by Magnat
Two race meetings will be held over the coming week, first this Sunday 29th September, followed by another on Sunday 6th October. The first consists of 9 trot races with the second featuring 9 trot races and a flat race. Each race meeting starts at 1.30pm.
The main attraction of these meetings consists in the semi-finals of the Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship on the short 2,140m distance, reserved for Premier class trotters, which will be held this Sunday 29th September. The first three from each semi-final qualify for the final which will be held in a fortnight’s time.
The number of horses for this championship this year amounts to 27 (two of which were scratched), considerably less than those in the previous three editions (50 in 2010, 47 in 2011 and 46 in 2012), but their quality is undoubted.
The first semi-final sees horses such as last week’s winner and Summer championship runner-up Label Chouan, Prix de Vincennes runner-up Mark de Chamant, Ygor of Pass coming from a good win, Of Course Ramble which notched an encouraging 5th place last week and well-known horses Prince de la Butte, Mars and Pro Shop.
One of the participants is also Swedish 10 year old newcomer The Bad Rock, registered with the highest handicap points for a newcomer. Winner of SEK1,228,450 overseas thanks to 15 wins and many places and with a best time of 1’13’5 per kilometre on 1,640m made in 2012, this horse had many positive performances in Sweden, one of the best being its win in the Ostran/ Nyheternas Lopp at Kalmar in February 2011 on a 2,640m distance (SEK200,000 winnings). Among its best outings this season, we find a win and two runner-up places and a good 1’13’7 per kilometre on 1,660m just clocked in July.
The second semi-final features horses of the calibre of Sette Giugno Cup winner Orcas Bac, Vanmaker Limburgia third placed in the Summer Championship final, Nicos de Peneme and Phenix de la Roque coming from good wins, Prix d’Enghien winner Orion du Vaumicel, Finnish six year old newcomer Brave Duo, as well as popular horses Olympien Major, Nuage de Bourgogne and Totti T. Dream.
Among the protagonists of the third semi-final we find one of this season’s best performers, Okilaibo, winner of the Prix de Vincennes and of the VOB Cup, double race winner Ohime Mag which holds this year’s best time on the distance of 1’14’4 per kilometre, triple race winner Absolut Spender, Arnie Sensation, winner of various championships in past years, as well as quality horses Tygo Idzarda, Oncle Sam, Start Brodde and Versace Boko.
The other trot races in these two meetings are also on the short 2,140m distance.
Possibly the main attraction in the 6th October meeting is the Encounter race between Maltese drivers and others from the Sundbyholm racecourse in Sweden, with 12 horses (split between the Maltese and the Swedish drivers) taking part in this Open race.
The horses involved vary from the Copper to the Gold class, and include also a mix of nationalities, seven Swedes, two Finns, two French and a German. Swedish horses Sandrone (Silver class) and Haskovis (Copper class) are due to make their Malta debut in this race. We give a warm welcome to our Swedish visitors and look forward to an entertaining race for all participants.
That meeting also includes two balanced Gold class races. The first features various in-form horses such as Midnight Passion, Quozak Prior, Quio de Nappes and Markus Klipp all coming from good wins in their last three outings together with others which registered good places.
The participants in the second race include horses such as Blizzard AD and Beckham Bob coming from good places, popular horses such as triple race winner Orage du Pont and double race winner Onyx Lucernais, horses which have just been relegated from the Premier class, such as Nagano Phedo, Reves de Magalou and Nitesco d’Antony and other horses with handicap points which are quite close to those of the Premier class.
The other newcomers in these two meetings are French Querby du Gite, Quatre de Coeur, Qurun An Heol, Sir Malouin and Swahili de Nacre and Swede Dealer Arriba in the Silver class and Danish mare Pema in the Bronze class.
The 6th October meeting also features a Class A flat race over the longer 1,750m distance with four quality participants being this year’s Mediterranean Derby winner Kimberley Downs, triple race winner Timolin, Potere d’Acquisto which won its only race in Malta so far and Ollie Fliptrik making its return after a four month break from racing.
But the highlight of these two meetings remains the semi-finals of the Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship. Although not that many, the participants are representative of the cream of Maltese trotters, and with just 9 available places, booking a place in the final is no mean feat and requires a top class performance by each of them. Spectators are guaranteed some spectacular racing with each finalist being a worthy protagonist to challenge to join Kakisis, Livi Cantona and Troy Boshoeve, past winners of this top class championship.
Last Meeting
Whilst the first meeting was dedicated to short distance races, the second one of the second phase of the season featured exclusively longer trot races on the 2,640m distance.
As usual, the Premier class race was the highlight of the meeting. Here it was True Q which took an early lead, which however it only maintained until just under 2 laps to go, when Label Chouan went in front. From then on Label Chouan controlled the race giving it a strong pace and maintaining it till the end, further increasing its pace in the last 400m, to win comfortably by over four lengths from the fast-finishing Ofackevo, followed by True Q and Vanmaker Limburgia.
This was Label Choaun’s first seasonal win and its tenth in Malta in a very good time of 1’15’4 per kilometre, the joint seasonal best time on the 2,640m distance.
In the first Gold class race it was Niky de Memartin which had a good start taking an early lead which however it only maintained for around 600m as Nacarat Campbell overtook it with around two laps to go. With a mile to go, the lead changed again with Pitchpin des Bois taking over in front followed by Nacarat Campbell and Niky de Memartin.
But the determining action arrived early in the final straight as Pan des Couperies sprinted three wide to come head to head with the race leader. Under pressure, Pitchpin des Bois changed pace and was disqualified, with Pan des Coupieres claiming its first win in Malta in its second race here in a time of 1’16’5 per kilometre, about two and a half lengths from Nacarat Campbell which was making its return after a 14 month absence, followed by Niky de Memartin and Player du Mirel.
The second Gold class race did not have much story, with Phenix de la Roque taking the lead after just 450m from the start and then maintaining absolute command of the race, often having an advantage of various lengths. It further increased its velocity from the backstraight to the post to claim its third seasonal win and promotion to the Premier class by some five lengths from Blizzard AD, followed by Lover Boy Index and Beckham Bob in 1’16’9 per kilometre.
Milano du Gite took an early lead in the first Silver class race, followed by Mcollie. It paced the race well maintaining a comfortable speed until the last lap when it increased it substantially especially from the back straight onwards to increase its lead to various lengths, continuing victoriously until the end to take its first win in the last 22 months, some four and a half lengths ahead of Megiddo, followed by Bella Notte and Mcollie in that order in a time of 1’18’2 per kilometre.
The second Silver class race was dominated by Quozak Prior which took an early lead and paced the race at its rythm, increasing its speed every time any horse came close to it. The final straight was a triumphal march for the said Quozak Prior which claimed its third seasonal win comfortably, no less than five lengths from Quio de Nappes, Insomnia Grif and Touch The Diamond in 1’17’2 per kilometre.
An impressive sprint with half a lap to go was what was necessary for Roma M to overtake one horse after another in the third Silver class race, coming head-to-head with race leader Mealington and then comfortably taking the lead in the middle of the final straight and dominating the last metres to win by around two and a half lengths from the fast-finishing Zandina Boshoeve, followed by Quaroldo and Mealington. This was Roma M’s first win in Malta in a time of 1’17’2 per kilometre.
Newman took an early lead and maintained it until the final lap of the fourth Silver class race. However, around 800m from the end, Law Suit went three wide to come out of the middle of the pack into fourth place. The latter then provided another acceleration 350m from the end to challenge Newman head-to-head throughout the final straight, managing to pip Newman by just a head at the post, to record its second consecutive and third seasonal win in 1’18’2 per kilometre. Big Hit and Quo Vadis Phedo finished 3rd and 4th respectively.
The last 400m were the determining part of the last Silver class race when newcomer Quarborandum advanced on the outer lanes to challenge the raceleaders and to go in front at the start of the final straight. However, immediately afterwards, Quipson produced an impressive sprint five wide coming head-to-head with Quarborandum and managing to beat it by a head at the finish to take its first win in Malta in its second race here in a time of 1’17’3 per kilometre. Neo de Mira and Bankir Zon took the remaining places.
In the other races, Andri Boko consolidated its first place in the most consistent trotter classification by being the first horse to win six races this season in the Bronze class, 15 year old veteran Magnific As registered its second seasonal win in the other Bronze class race and was promoted to the Silver class, whilst 6 year old Take Out Blue also claimed its second seasonal win and promotion to the Bronze class whilst registering its all-time personal best of 1’17’3 per kilometre in the Copper class.
A Championship held in Autumn that many of us remember
Just two months have passed since the end of the Summer championship and another championship for top class horses is already due to start, the Autumn Championship, which for the third consecutive time is sponsored by Cassar Fuels who we thank wholeheartedly for the assistance they give to our sport.
As everyone knows, the current style of the Autumn Championship started in 2010 (it was then sponsored by Dragonara), when it was won by French trotter Kakisis, and for many years before, due to the calendar’s exigencies, it was not possible for another championship to be added at this time of year.
But it was not always so!
A championship or “Condition Race” which had also been held in Autumn, with just two phases, i.e. semi-finals and final as will happen this year and also reserved for top class horses (at the time the A1 and today the Premier class) was that held in November – December 2000 (at the time the French trotters’ championships had not yet started being held) and known as the Euro Hygiene Condition Race.
Two semi-finals were held on the 19th November and the other two semi-finals a week later, on the 26th November 2000, with just the first two horses from every semi-final making it to the final. The race distance in the year 2000 was the rather long 2,640m differently from the current distance which is the short 2,140m.
A rather original feature of this championship was the fact that whilst three semi-finals were autostart races, the other semi-final was a handicap race.
The two semi-finals held on the 19th November were autostart races. In the first, a great sprint throughout the final straight was enough to put Swedish 9 year old newcomer Always Boss (driven by Julian Farrugia) in the lead such that it claimed its first win in Malta at its first attempt.
Fellow 9 year old French mare Diatka de Pitz was runner-up and also made it to the final when it preceded Jacob Jison, which was thus eliminated.
Then in the second semi-final we witnessed a beautiful challenge between another Swedish newcomer (this time an 8 year old), Kickshaw, driven by Massimo Vassallo and popular horse Linus Car, throughout the final straight. At the end, it was Kickshaw which finished on top beating the same Linus Car, which also qualified for the final when it preceded another Swedish horse, ie. Haga Boys.
Then a week later, on the 26th November, the other two semi-finals were held. The first was a handicap race on the 2,660m distance. Here a lot of attention was focused on David Ceda, a Swedish 10 year old trotter which had been imported shortly before and that had impressed a lot when it won its first two races in Malta in style.
But this horse started with a 40m handicap (a 2,700m race) and for most of the race it did not appear well-placed to win. Thanks to its great class, in the last half lap it managed to catch up with the frontrunners and just before the horses entered the final straight it even managed to take the lead.
However, in the last 150m, we witnessed a brilliant sprint from French 10 year old Camelia Poterie driven by David Ellul, which claimed the win, in front of the same David Ceda which also qualified for the final. Daddio finished third but did not qualify.
The last qualification race was again an autostart one on the 2,640m distance. Swedish 7 year old Free Ride shot in front half a lap from the end and opened even a four length lead. However it could not maintain this pace in the final straight when it was overtaken by another Swedish horse (8 year old) Fliteling driven by Joe Bartolo, which finished winner in front of the same Free Ride which accompanied it in the final. Declic de Prez finished third without getting a place in the final.
So, everything was ready for a great final a week later, 3rd December 2000, in front of the season’s best crowd until that moment. It was an autostart race on the 2,640m distance. We had eight finalists, six Swedes and two French, all quality horses of relatively young ages for Malta of between 7 and 11 years.
However as a race it did not have much story, because David Ceda (this time without the handicap it had in the semi-final) driven by well-known Swedish driver Andres Lindqvist, took the lead practically from the start, imposed a strong pace on the race and continued going strong until the end.
Linus Car which was in second place throughout, had a courageous showing, did all it could to catch-up with David Ceda and in the last part of the race managed to substantially reduce the lead, but it could do nothing to stop the latter from winning comfortably with more than two lengths in an excellent time on the distance of 1’15’6 per kilometre (bearing in mind that the best time on this distance this year was of 1’15’4 and 13 years have passed since that final). Kickshaw finished 3rd.
Those were great horses which form part of our country’s horse-racing history.
Indeed, David Ceda was one of the best horses which ever came to Malta. Winner of nearly SEK5,300,000 or around Euro580,000 overseas (and let’s bear in mind that these are figures won in the nineties) this horse raced in both Sweden and France and is the only horse imported to Malta which I remember as having participated in the Prix d’Amerique (apart from various other prestigious races). It had a personal record of 1’13’4 per kilometre on 2,100m.
In Malta its owner was Mr Antoine Vassallo, it made its debut aged 10 years in August 2000 and participated only in 20 races of which it won 5 and placed in another 6 with its best time of 1’15’5 on 2,140m and 1’15’6 on 2,640m. Although its races were not many, they were certainly enough to showcase its great class and to give us a taster of what this horse offered in foreign racecourses.
We hope that even this year’s Cassar Fuels Autumn Championship will offer us horses of great quality whose names will continue to be remembered in future.
As always I wholeheartedly thank Mr Nicholas Farrugia who provided me with a lot of useful information on this championship which helped me to give as complete a picture thereof as possible.
We wish you two other beautiful meetings in the coming week.