Friday 13th September 2013
34th horse-racing meeting 2013 – 13th September

by Magnat


After a seven week stop, the 2013 season continues with a bang on Friday at 6.30pm! A meeting containing no less than 11 races, all over short distances.  The ten trot races will be over the 2,140m distance while the flat race will be contested over the sprint 1,250m distance.


The key race will naturally be the 10th one reserved for Premier class trotters and containing a full house of 16 top class trotters.  Sette Giugno Cup winner Orcas Bac, Prix d’Enghien winner Orion du Vaumicel, Summer Championship Premier class runner-up Label Chouan, Prix de Vincennes runner-up Mark de Chamant, horses such as Belafonte and Ofackevo which have already won this season were among the protagonists of the first phase.  Will they re-confirm their form in autumn?


This race also features horses such as Noble d’Ete and Nitesco d’Antony which have been promoted from the Gold class and the return to racing of others such as Nicos de Peneme and Natieu d’Echal which have been absent for various months.


The meeting also includes two interesting Gold class races with three French newcomers, Pan de Couperies, Quel Gibus and Quotuor de Chenu.  Once again various participants have performed well so far this season, including triple winners Octobre En Fete and Pirate d’Urzy, double winner Charm Hammering and others who have already won this year such as Midnight Passion, Nuper, Oscar Mati and Why Not As.


The three Silver class races featuring full fields of 16 participants are, as always, extremely balanced races with good quality horses vying for a win or a good place. 


Various participants entered the winners’ circle in the last couple of months before the summer break, including Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer and five time winner Pittacos as well as winners Partisan de Bouere, Dacoit, Vagabond Hornline and Newman and many other horses which registered good places this year.  Newcomer Quipson is due to debut in this class.


Although containing just four participants, the Class A flat race has its points of interest.  We have two newcomers, Irish 4 year old Good As Gold and British 5 year old Dasho, winner of the Premio Internazionale d’Italia in Sicily last July.  The others are Henderlik, coming from four consecutive places in its four races this year and Bon Santos with one runner-up place in its five outings so far.


The remaining races are two for the Bronze class and two others for the Copper class, with French Repetito expected to debut in the former and Swede Manilleson d’Atout making its first appearance in the Copper class.


Seven weeks are a long time in horse-racing and the September re-start is always entertaining because although recent performances may be a good indicator of a horse’s quality, in terms of current form the past is truly no guarantee of the future, giving the opportunity of a new beginning also for those horses which might not have been so successful during the first phase.


Last Meeting


Witnessed by a good crowd, the last meeting before the summer break was held on the 26th July and comprised no less than seven trot Summer Championship finals, all over the 2,140m distance.


The most prestigious final was naturally that reserved for Premier class trotters with a field of eight participants.  Absulot Spender was the first to take the lead, but it was soon overtaken by Vanmaker Limburgia and after just 500m, Olry Meslois took over as the race leader.  The latter gave the race a comfortable pace, followed for long stretches by Orne des Olivettes and Vanmaker Limburgia.


The situation remained the same until the backstraight when Absolut Spender advanced to attack Olry Meslois which nonetheless maintained the lead, but the real challenges arrived in the final straight particularly from Rodney Gatt’s Shakira Trot which sprinted like a thunderbolt fourwide throughout the straight to catch up with Olry Meslois at the post for a most uncertain finish.


The photofinish awarded the second seasonal win and the Premier class Summer Championship to Shakira Trot just a nose ahead of Olry Meslois which was however disqualified for failing a doping test (see below), with the runner-up place thus going to Label Chouan, followed by Vanmaker Limburgia and Give To Get in a race time of 1’15’7 per kilometre.


In the second most-awaited final, that for the Gold class, it was Perdreau Rapide which shot out fast from behind the autostart, followed by Veikko Hornline and Little Nick, with the race leaders imprinting a strong pace on this race.  The last half lap saw Perdreau Rapide maintaining the lead from Little Nick followed by Nophenio de Lune and Simb Tyrant. 


Simb Tyrant struggled to find an opening to launch its attack but it managed to find enough space around 150m from the end, at which stage its attack ultimately led it to arrive first at the post.    


However, this horse was disqualified for failing a doping test (see below) with Rodney Gatt’s Perdreau Rapide notching its second seasonal win and with Rodney registering his second final win.  This race also saw the best time of the day, i.e. 1’15’3 per kilometre, with the winner being half a length ahead of Nophenio de Lune, followed by Chippen Bob and Little Nick in that order.


Side Spin went in front after just 500m from the start of the Silver A class final maintaining the lead for over a kilometre.  However, the race came to life in the backstraight as Paolin de Bannes attacked on the outer lanes, getting head-to-head with Side Spin with around 500m to go, with these two horses entering the final straight together.


However at the start of the final straight, it was Brian Zammit’s Quaroldo which sprinted three wide, surprising one and all to take a decisive lead and claim its third consecutive and fourth seasonal win by one and a half lengths from the fast finishing Pilote de Nganda, followed by Paolin de Bannes and Udice Boko in a time of 1’15’9 per kilometre.    


It was Quartes which went in front after just around 350m from the start of the Silver B class final, followed for a good part of the distance by Lys de l’Oasis.  From then on, Quartes dictated its pace on the race participants, accelerating in the last half lap. 


The drama arrived in the final straight when Socrates unleashed a strong sprint which enabled it to catch up with Quartes with recourse having to be made to the photo finish for the final verdict.  The photo showed that Brian Hili’s Quartes had managed to hold on by just a nose to notch its second seasonal win in 1’16’4 per kilometre, claiming this final in front of a courageous Socrates, followed by Command Coger and Newman.


Poete de la Sarthe was the fastest after the autostart closed its wings in the Bronze A class final, followed like a shadow by Polytain and Quadrige de Mai.


Around 850m from the end, Noel Baldacchino guided Polytain (which had dropped to fourth place) to the outer lanes to start a powerful attack which within around 250m led it to the front and it soon opened a good lead of over three lengths. The final straight was a triumphal run for Polytain as it claimed its third consecutive and seasonal win (1’16’0 per kilometre) and this final, around one and a half lengths from the fast finishing Nerlo Villetot, followed by Law Suit and Poete de la Sarthe.  


In the Bronze B class final, Magnific As had an excellent start taking an early lead, with Inkato catching up it after about 700m.  Around 900m from the end Ywema’s Pine and Zeta Jones A  overtook Inkato and emerged to attack race leader Magnific As.


The situation remained the same until the middle of the final straight when Charles Camilleri’s Zeta Jones A capitalised on its powerful sprint to overtake Magnific As and to resist runner-up Jet Starline’s strong attack to notch its fifth seasonal win and claim this final by less than half a length, in a time of 1’16’6 per kilometre.


In the Copper class final it was Royal Qui followed Ballad Ribb which went in front early on with the situation remaining unchanged until the final straight, when Noble Candeen in the centre and Andri Boko on the extreme outer lanes produced impressive sprints. 


Noble Candeen was the first to reach the post but it was disqualified for hooking and thus Tony Demanuele’s Andri Boko notched its fourth seasonal win in 1’17’9 per kilometre, one and a half lengths ahead of Buckens Stjarna, followed by Ideal de Suce and Minou de Perdriat.


Summer news .


Although there were no races during the past weeks, that does not mean that horse racing activities were dead in the month of August and the first half of September.  The following are some snippets of news from the past weeks:


(i)            Driver of the Month – July


The Driver of the Month for July is Julian Farrugia, who won this award on the basis of the four wins and four places that he registered during that month from the 14 races he participated in. 


He won on Side Spin (Silver class), Que Je T’Aime Rush (Silver class), Lys de l’Oasis (Silver class) and Nerlo Villetot (Bronze class). 


Congratulations Julian!


(ii)           Second leg of the Mediterranean Drivers’ Championship


On the 27th July, Maltese Champion driver Noel Baldacchino represented Malta in the second leg of the Mediterranean Drivers’ Championship held at the Ippodromo del Mediterraneo, Siracusa, Sicily.


Unfortunately, Noel was drawn to partner outsider Novi Ligure and this mare was clearly one of the weaker entries in this race.  Despite Noel’s best effort, his charge could only finish seventh (fourth among the participants in this international championship).


We thank Noel for being once again a worthwhile representative of our country in the international scene.


      (iii)          Young drivers’ training visit to Sweden


On the 26th August, four young drivers travelled to Sweden for a week of specialised intensive horse-racing training; a visit which was made possible through European Union funding in the Leonardo da Vinci Mobility Project.


The four drivers are Kurt Saliba, Dylan Baldacchino, Warren Spiteri and Marvin Cauchi, who were accompanied by Mr Marco Millo, Director of International Affairs & Infrastructure on the Malta Racing Club Council and Mr Anton Pace who were both instrumental in applying and obtaining approval for this training programme.


These young drivers were certainly enriched both by what they learnt as well as by the experience itself and they and the officials involved have also undertaken to share the experience and knowledge they acquired with fellow drivers here in Malta.


The training included both theoretical and practical aspects with Mr Tommy Lovgren (who was responsible for a horse-racing school in Sweden for many years) taking care of the theoretical part.  Our drivers also had the opportunity of visiting large stables of professional trainers based close to the Jagersro racetrack and seeing what it is like to work in such stables.


(iv)          Drivers participating in races overseas


As in previous years, various drivers seized the opportunity provided by the continuation of racing during the summer in foreign countries to gain precious international experience whilst enjoying themselves driving in foreign racecourses and visiting other countries.


Our drivers’ enthusiasm to participate in races overseas is further confirmed by the fact that these visits overseas were organised on a personal basis.


The news that reached us in this respect involved the following:


(a) Netherlands: On the 12th August two encounter races were held in Alkmaar between Maltese drivers and Dutch amateur drivers.  These two races were won by Dutch drivers but our drivers obtained good places.  In the first race Isabelle Formosa finished third and Ludvig Ghigo fourth, whilst in the second, Shaun Formosa was runner-up and Tony Tanti finished third.


(b) Sweden:  On the 13th August, an encounter race was held in Jagersro between Maltese drivers and Danish and Swedish amateur drivers on a 2,140m distance (autostart).


This appeared to be a triumph for Maltese driver Charles Magro as he appeared to have led his horse to a comfortable win, but unfortunately this horse was disqualified by the stewards after the race.


Thus Ludvig Ghigo obtained the best placing among the Maltese (4th), with the other Maltese participants being Darren Mizzi and Jason Vassallo.


On the 16th August, another encounter race was held in Tingsryd between Maltese drivers and Swedish amateur drivers on a 1,609m distance (autostart).   


This race was won by a Swedish driver but the Maltese drivers claimed various places, Ludvig Ghigo finishing 3rd, Tony Tanti 4th, Shaun Formosa 5th, Isabelle Formosa 6th, with the other Maltese drivers being Mark Tanti and Charles Farrugia.


If any other Maltese drivers were involved in racing overseas, they are kindly requested to let us know and we will be pleased to report these initiatives.


Indeed, although it is undoubtedly a great satisfaction to win or place well in these races overseas, irrespective of the result obtained, the international experience and contacts earned through such initiatives is priceless and makes it all worthwhile. 


(v)           Doping test results


During the summer the Malta Racing Club received 25 further doping test results. Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of:


(a) Kimberley Downs, Cheeky Jack and Timolin all relative to The Mediterranean Derby,


(b) Orcas Bac, Nino de Saintho and Sultan November all relative to the Sette Giugno Cup final,


(c) Okilaibo, Mark de Chamant, Olympien Major, Orne des Olivettes, Orion du Vaumicel, Quozak Prior, Pittacos and Qualaudry all relative to the SECF championships finals,


(d) Okilaibo, Orne des Olivettes and Mark de Chamant all relative to the VOB Grand Final and


(e) Shakira Trot, Quaroldo, Quartes, Polytain, Zeta Jones A and Andri Boko all relative to the Summer Championships finals


the results of all of which confirmed that they were clean from prohibited substances.


However, unfortunately the Malta Racing Club also received two positive results relative to Olry Meslois and Simb Tyrant which were found positive for a Category 3 prohibited substances in their respective Summer Championships final.  The updated results of the Premier and Gold class finals have been referred to above.


(vi)          Calendar for the rest of the season


The Malta Racing Club finalised the programme for the second phase of this season.  This includes various popular championships for both trotters and thoroughbreds including among others the Autumn Championship, the SECF championships, the President’s Cup and the VOB Cup for trotters and the Johnnie Walker Cup and the Coronation Cup for thoroughbreds.


(vii)         Election for owners’ and drivers’ representatives


Next Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September, the Malta Racing Club will host the election for the owners’ and drivers’ representatives on the Malta Racing Club Council.  Three candidates need to be elected.


We wish you a great start to the second phase of this season.