by Magnat
Two race meetings will be held this weekend, the first on Friday 29th November starting at 7pm followed by another on Sunday 1st December starting at 1.30pm. Both are all-trot meetings, the former consisting of eight races with Sunday’s meeting comprising ten races.
Undoubtedly the weekend’s main attraction consists of the ten semi-finals from the SECF French trotters’ championships which will be held throughout Sunday’s programme all on the rather long 2,640m distance. The key feature of Friday’s meeting consists of three “normal” Gold class races on the same distance.
Naturally the key feature of these semi-finals consist of the two Prix de Vincennes (Premier class) semi-finals with eleven and twelve participants respectively aged between 9 and 15 years.
The first includes this year’s Tazza l-Kbira winner Nabab du Chatelet, June’s Prix de Vincennes and VOB Cup winner Okilaibo, last year’s President’s Cup winner Mont Cenis Honey, Original Blue which has two places in its last three races, as well as quality horses Orgueil de Nganda, Quampo Mondo Sy, Nelson du Val, Nevaio des Bordes, Nono de Crouay and Oros de Reve.
Another interesting participant is French 10 year old newcomer Pacha de la Frette, registered with the highest handicap points for a newcomer. Winner of Euro358,284 overseas, with 12 wins and numerous places and with a best time of 1’10’9 per km on the absolute sprint distance of 1,100m (April 2012) ( 1’13’0 on 2,100 and 2,150m), this versatile horse was a globetrotter in Europe already competing in France, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands.
It competed well in various important races having prize-money ranging between even Euro70,000 to Euro90,000. Among its best outings this year, we find a win on the sprint 1,800m distance, three runner-up places on the short 2,100/ 2,150m distances, a 3rd place and three 4th places, including one in the prestigious Prix Cornelia (monte- Euro85,000 total prize-money) on the long 2,850m distance.
The second semi-final features four time winner this year Odedjalo, past Tazza l-Kbira and VOB Cup winner Kakisis, double race winners Ohime Mag and Oran authors of some great performances this year, last June’s Prix de Vincennes runner-up Mark de Chamant, Orion du Vaumicel, Nicos de Peneme, Oltedo de Rieux and Ourasi Diams which all placed earlier this month as well as popular horses Quebec, Orly Montaval and Quelino d’Amour.
Undoubtedly two extremely balanced and uncertain semi-finals!
The Prix d’Enghien (Gold class) is equally interesting with ten participants aged between 8 and 12 years in each semi-final fighting out for the first five places.
The first semi-final features heats winners Reader Jyl, Onyx Lucernais and Quel Noir as well as horses such as Niky du Donjon coming from two wins in its last three outings, Prince Gaillard and Orion de Chapeau coming from three consecutive places, Pan des Couperies placed in its last two races, whilst Olympien Major, Phenix de la Roque and Pepito Flash all had positive outings recently. Each of these horses won a minimum of Euro116,460 and a maximum of Euro226,173 in their career in France.
The second semi-final features Pitchpin des Bois, coming from two wins in its last three outings, Oeillet de Phens with a win in its penultimate race, Nacarat Campbell, Nitesco d’Antony and Nophenio de Lune all having two good places in their last three outings, as well as Quid de la Muette, Rapide du Matin, Oolong, Orage du Pont and Produit Fier, whose quality is also undoubted. Each of these horses won a minimum of Euro105,295 and a maximum of Euro313,590 in its French career.
The two Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) semi-finals comprise 11 and 12 horses respectively aged between 8 and 13 years. Quarborandum, Quozak Prior, Petit Pierricais, Pactolgo and Pared An Hoel have all won their heats and horses such as Pile Ou Face, Quio de Nappes, Qurieux du Ponchet and Poustouf du Bleuet have all managed to enter the winner’s circle in their last three outings.
The remaining horses are also coming from positive performances and a great struggle is anticipated for a place in the final.
Each Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer semi-final features 12 participants aged between 7 and 15 years old. Heats winners and runners-up Poete de la Sarthe, Petit Veinard, Kaki de Peyrahout, Sir Malouin, Quo Vadis Phedo and Polytain (all winners), Norfolk de Gouerie, Quintin Malin, Quivan de Visais, Lorenz de Noyelles, Quasar de Subligny and Notre Joyeux (all runners-up) will be challenged by a number of other in-form trotters.
Featuring 13 participants in each semi-final, the Copper class horses enter the fray immediately at the semi-final stage in the Prix de Caen. Once again this class features the horses with the largest age difference, i.e. between 5 and 17 years.
Although this is the lowest trot class, it features various in-form trotters which are all capable of rising to the occasion particularly in such an important appointment.
Apart from these great semi-finals, Friday’s meeting also includes some interesting features, particularly three “normal” Gold class races which feature a variety of interesting and in-form trotters.
The first race includes among others Prince Lu coming from two straight wins, Matador Knick having a win and two places in its last three outings, Chippen Bob with a win and a place in its last three races, Quel Gibus which registered a good win last month, as well as newcomers French nine year old Quota d’Achille and Italian four year old Pepita Ans.
The second race features horses having enough handicap points to put them on the doorstep of the Premier class, with horses like Xray Hornline, Reado November, Super Qui (recently racing in the Premier class) and Beckham Bob having good places in recent races and various horses having been recently relegated from the Premier class, such as Noble d’Ete and Made In Hoff, among others.
The same counts for the third race, with trotters such as Zandina Boshoeve and Charm Hammering both coming from a win and two places, Player du Mirel coming from a win in its penultimate race and Premier Avril notching a good runner-up place last month, among a variety of valid horses.
In the remaining “normal” races, we should also see two seven year old French newcomers, i.e. Siderant and Solo d’Occagnes, such that if all the anticipated new horses make their debut, this year’s total will already have exceeded the number of newcomers for the whole of last year.
But undoubtedly the star attractions this weekend are the SECF French trotters’ championships semi-finals. Semi-finals which, are in truth, quasi-finals, because as a horse-owner told me recently, given the quality of the participants, every horse and driver needs to be at his best and there is no room for the slightest mistake, in order to place among the top five to make it to the final!
Last Meeting
The highlights of the last meeting were undoubtedly the three semi-finals from this year’s edition of the President’s Cup reserved for Premier class trotters on the rather long 2,640m distance, with the first four from each qualifying for the final being held on the 13th December.
Why Not As took an early lead in the first President’s Cup semi-final, with Gently di Poggio taking over after around 400m. The race maintained a rather slow rhythm until the start of the last lap, when Orcas Bac sprinted two-wide to go up in second place, with these two horses continuing to lead the race until the last 350m when Poppes Fighter went three-wide to come up behind the leading duo.
The final straight was a head-to-head struggle between these three horses with Orcas Bac going in front in the middle of the final straight but with Poppes Fighter not giving up and managing to catch up at the end to win by half a head from the said Orcas Bac, followed into the final by Gently di Poggio and Arnie Sensation, in a time of 1’18’4 per kilometre.
The lead alternated between a number of horses in the first kilometre of the second semi-final, such horses including among others Ygor of Pass, Rocky Composite, Madam di Poggio and finally Shakira Trot. However around 1,200m from the end The Bad Rock took over and imprinted a faster pace on the race as it soon opened a length’s lead.
Cloria Victis came strongly in the outer lanes to challenge The Bad Rock in the last 350m but the latter was too strong and maintained its lead till the end, to notch its second seasonal win over a length ahead of the same Cloria Victis, followed by Shakira Trot and Rocky Composite which also made it to the final. The race time was the best among these semi-finals at 1’15’8 per kilometre.
Veikko Hornline had the best start in the third President’s Cup semi-final maintaining the lead for the first 750m until it was overtaken by True Q, but 300m later Veikko Hornline returned in front. However the back straight provided the key action in this race, because at that stage Midnight Passion started an impressive sprint on the outer lanes to get into a single line with Veikko Hornline and Zalgado Transs R with 300m to go.
These three horses entered the final straight together but there was soon little doubt on the winner as Midnight Passion upped its tempo to take the lead and to go on to register its sixth seasonal win in 1’17’1 per kilometre, half a length ahead of Veikko Hornline, the fast-finishing True Q and Zalgado Transs R which all made it to the final.
Side Spin went in front early on in the first Silver class race, a position that it maintained comfortably until the last half lap when it was attacked by various horses. The final straight saw a struggle between numerous protagonists such as Petrus du Vivier, Udice Boko and the said Side Spin, but suddenly out of the blue, out came Command Coger in the inner lane to surprise one and all and claim its fourth consecutive and fifth seasonal win in 1’17’3 per kilometre, more than a length ahead of Udice Boko, followed by Petrus du Vivier and Side Spin.
Magic Vaumicel took the lead with around two laps to go in the second Silver class race and it remained in front until the backstraight when we saw a impressive sprint four-wide from Rapnou des Picanes which shot out from the back places to the front with half a lap to go. From then on the race had no more story as Rapnou des Picanes continued increasing its speed detaching itself further from the rest of the field to claim its first win in Malta comfortably, nearly three lengths ahead of Alf Eme, followed by Andri Boko and Ogor in 1’16’8 per kilometre.
Mealington was in the lead after a couple of hundred metres from the start of the last race for Silver class horses and it maintained its lead until the last lap, when Partisan de Bouere sprinted well to challenge the race leader and to get within striking distance from him. Partisan de Bouere then launched its strong attack in the final straight to go in front in the last 100m and notch its second seasonal win in 1’16’7 per kilometre, half a length ahead of the said Mealington followed by Quatre de Coeur and Notice As.
Enthrall took an early lead in the class A flat race on the sprint 1,250m distance, but with around 600m to go we saw Kimberley Downs advancing strongly on the outer lanes to move up from fourth place to come head to head with the race leader with 300m to go. Although these two horses entered the final straight head to head, there was no stopping Kimberley Downs as it dominated the straight to notch its fourth consecutive and fifth seasonal win in 1’13’99, over four lengths ahead of Timolin, followed by Gold As Good.
During Sunday’s meeting, Eric Bezzina was presented with the award of Best Driver for the month of October by Dr Matthew Brincat, Chairman of the Malta Racing Club. We sincerely thank the sponsors, i.e. Winner’s Circle Bar and Restaurant, for supporting this initiative.
Noel Baldacchino competing in Vincennes
As was the case in the last two years, current champion driver Noel Baldacchino will once again represent Malta in the Prix de Rencontres Internationales du Trotteur Francais, a reclamer race involving a driver representing each of 15 countries, which will be at the legendary Vincennes racetrack over a 2,100m distance.
Noel has drawn number 2 behind the autostart and he will be driving 10 year old Puy de Sancy.
The invitation by the French trotters’ association was extended also to David Ellul, the late Label Chouan’s owner, which last year was the best French trotter in Malta. On Friday evening, a special dinner will be held during which there will be the presentation of awards for the best French trotters in different countries.
Noel and David will be accompanied by Malta Racing Club Chairman Dr Matthew Brincat who will be attending meetings with the representatives of the other participating countries.
Doping test results
The Malta Racing Club received three doping test results pertaining to Loustic d’Anjou – Cassar Fuels Condition Race Bronze class final, Magnific As – Cassar Fuels Condition Race Silver B class final and Charm Hammering – Cassar Fuels Condition Race Gold class final, the three of which were held on the 27th October.
Well done to the owners and trainers of Charm Hammering whose result confirmed that it was free from prohibited substances.
Unfortunately Magnific As’s test provided a positive result for a Category III prohibited substance. Thus, apart from the applicable penalties in terms of the regulations, the race result has been changed to read as follows:
Pile Ou Face driven by Joe Schembri is the winner of this Condition Race, followed by Pilote de Nganda, Lys de l’Oasis and Nasdaq du Closet in that order.
The same was the case for Loustic d’Anjou’s test with the race result thus being changed to read as follows:
Command Coger driven by Carmelo Farrugia is the winner of this Condition Race, followed by Pema, Gin T. Dalimo and Andri Boko in that order.
Ten years ago: the first SECF French trotters championships – Part Two
A couple of weeks ago we started taking a look back at the first edition of the SECF French trotters championships (then held on the 2,640m distance) and we saw the selection of finalists for the classes C, D and E and F, G and H championships. Today we will continue reviewing that first edition, particularly with the entry into the scene of the top classes, i.e. the A1, A and B (today’s Premier and Gold classes).
The horses hailing from those classes started their adventure on the 26th July 2003 with four heats from which 16 horses qualified for the semi-finals.
In the first heat, outsider Gengis Khan Jiel (M. Farrugia) took an early lead which it maintained throughout the race even when it was brought under severe pressure by Filou Clairchamp in the final straight. The latter finished runner-up followed by Figeac and Esard which also made it to the semi-finals. The race time was 1’18’1 per kilometre.
The second heat was a photocopy of the first, with favourite Gary d’Hautmoniere (C. Camilleri) leading all the way comfortably resisting all challenges to win by a length in a time of 1’18’7 per kilometre ahead of Granito Bello, Florissant and Forban.
The third winner was Fanion Briangault (S. Vella) whch went in front around a lap from the end and maintained its lead until the finishing post to win by a length and a half from Eden de Riva, followed by Fontenoy and Grelot Normand in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre.
The fourth heat provided the fastest time of these heats, i.e. 1’16 per kilometre. Here favourite Espoir du Terme (A. Pace) did not fail to notch its sixth seasonal win after being in the lead practically throughout the race. The remaining qualifiers were Gy du Hulet, newcomer Foulque and Darjeeling.
The A1, A and B classes semi-finals were then held on the 8th August with the first four from each qualifying for the final.
Esard took an early lead in the first semi-final soon opening up a length’s advantage from Fanion Briangault and Foulque. However favourite Gary d’Hautmoniere (C. Camilleri) made strong progress on the backstraight, managed to take the lead around 400m from the end and ended up notching its third seasonal win ahead of Foulque and fellow qualifiers Darjeeling and Grelot Normand, in a time of 1’16’5 per kilometre.
Espoir du Terme then made it seven seasonal wins when it launched its attack with half a lap to go and ended up winner by half a length from Florissant, followed into the final by Filou Clairchamp and Fontenoy (which had been in the lead for part of the race), in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre.
The three finals were then held in the evening of Friday 22nd August bringing the curtain down on what would become a key appointment in the Maltese racing calendar every six months.
On that day, the Marsa racecourse hosted distinguished guests Mr Guillaume Maupas, a senior officer of the SECF (the association for the promotion of French trotters), His Excellency Mr Patrick Chrismant, French Ambassador to Malta and the Hon Minister for Youth and the Arts, Mr Jesmond Mugliett, who together with Mr Anthony De Bono (Secretary General of the Malta Racing Club) presented the prizes to the winning owners.
The participants in the classes F, G and H final were eight in this order: Europeen du But, Eperon de Ranville, Elopior, Calin du Parquet, Eric de la Noemie, Fardoc, Bichon du Ravary and Dede de Mingot.
Here it was Bichon du Ravary which held the lead for most of the distance until the final straight, when 12-year old Dede de Mingot driven by France Cassar produced a marvellous sprint to go in front 100m from end and claim its fourth seasonal and third consecutive win in 1’18’4 per kilometre. Bichon du Ravary was disqualified for changing gait in the last metres, such that Fardoc finished runner-up followed by Eric de la Noemie and Europeen du But.
The participants in the classes C, D and E final were seven: Elan du Cottage, Edelweiss Staedly, El Toro, Comte de Billeron, Gregorio, Diatka de Pitz and Falcon Bey.
In the classes C, D and E final, Gregorio took an early lead and it remained in front for most of the distance. However favourites Comte de Billeron and Elan du Cottage advanced well in the backstraight and went in front.
These two horses entered the final straight practically together but at this stage 11 year-old Elan du Cottage driven by the late George Schembri, was clearly superior producing a strong sprint to register its tenth seasonal win in a good time of 1’16’7 per kilometre, ahead of the same Comte de Billeron, followed by Diatka de Pitz and Gregorio.
Finally, we had eight participants in the most important final, that for horses racing in classes A1, A and B: Grelot Normand, Florissant, Espoir du Terme, Gary d’Hautmoniere, Filou Clairchamp, Darjeeling, Fontenoy and Foulque.
Foulque took a small early lead from Fontenoy and Florissant. However after some time the race leader changed gait and was disqualified, thus leaving first place to outsider Florissant driven by Andrew Farrugia which kept the lead until the end, successfully resisting favourite Gary d’Hautmoniere’s strong attack in the final straight. Ultimately Florrisant claimed its second seasonal win in the same time as the preceding final, i.e. 1’16’7 per kilometre, ahead of the said Gary d’Hautmoniere, Fontenoy and Darjeeling.
No doubt, a piece of racing history which brings with it a lot of memories and nostalgia ... now our French horses prepare to carve out for themselves a place in the history of this prestigious championship by challenging for a place in the respective class final!
We wish you another two great meetings this weekend.
