Sunday 24th November 2013
46th horse-racing meeting 2013 – 24th November

by Magnat


Another race meeting will be held next Sunday 24th November starting at 1.30pm.  This consists of nine races, eight for trotters and one for thoroughbreds.  The former will race on the quite long 2,640m distance with the only flat race being held on the sprint 1,250m distance.


This race card is extremely varied with three brilliant semi-finals from the President’s Cup, reserved for Premier class horses not being French horses taking part in the Prix de Vincennes, five “normal” trot races and a Class A flat race.


Split into three semi-finals, the 27 participants hail from six different countries, i.e. there are 15 Swedes, 4 Germans and two each from Denmark, Finland, Italy and the Netherlands.  The first four from each semi-final make it to the final which will be held on Republic Day, 13th December.


The first semi-final includes recent 2,140m record-holder Orcas Bac, coming from three straight wins including that in the Cassar Petroleum Autumn Championship final, Sultan November which has a win and six places in its last eight races, Why Not As which won its last race, Arnie Sensation which placed well in the second half of October and the other popular horses Poppes Fighter, Versace Boko , Gently di Poggio and Totti T. Dream.


German newcomer Uncle Joe’s Jet, an 11-year old German stallion which is registered with the highest handicap points for a newcomer is also due to make its debut in this race.  Winner of no less than SEK1,836,074 overseas, thanks to a good number of wins and many places and with a best time of 1’12’2 per kilometre on 1,609m, this horse competed in a number of countries, particularly Germany, Sweden and France and demonstrated versatility in short, middle and long distance races.


The second semi-final includes an impressive number of horses which have won or placed well in any of their last two recent races – Summer championship winner Shakira Trot, Rocky Composite, The Bad Rock (all winners), Madam di Poggio, Vanmaker Limburgia, Cloria Victis and Ygor of Pass.  Last year’s Sette Giugno Cup winner Zilver Boko together with Bonus Kall and Brave Duo are also in with a chance of success.


Among the participants in the last semi-final, we find five race winner Midnight Passion, True Q and Veikko Hornline which both registered a good win in October, 2012 Skyparks Swedish Trotters championship winner Wiss Night Hawk, past Assikura Cup winner Count of Life, interesting German 7 year old newcomer Zalgado Transs R, together with the popular Mars and Our Dream.


The “normal” trot races are also extremely balanced with various in-form horses participating therein.  We have three Silver class races, and one each for Bronze and Copper class horses.  These include four newcomers hailing from four different countries, French Rikito, Swede Super Gordon and American Foot Stompin Music in the Silver class and Dutch Absolutelymeadow in the Bronze class.


We have six participants in the Class A sprint flat race, three Irish, two Americans and a German.  Kimberley Downs is coming from three consecutive wins, including the Mediterranean Derby and Johnnie Walker Cup finals on longer distances, Timolin notched three wins and four places in its seven outings this year, Enthrall won its only race in Malta to date, Diamante Grande managed a win and a place this year, while Gold As Good was runner-up in both its races in Malta so far.


This should indeed also be a very interesting race!


Another great meeting awaits us with different attractions on the card.  Undoubtedly however, the championship dedicated to our Head of State with its 21 year tradition takes pride of place with some of our best trotters ensuring a class of titans for the selection of the 12 finalists!


Last Meetings


The highlights of last weekend’s meetings were two Premier class races on the short 2,140m distance during Friday’s meeting, together with the start of three championships reserved for French trotters sponsored by the French trotters’ association, the SECF, i.e. the Prix d’Enghien (Gold class), the Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) and the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class) on the longer 2,640m distance.


Italian newcomer Madam di Poggio took an early lead in the first Premier class race but it was soon overtaken by Ygor of Pass.  However with around a lap to go Madam di Poggio once again reclaimed the lead.


Madam di Poggio remained in front until the start of the final straight when it came under severe attack from Absolute Spender running two wide.  The latter took the lead midway through the final straight to go on to notch its fourth seasonal win by around a length from the said Madam di Poggio, followed by Orion du Vaumicel and Ygor of Pass in that order.


The second Premier class race was held under a strong downpour of rain.  Shakira Trot had an excellent start and took an immediate lead which it maintained comfortably until the last half lap when it was attacked by Sultan November.


These two horses ran head-to-head for some time but Shakira Trot went in front again around 300m from the end.  However in the middle of the final straight Start Brodde sprinted strongly on the outer lanes and managed to overtake the race leader a few metres before the end.  However the latter was disqualified for hooking with Shakira Trot thus claiming its third seasonal win in 1’16’2 per kilometre, around a length ahead of Vanmaker Limburgia, followed by Oltedo de Rieux and Sultan November.


At this stage, Friday’s meeting was suspended due to the adverse climatic conditions with the remaining race being held at the end of Sunday’s meeting.


Prince Gaillard took an early lead in the first Prix d’Enghien heat but after the first 900m, this horse was overtaken by Pitchpin du Bois.  The latter maintained a consistent length and a half’s lead from Prince Gaillard and even increased its pace in the last 300m to dominate the final straight and notch its third seasonal win with a lead of around three and a half lengths, in a very good time of 1’15’7 per kilometre.  Prince Gaillard, newcomer Rapide du Matin, Nacarat Campbell and Pepito Flash qualified for the semi-final in that order.


Pan de Couperies took the lead with two laps to go in the second Prix d’Enghien heat but just 500m later it was overtaken by Ozerio.  However the real action came in the back straight as Quel Noir sprinted three wide to advance from one place to another and went in front with 600m to go. 


Pan de Couperies came back in the last half lap to arrive close to the race leader and to attack it strongly in the final straight, but Quel Noir resisted successfully to claim its first win in Malta in 1’17’3 per kilometre, half a length from Pan de Couperies, followed by Quid de la Muette, Orage du Pont and Niky du Donjon which all made it to the semi-finals.


Nitesco d’Antony took the lead after 500m from the start of the third Prix d’Enghien heat, a position it maintained comfortably until the start of the final straight.  However around 600m from the end, Onyx Lucernais started a remarkable sprint on the inner lanes which led to overtake a number of horses, and then it went out three wide to go up from fourth place to head-to-head with the race leader as the horses entered the final straight. 


Onyx Lucernais followed this up with a brilliant sprint, went in front around 100m from the end to claim its third seasonal win by nearly two lengths in 1’15’9 per kilometre, ahead of the same Nitesco d’Antony, followed by Produit Fier, Orion de Chapeau and Oolong which also booked their place in  the semi-finals.


Reves de Magalou took an early lead in the last Prix d’Enghien heat, which it maintained for the first 1,500m when it was overtaken by Oiellet de Phens.  However on the back straight newcomer Reader Jyl advanced from the middle of the pack on the outer lanes, with three horses being practically in one line at the entry into the final straight, Oiellet de Phens in the inner lane, Phenix de la Roque and Reader Jyl three wide.


However the latter went in front in the middle of the final straight and there was no stopping it from having a great debut, winning by a couple of lengths in a very good time of 1’15’6 per kilometre.  Olympien Major, then Phenix de la Roque, Nophenio de Lune and Oiellet de Phens followed it into the semi-finals.     


Partisan de Bouere took the lead with around two laps to go in the first Prix de Cabourg heat and kept consistently in front until the final straight when it underwent a determined attack from Petit Pierricais which however did not manage to catch up with the race leader.  However Partisan de Bouere was disqualified for hooking in the last 200m during Petit Pierricais’ attack, with the win thus going to the latter (first win in Malta) in 1’16’9 per kilometre some five lengths ahead of Quio de Nappes, followed by fellow semi-final qualifiers Milano du Gite and Queops de Retz.


In the second Prix de Cabourg heat, Quaroldo claimed its fifth seasonal win in 1’17’2 per kilometre thanks to a blistering sprint in the last 300m running three wide, which sprint could not be matched by any other participant.  It finished some two and a half lengths ahead of Pirate d’Urzy, followed by Pittacos and Orio de Marancourt which also made it to the semi-finals.


Pile Ou Face was in front for most of the third Prix de Cabourg heat, but in the middle of the final straight we saw a strong sprint on the inner lanes by Pared An Hoel which attacked the race leader and swept past it to claim its first seasonal win in 1’16’9 per kilometre, half a length from the same Pile Ou Face, followed by other qualifiers Quiad Tejy and Octobre En Fete.


Newcomer Reve de Nieul and Pactolgo alternated in first place in the early stages of the fourth heat, with the former then remaining in front followed by the same Pactolgo until the final straight.  The last 250m were a head-to-head struggle between these two horses as they sprinted towards the post.  Pactolgo went in front around a 100m from the end to register its first win in Malta in 1’17’0, some two lengths from the same Reve de Nieul, followed by fellow-qualifiers Pancho Villa and Notre Allegro.


Paolin de Bannes led for long stretches in the penultimate Prix de Cabourg heat but the determinant action arrived in the back straight as Quarborandum went three wide and overtook one horse after another to come head to head with the leader with 500m left.  These two horses sprinted head-to-head but Quarborandum went in front in the middle of the final straight and went on to register its first win in Malta in 1’17’4, more than a length ahead of the fast-finishing Quipson, followed into the semi-finals by Paolin de Bannes and newcomer Reveal Champ Blanc.


Finally, the heat that was postponed from Friday’s meeting had little story as Quozak Prior took an early one length lead which it maintained throughout the race, accelerating further in the last half lap to distance itself more from the rest of the field, comfortably resisting the other horses in the final straight, to notch its fourth seasonal win in 1’16’8 per kilometre, two lengths from Partner Blue, with Poustouf du Bleuet and Qurieux du Ponchet also qualifying for the semi-finals.


Doping test results


The Malta Racing Club has received three doping test results, i.e. those referring to the Cassar Fuels Condition Races held on the 27th October.  Well done to the owners and trainers of Midnight Passion (Gold class), Prince Lou (Silver A class) and Royal Qui (Copper class) whose results confirmed that they were all free from prohibited substances.


The President’s Cup nearly 20 years ago


The 2013 edition of the President’s Cup coincidentally also happens to be the 13th edition of this prestigious championship.  This does not mean that this championship started being held in 2001.  Indeed the first edition was also the first edition of the Summer championship, way back in the summer of 1992. 


As from the following year the championship acquired its own distinct identity with the final originally being held in February - March.  Race distances tended to vary over the years.  Then after some time we had some years in which this championship was not organised – between the years 2000 and 2003 and then again between 2005 and 2009 the President’s Cup was missing from the Maltese racing calendar, but it returned with a bang in 2010 and was held ever since.


In the last couple of years we gave a look at the first two editions of this championship, those won by Zito Bob and Sanit respectively.


A characteristic of this championship is that although it has predominantly been open to Malta’s elite trotters (those in the Class A1 and the Premier class nowadays) there were three editions in which it was reserved for horses in lower classes – something that I always found somewhat strange, given the status of the highest prestige of the President of Malta. Nonetheless this characteristic forms part of the history of this championship. 


The 1994 edition, organised between February and March over the short 2,160m distance, was one of the editions in which class A1 trotters were excluded from participation – being reserved for the A and B classes (today’s Gold class).  Still, it was a very keenly contested and exciting championship.


A glut of trotters were registered for that championship, resulting in heats and semi-finals being necessary for the selection of the finalists.


The heats were contested on the 20th February – no less than seven being necessary to determine the semi-finalists.


The winners of the heats were Arnson (Charles Clifton) followed by Sibyllin, Speedy Gabriel (Raymond Clifton) followed by Kacke Kramer, Concorde Bisa (Raymond Clifton) preceding Cotton Club, Wichy Vat (George Schembri) ahead of Tournoel, Lucky Khan (George Schembri) before Super Speed, Myshkin (Carmelo Farrugia) – registering the best time of these heats (1’20’2 per kilometre) - followed by Alto Be and finally Secret Chance (George Schembri) ahead of Roustic.


Interestingly, the late George Schembri managed to win three of the heats and Raymond Clifton had two winners.


The three semi-finals were held a week later, on the 27th February, with the first three from each making it to the final.


Talmont, driven by the late George Schembri, had no difficulty in winning the first semi-final after leading all the way and beating fellow-qualifiers Myshkin and Ragnar Vicking in a time of 1’18’6. 


The same driver drove Alto Be to victory in the second semi-final, when this horse took the lead from Kacke Kramer in the middle of the final straight and went on to win convincingly from the same Kacke Kramer and Alma Brick in 1’17’8 per kilomtre.


The third semi-final provided some good excitement particularly in the final straight with Manager and Wichy Vat running head to head.  Driven by Raymond Clifton, Manager claimed the honours followed by the same Wichy Vat and Lucky Khan in 1’20’1 per kilometre.


As is customary in the President’s Cup, the final, on the 6th March 1994, was held under the distinguished patronage of the President of Malta then the late Dr Vincent Tabone, who watched the race together with his wife Mrs Maria Tabone.


In the first lap of the 2,160m race, the lead was held first by Ragner Vicking which had a good start, and later by Wichy Vat.


However the winner of this prestigious final was Swede nine year old Alto Be (driven by France Cassar, who took over from the late George Schembri who had two winners in the semi-finals), which took the lead in the middle of the distance and increased its speed in the last half lap to win by two and a half lengths from Lucky Khan followed closely by Kacke Kramer and Talmont in that order.  The race time was 1’17’5 per kilometre.


After the race, His Excellency the President of Malta presented the Cup to the winning driver with The Times’ photo of the occasion showing France Cassar proudly receiving the President’s Cup from the President, who also presented the honours to the owners/ drivers of the placing horses.


This was Alto Be’s second win that season (it would notch another win in the remainder of the season).  A Swedish stallion born in 1985 and winner of SEK461,500 overseas (best time of 1’15’1 per kilometre), it made its debut in Malta in Class A in December 1993 and had a relatively short career here comprising 37 races in which it won 5 times and placed another 11 times, with a best time of 1’16’1 per kilometre on 1,655m.  Its last race was in May 1996, as an 11 year old. 


... and now fast forward by nearly 20 years and we move from past to present as we prepare ourselves to follow this year’s President’s Cup.


We wish you another great meeting this weekend.