by Magnat
Two race meetings are being held this weekend, one on Saturday 8th and the other on Sunday 9th March with both meetings commencing at 1.30pm. These are both all-trot meetings with 8 races on Saturday’s card and 9 races on Sunday.
These involve four main highlights, i.e. a splendid Premier class race on Sunday, the start of the Ray Auto Dealer Challenge Cup for Silver class trotters, two semi-finals from the Assikura Bronze class championship, and three beautiful Gold class races uniting horses with great potential.
The Premier class race features a full house of 16 first class trotters, some of the very best in Malta! These include 2013 Tazza l-Kbira winner Nabab du Chatelet, 2013 Equestrian Festival Premier class final winner Absolut Spender (also winner of its last race), December’s VOB Championship runner-up Cloria Victis, 2013 Premier class Summer Championship winner Shakira Trot, past multiple championships winners Livi Cantona and Arnie Sensation, Oran (coming from a win and a runner-up place in its last outings), Vanmaker Limburgia and Poulot des Cinty both coming from good places, recent newcomers Chiara Sisu and Piombino both extremely popular in their country of origin, French 11 year old newcomer Petunia du Pont and all the other great trotters.
The Ray Auto Dealer Challenge Cup feature no less than 10 heats on the short 2,140m distance, spread equally over these two meetings, with the first four from each making it to the semi-finals.
These include no less than 115 popular participants hailing from no less than seven countries, i.e. Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United States.
Among all the interesting participants one can note no less than 24 which are coming from good recent wins or runner-up places in their last couple of races, including Petrus du Vivier, Super Gordon, Wonderofyou, Count Wiesnievski, Quioco Dry, Oscar des Racques, Megiddo, Reveal Champ Blanc, Lacoste I.T., Octobre En Fete, Sir Malouin, Damita, Andri Boko, Zizazimoko, Quid de la Muette, Quid de Belle Vue, Livi Evergreen, Rocky de Jervi, Milano du Gite, Lonshults Erik, Ouest du Vivier, Alf Eme, Quo Vadis Phedo and Pile Ou Face.
Undoubtedly a truly impressive list!
There are also various others which have been recently relegated from the Gold class and will be seeking more success in this class, such as Partner Blue, Ollico Pellois, Naja In Blue, Pirate d’Urzy, Lonestar Somolli, Mival Tondi, I Pitstop, Oscar Indien, Quarborandum, Dialect Af Prinfo, Nobleness Dubrio, Pepita Ans, Obelix Molgard, Nouveaux de Vie and Narciso Grif, among others.
These heats also include some eight newcomers, i.e. Danes Niffi and Noble Raun, French Ringo Flower and Roff Gy, Italians Noah Stars and Odino d’Alfa and Swedes Claudine and Livi Dida.
Undoubtedly a mighty struggle is anticipated for the top four places in each heat which lead to a place in the semi-finals!
The Assikura Bronze class championship now also enters into an exciting phase with the two semi-finals being held on Sunday on the short 2,140m distance and featuring 10 and 11 participants respectively. The first five from each semi-final make it to the final.
The first semi-final includes horses of the quality of Obscur du Busset, Queops de Retz, Schejken Bill, and Julian Port, all winners of their respective heat, together with Pema and Qumran de la Motte, both coming from a win and a runner-up place in their last two outings, Sjohultets Tigra which placed a good second in its heat and all the other competitive participants.
The second semi-final is no less with Kaki de Peyrahout coming from back-to-back wins, Zeta Jones A winning its heat, and no less than four heats runners-up, i.e. Pancho Villa, Quingen de Bussy, Napolitano Sun and Take Out Blue. These will be challenged by the remaining horses which are extremely strong and are sure to put in a strong fight for the top five places.
The three Gold class races on the longer 2,640m distance are also extremely balanced. These include mainly horses looking for an improvement in performance over their most recent outings, as well as some in-form horses such as Simb Tyrant (coming from a win and a runner-up place in its last three races) and Presidential (with a good runner-up place in its penultimate race).
Attention should also be given to a number of participants have also been recently relegated from the Premier class. These include 2012 Cassar Petroleum Championship winner Troy Boshoeve, 2012 Summer Championship Premier class winner Milord Barbes, Why Not As, Nitesco d’Antony, Veikko Hornline, Give To Get, Madam di Poggio, Ygor of Pass and Pro Shop.
Sunday’s race includes the added attraction of four newcomers, i.e. Danish 9 year old New Star D K, French 10 year old Quiz du Lys, Italian 9 year old Laval and Swedish 9 year old Cowboy Party.
Two meetings, seventeen races, full of variety and attractions. Hoping that the weather will be kind on us, this promises to be a fantastic weekend for all horse-racing enthusiasts!
Last Meeting
The main attractions of the last meeting consisted of two very interesting semi-finals from the Assikura Championship for Gold class trotters from which were selected the finalists for this championship on the 2,140m distance, a Premier class race for Malta’s highest handicapped trotters on the longer 2,640m distance and an interesting Class A flat race on the sprint 1,250m distance.
Assikura Championship (Gold class) semi-finals
Pissaro went ahead after a few hundred metres in the first semi-final with the situation remaining the same until the backstraight when we saw the speedy advance of Phenix de la Roque which attacked two wide and went in front 600m from the end.
However, on the backstraight, Qurieux du Ponchet had advanced one place after another and came up three wide to challenge the race leader. These two horses entered the final straight together but Qurieux du Ponchet took the lead in the middle of the final straight to claim its second seasonal and third win in Malta in 1’16’9 per kilometre, three quarters of a length ahead of Prince Gaillard, followed into the final by Oeillet de Phens, Quintet and Phoenix de la Roque in that order.
Oolong took the lead early on in the second semi-final, but it was substituted after just half a lap by Joss QC with Charm Hammering taking over with around 1,200m to go. The situation remained the same until 500m from the end when Wies Buitenzorg made good progress on the outer lanes and arrived within striking distance of the race leader.
It comfortably took the lead 300m from the end and sprinted impressively until the end to claim its second consecutive, seasonal and local win in 1’15’7 per kilometre, some three lengths ahead of Happiness Photo and the remaining qualifiers Quid d’Aliermont, Charm Hammering and Olry Meslois.
Premier Class
Rocky Composite was the first to take the lead in the Premier class race, but newcomer Pat de Fontaine managed to overtake it with two laps to go. The situation remained the same until the final straight when suddenly everything changed!
Quiet Way attacked two wide at the start of the straight and soon went ahead but suddenly we saw Midnight Passion and Vejby Boom sprinting like arrows four and five wide, with the latter being the fastest and managing to pip Quiet Way by a head at the post to claim its second seasonal and local win in 1’17’1 per kilometre. Midnight Passion and Ourasi Diams were 3rd and 4th respectively.
Bronze class
Veteran Icare de Jemma was in the lead for the first half of the first Bronze class race, with Grace Party going in front with 1,200m to go. The situation remained the same until 350m from the end when we saw the return of Icare de Jemma attacking and managing to take the lead again, but the real action arrived at the beginning of the final straight when Nox Blue attacked the race leader two wide, went in front with 200m to go and went on to claim its fourth win in Malta in 1’19’2 per kilometre, around a length and a half ahead of Adream Wish, followed by Icare de Jemma and Ywema’s Pine.
Quatrain de Retz was in the lead for most of the distance in the second race. However Marchallah attacked successfully on the back straight, going in front with 650m to go. But the final straight regaled us with an impressive finish, as Oscar du Meu produced a blistering sprint four wide to catch up with the leading horses, taking the lead in the last few metres to claim its first win in Malta two years after it made its local debut, in 1’18’5 per kilometre, three quarters of a length ahead of Navaho Simoni, followed by Norfolk du Gouerie and Marchallah.
Class A flat race
Gold As Good took an immediate lead in the Class A flat race, but Safari Storm advanced in a determined manner in the back straight and had no difficulty to go in front at the start of the last half lap and then managing to control the race, claiming its first win in Malta a couple of lengths ahead of Gold As Good, followed by Ollie Fliptrick in 1’14’02.
Kaki de Peyrahout was the first to take the lead in the first Bronze class heat, but it was soon overtaken by Narcus du Roc, followed by a compact group of participants. However in the back straight we saw the return of Kaki de Peyrahout which launched a determined attack and went ahead around 600m from the end.
The latter accerated brilliantly and soon opened a good lead which it successfully defended in the final straight from Pema’s and Mezio Josselyn’s attack to claim its second consecutive and seasonal win (its 12th win in Malta) in 1’17’3 per kilometre, a couple of lengths ahead of the same Pema and Mezio Josselyn, followed into the semi-finals by Quero des Erablais.
Prince du Moutier was in the lead for most of the second heat remaining there until the backstraight, when Take Out Blue went out on the outer lanes and successfully attacked the race leader, managing to go in front with around 600m to go. However the race was far from over, as Queops de Retz advanced swiftly to arrive within striking distance of Take Out Blue with around 300m to go.
These two went head-to-head in the final straight with Queops de Retz managing to take the lead in the middle of the straight and claiming its third win in Malta in 1’18’2 per kilometre, a length and a half ahead of Take Out Blue, followed by Royal Qui and Niko de Chamant, which all made it to the semi-finals.
In the following heat it was Napolitano Sun which dominated proceedings for most of the race after taking an early lead. This horse was the first to enter the final straight, closely followed by Sjohultets Tigra and various other horses. However in the straight, a number of horses made their attack on Napolitano Sun with the strongest of the lot being 16 year old veteran Schejken Bill which came in hugging the rails and managed to claim its fourth win in Malta in 1’18’7 per kilometre, half a length from Sjohultets Tigra, followed by fellow-qualifiers Napolitano Sun and Quiara Magic.
The fourth heat had little story as Obscur de Busset went in front early on and maintained the lead till the end, even managing to accelerate in the last half lap or so, to comfortably claim its third win in Malta, some three lengths ahead of Qumran de la Motte, in 1’17’3 per kilometre. The other qualifiers from this heat were Nylan de Mouloire and newcomer Wilma Belize which took the remaining places.
The same was the case in the following heat, which saw Julian Port taking the lead after around 400m, followed by Notice As and various other horses, with the former maintaining the lead till the end. It also reserved the best for the final straight as it sprinted to the finishing post, resisted the attacks of the fast-finishing Pancho Villa and of Notice As and took its first win in Malta in 1’18’2 per kilometre, around three-quarters of a length ahead of the same Pancho Villa and Notice As, with Willesden Hanover being the last horse to qualify from this heat.
Finally Quingen de Bussy took the lead around a lap and a half to go in the sixth and last heat, and it managed to maintain the lead until the final straight, when Zeta Jones A produced a great sprint on the inner lanes and managed to snatch its seventh win in Malta in 1’17’4 per kilometre, after going in front in the last 100m. At the post Zeta Jones A was one length ahead of the same Quingen de Bussy which preceded Lime Casted and Jens into the semi-finals.
Driver of the Month Award – January - February
The Driver of the Month for January - February is Charles Camilleri, who won this award on the basis of his seven wins and thirteen places from the 37 races he participated in during that period. These include his three wins and two places in the 23rd February meeting.
His wins arrived on Vejby Boom (Premier class), Prince Gaillard (Gold class), Octobre En Fete and Lonshults Erik (Silver class), Kaki de Peyrahout, Victory Pointer and Zeta Jones A (Bronze class).
Congratulations Charles!
Hero from the past: Neronien – Interview with its trainer and driver Emanuel Fenech (Part 1)
Maltese horse-racing has regaled horse-racing enthusiasts with a large number of legendary horses, whose wins and great performances have carved their name forever in Malta’s racing history.
It is no secret that my personal favourites are those of the seventies and eighties, two decades which saw a quantum leap in both quality and quantity of trotters racing here in Malta and whose memorable exploits contributed in no small manner to this sport’s exponential growth in popularity in that period.
One of the trotters that I remember with nostalgia because its racing days in Malta coincided with my youth is undoubtedly Neronien. Among the images that will remain forever etched in my memory are those of Neronien’s trainer and driver Emmanuel Fenech being carried shoulder high and of Mrs Carabott who owned this horse together with her husband Louis (Tad-Deheb), crying with joy after some of its memorable wins.
This French gelding born in 1979 from stallion Derony and mare Indigente. In France it won the equivalent of Euro73,884, a very respectable amount at the time and had a best time of 1’17’4 per kilometre made at Cagnes Sur Mer in July 1987 (a few months before being imported to Malta) on 1,609m, just a month or two before its arrival Malta. Its last race in France was at Enghien on the 6th August 1987.
It made its debut here in Class A on the 8th November 1987, and competed in 85 races, winning no less than 21 and placing in 34 others until its last race on the 21st February 1993 (aged 14 years).
Its prize-winnings amounted to the Maltese liri equivalent of Euro15,200 and its best time was 1’17’6 per kilometre (a very good time for those days) on 2,150m (autostart) registered in the 1987-88 season. It won numerous championships, i.e. two Hopleaf finals and two Farsons Grand Finals (classes A1 – D) in 1988 and 1989 and two VOB championships in 1987 (classes A and B) and 1990 (class C).
Some time ago I met Mr Emmanuel Fenech and conducted a short interview with him going down memory lane in respect of the characteristics and background of this great horse.
Question: How was this horse bought?
Answer: In around 1986 I had virtually stopped my involvement with the Marsa racetrack but I had met Louis Carabott who used to come to see me at my far and we became friends.
George Tal-Galletti had given me a photo of a French trotter which was for sale but we had decided not to buy immediately. About a year later, in the summer of 1987, Louis told me “Let’s go to France” and we travelled there together with Fr Valent of Marsa.
Once there, I was considering the possible acquisition of a horse from Grobois but I did not like it enough. Fr Valent asked the owner of that horse whether he was aware of any other quality horse which was for sale and he sent us to see another horse (which turned out to be Neronien) – some four hours of travelling by car.
That horse’s owner had stopped racing the horse for some time (indeed it had not raced between February and the beginning of July) but had re-started training it in summer and it had raced four times since then. The horse had been fire blistered in its hind legs. “mahruq minn wara”.
At the time the horse’s owner (who had a lot of horses on his farm) was not there because he had gone to attend a wedding. I remember it was a Saturday.
We went to meet the owner again on Sunday morning, I saw the horse and drove it and I liked it immediately. We agreed on the price which was Lm1,800 (apart from the transport to Malta) and he told it to me.
Question: How would you describe Neronien’s character?
I can say frankly that the horse was hyper. When we saw it the first time it was jumping up and down in its stable. Louis told me “This horse is mad.” Neronien had its hair cut short and that was the time when Isard du Pont was still extremely popular. I answered “It looks like Isard du Pont, with its hair cut short.”
However Isard du Pont was a small horse whilst when we took Neronien out of its stable, it turned out to be a rather sizeable horse, bigger than Isard du Pont.
When we went to see it on the Sunday, the horse immediately turned round and gave us its backside. Then the owner’s wife came in and literally threw the harness at its head. Then the horse meekly lowered its head and she could put the harness on it. It was an “owner’s horse” which only recognised the authority of its owner and his wife.
So it was a really naughty horse even before it came to Malta. And I had a problem to get it to respect me once we imported it to Malta. However I soon showed Neronien who is the boss and then it started to respect me but it would still be naughty and aggressive if I was not there.
If it would be tied and I would leave it for some time it would rise up on its hind legs. If I would be abroad and my brother would take care of it, Neronien would be aggressive towards him. He would only manage to put the harness on for a couple of days but would then stop because the horse would not allow him to.
The horse was a one-owner horse in France, it was not accustomed to different owners. Thus since it was a foal the horse was only accustomed to obeying one owner.
Indeed the horse was really hyper. Once when I had gone out of the stable, it had jumped up and hit my brother’s son. At the beginning I did not realise that as soon as I would leave the horse would become more aggressive. But finally I realised.
Even when I used to tell Louis to bring it down to my place, I would see Louis coming in his car (there were no mobile phones at the time) and he used to tell me “The horse does not want to go up into the horse transport van!” Then I would go up to the stable, speak to the horse, tell him “Ejja” and he would go up into the van. When Neronien used to be with me it would be rather calm, but when I was not there it would become terribly edgy and strong-headed.
Undoubtedly an interesting story ... which we will continue next week!
We wish you two exciting meetings this weekend.
