and so, the Maltese summer gives me a lot to enjoy in terms of hot weather.
But I admit to missing the races during these seven weeks. True, I follow the races in France and Sweden, which continue in full swing at this time of year, but for me there is nothing like our races!
These last six months literally flew by once again! A lot of good work has been done and many beautiful activities were organised, even if certain happenings left an impact on the racing calendar.
We started the season a couple of weeks later than normal due to the fruitful work on the racecourse sand, which was very helpful for our horses. We had another extremely successful edition of the Dragonara Tazza l-Kbira and equally successful SECF French trotters championships, Sette Giugno Cup, VOB Cup, Summer championships and the Spring Condition Races.
We missed the Swedish trotters’ championship caused by the absence of a sponsor, the Mediterranean Drivers’ championship (although Malta’s participation in this championship will start next Saturday) and Encounter races between Maltese and foreign drivers at our racecourse.
The meetings held in the first phase of the season were 33, less than the 38 held last year and the 36 of 2011. The work on the racecourse’s re-sanding, then the low registrations for the first meetings (many owners could have been awaiting the settling down of the new sand), the abnormal April bad weather that caused the postponement of the Tazza l-Kbira final meeting all contributed to the lesser number of meetings.
Now it is time for some rest for both humans and horses. A stop from races for all, but owners and trainers have no real rest, because they will still take good care of their horses in the summer months.
They will take the opportunity of taking a good look at their horses, servicing them where necessary and then slowly start their build-up for the remainder of the season. September will soon be with us and the horses will need to be well-rested and prepared by then.
Some of our drivers will probably take the opportunity to gain some international experience by participating in races overseas – we wish them well. In the process, many of them take the opportunity of taking a period of rest and good company together overseas.
May they be successful, but in particular may they enjoy their trip abroad and always give the best example, putting the Maltese horse-racing community in a good light on the international scene.
But the Maltese summer is also a time for socialising, for barbeques and being out and about. This also affects the horse-racing community with many stables hosting a variety of activities where enthusiasts, their relatives and friends meet, eat, drink and speak about their favourite subjects in a relaxed setting, typically with the horses observing in the background. (Who knows what the horses think of these activities !).
Ultimately here in Malta our sport always remains a hobby within a community of friends! May it always remain so.
Before ending, I take the opportunity of thanking all those who have kindly helped me in the preparation of these articles. As is fitting, I wish to thank the Chairman, Council and employees of the Malta Racing Club for their great support, given on a regular and consistent basis.
No doubt, as I have mentioned on other occasions, I owe a big debt of gratitude to Mr Nicholas Farrugia, whom I regularly trouble, asking him all sorts of questions and guidance on a variety of trotting matters. Sometimes I wonder how he manages to remain patient and not to send me packing :) Many thanks Nicky!
Throughout these six months, various others have also provided me with useful information whenever I have asked them. These include (in alphabetical order) Twanny Bugeja, Mark Consiglio, Lorraine Cunningham, Mike Orland, Kenneth Vella, Mark Vella and others.
A final word of thanks goes to the experts who provide their nominations to the Driver of the Month award (who we shall not name for confidentiality’s sake but the particular individuals know who I am referring to!) and whom I request from one month to another to provide me with their nominations. Thanks a lot to all of you for your helpful contribution.
And now, after the last meeting, happy holidays to all! We meet again, God-willing, in the first half of September, looking forward to a great second phase of the 2013 season.
In the meantime, we wish you a great ending for the first phase of this season.
