by Magnat
Two race meetings are being held over the next few days, one on Sunday 30th March and the other on Monday 31st March (Freedom Day public holiday), both meetings commencing at 1.45pm and each comprising eight races.
These two meetings are dominated by a great event – the start of the Bank of Valletta Tazza l-Kbira for Premier and Gold class trotters of all nationalities on the classic 2,640m distance with autostart.
This event is even more historic this year because it happens to be the 80th anniversary from the first time when it was first held, i.e. French Frise Poulet’s victory in April 1934.
Although this championship passed through phases when it was not held for one reason or another, for instance during the war years and then particularly in the nineties and in the early years of this century, it was re-introduced with vigour in 2008 and has since been held every year with the fanfare it deserves as Malta’s main trot championship.
Aged between 7 and 14 years, this year’s contestants hail from eight countries, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States. The largest contingent is French with 30 participants, followed by Sweden with 17, Germany with 5 and Italy with 2, with the remaining countries having one participant each.
The championship will once again be split in three phases but with some differences in the qualifying rounds. The 58 participants are split into five heats, three on Sunday and the remaining two during Monday’s meeting with participants ranging between 10 and 13 per heat. The first six from each make it to the three semi-finals which will be contested in a couple of weeks’ time.
The first heat is characterised by a number of new horses or recent newcomers. Poulot des Cinty, Perceval, Chiara Sisu, Petunia du Pont, Tap Dance and Quiet Way have all raced 3 times or less in Malta to date, whilst we have two absolute newcomers, both 11 year old geldings, Belgian Vitas and French Pegelas. These will join past Prix de Vincennes and President’s Cup winner Mont Cenis Honey, current President’s Cup holder Gently di Poggio, Madam di Poggio (third placed in the 2013 Equestrian Festival and recent winner) and Onyx Lucernais.
The second heat features last year’s Summer Championship Premier class winner Shakira Trot, past championships winner Arnie Sensation, Zalgado Transs R which has a win and four places in its six races in Malta so far, and well-known horses Poppes Fighter, Pacha de la Frette, Olry Meslois, Carnegie Hall and Ourasi Diams.
We also have three French newcomers, i.e. 9 year old gelding Royal Pierre, 11 year old gelding Prieure’ (which had a splendid season in France last year) and 11 year old stallion Polisson Wood.
The latter is registered with the highest handicap points for newcomers in Malta. It won Euro314,315 overseas, through 8 wins and numerous placings. It has a best time of 1’12’0 (May 2009) on 2,100m. In France it participated in various races with a prize-money of Euro70,000 or more, with its most prestigious win probably being the Prix de Quimper (total prize-money Euro75,000) in November 2009, but also having some brilliant placings, such as being runner-up in the Prix Jean-Rene’ Gougeon (Group 3 – Euro95,000) in January 2011, both at Vincennes on the 2,100m distance. In the last two years (2012-13) it did not race in France but rather in the Netherlands and Germany registering a number of placings.
The third heat is characterised by past Sette Giugno Cup winner Zilver Boko, Prix d’Enghien holder Oolong, past Assikura Championship winner Argus Hanover, Cloria Victis, recent winner and holder of good places in both the President’s Cup and the VOB Cup finals, The Bad Rock, runner-up in the President’s Cup final, recent winner Pouloud Keroc’h and recent runner-up Pat de Fontaine, as well as valid horses Over Oaks, Quintet, Oran, Midnight Passion, True Q and P.A. Surprise.
Then, on Monday, the fourth heat is characterised by no less than four newcomers, i.e. Swedish 8 year old gelding Ego Sanna, French 10 year old gelding Quirio Charm and French 11 year old geldings Papy de la Potel and Precieux Perrine.
The latter is also registered with the highest handicap points for newcomers in Malta. It won Euro440,632 overseas, through seven wins and various placings. It has a best time of 1’12’9 (October 2012) on 2,175m in the prestigious Prix Reynolds. Participant in various races with total prize-money of Euro100,000 or more, the most competitive races it won were the Prix de Sucy (total prize-money Euro80,000), the Prix de Chalons En Champagne (Euro75,000) and the Prix de Pontchateau (Euro72,000) all at Vincennes on the 2,850m distance, between January and February 2011. Its best placing last year was a fifth place in its last race in France in August in the Prix de l’Hotel de Ville at Enghien (2,900m) – a race won by another newcomer this weekend, i.e. Prieure’.
These will face a strong field composed of recent Assikura Cup Gold class championship winner Phenix de la Roque, recent winner and past Cassar Petroleum Autumn championship winner Troy Boshoeve, recent winners Oltedo de Rieux and Nevaio des Bordes and solid horses Opal Hall, Quelino d’Amour, Totti T. Dream and Vanmaker Limburgia.
The last heat is no less, with the participation of current Tazza l-Kbira holder Nabab du Chatelet (runner-up last week), Equestrian Festival Premier class championship holder and recent winner Absolut Spender, recent winner Vejby Boom, and well-known trotters Uncle Joe’s Jet, Bonus Kall, Mark de Chamant, Made In Hoff, Original Blue, Olympien Major and Sultan November.
Five truly splendid line-ups!
We also wholeheartedly thank Bank of Valletta for kindly renewing their past connection with Maltese horse-racing by sponsoring this year’s edition of the most prestigious trot championship, the Tazza l-Kbira.
In addition to this major attraction this weekend’s races include some additional attractions. Thus, we have two interesting Gold class races on Monday on the short 2,140m distance. The first includes two French newcomers, 10 year old Quo de Clerlande and 9 year old Riourik, various horses coming from good places such as Quarborandum, Means Nothing, Quipson, Net de Ginai and Energy Launcher, among all the solid horses in the 11 participant field.
Among the 14 participants, the second includes recent winners Quiz du Lys, Pile Ou Face and Happiness Photo, various horses which have recently placed well, such as Pan des Couperies, Orage du Pont, Presidential, Noble d’Ete’, Quid d’Aliermont and Xray Hornline, among all the valid participants. French 10 year old Quermes Rush is also due to debut in this race.
The remaining trot races are normal trot ones for the other classes on the 2,140m distance, i.e. Silver, Bronze and Copper, with Swede Miskos Abies being due to debut in the Bronze class.
We also have a flat race on the longest flat racing distance here in Malta, i.e. 2,250m. Although featuring only 4 participants, these include two past Mediterranean Derby winners, Kimberley Downs and Buttermilk, Ollie Fliptrik which is coming from three good places and the Maltese Bon Santos making its return after a six month absence from racing.
And so the Tazza l-Kbira is back with us again. The absolute star of the trot racing season. The final whose winner truly deserves the name of champion, the Maltese equivalent of France’s Prix d’Amerique, Sweden’s Elitlopp and Italy’s Gran Premio Lotteria d’Agnano. We are sure that the 80th anniversary of this trophy will provide some brilliant racing and an unforgettable final – the first in the 4th year of a decade since way back in 1974 (when Urbain L was the winner), because for various reasons it was not held in 1984, 1994 and 2004. The countdown has started ...
Last Meetings
The highlights of the last two meetings consisted mainly of the Assikura Bronze Class Championship final on the short 2,140m distance, four semi-finals from the Ray Auto Dealer Challenge Cup for Silver class trotters on the same distance (the first three from each qualified for the final), two splendid Premier class races on the longest race distance in Maltese trot racing, 3,140m, three interesting Gold class races on the same distance and a Class A flat race on 1,750m.
Assikura Bronze Class Championship final
This final was indeed a show of force for Swedish 9 year old trotter Julian Port driven by Rodney Gatt, which took an immediate lead at the start of the race and maintained it throughout. For most of the race it was followed by Obscur de Busset and Willesden Hanover, but in the backstraight we saw Take Out Blue’s courageous advance on the outer lanes to come close to the race leader around 600m from the end.
However at this stage Julian Port found new energy and accelerated throughout the last 300m to notch its second win of the season and throughout its career here in Malta, thus claiming this championship in its best time locally of 1’16’0 per kilometre, a length ahead of the same Take Out Blue followed by Quero des Erablais and Willesden Hanover.
After the race Mr Andrew Grech, Managing Director of Assikura Insurance Brokers Limited, presented the trophy and prize-money to Julian Port's owner and driver.
Premier class
In the first lap of Wednesday’s Premier class race, the lead alternated between various horses, such as Quiet Way and Poppes Fighter among others. However with 2 kilometres to go, we saw Pat de Fontaine going in front after overtaking Quiet Way, with the latter however responding in kind by re-taking the lead a few hundred metres later.
Into the final lap, the participants were still in a compact group and on the backstraight Ourasi Diams launched its attack and went in front with 700m to go. However with half a lap to go, we saw another change in the lead, with Pat de Fontaine hugging the rails and Oltedo de Rieux two wide taking the lead head-to-head.
These two horses entered the final straight together but within a few metres of the straight Oltedo de Rieux showed that it was the stronger horse on the day, going in front and sprinting brilliantly till the end to claim its third win in Malta some three and a half lengths ahead of Pat de Fontaine, followed by Over Oaks and Zalgado Transs R. The race time was a fantastic 1’15’6 per kilometre, the best time on the 3,140m distance since James de l’Iton registered the national record in November 2008.
Two French newcomers took an immediate lead at the start of Sunday’s Premier class race, Perceval followed by Pouloud Keroc’h. With a lap to go, these two were joined by Nabab du Chatelet running two wide. But the real action arrived 350m from the end when Nabab du Chatelet went in front but it was immediately followed by Pouloud Keroc’H hugging the rails.
These two horses provided us with a splendid head-to-head sprint throughout the final straight which was only resolved by the photofinish which awarded the win to newcomer Pouloud Keroc’h, a nose ahead of Nabab du Chatelet, followed by Ohime Mag and The Bad Rock. The race time was a good 1’16’0 per kilometre.
Gold class
Ygor of Pass was in the lead for most of the first Gold class race on Wednesday, but with around 1,200m to go, Nevaio des Bordes came up three wide to overtake one horse after another and place itself in fourth place. With half a lap to go, the latter then went up head to head with the race leader and these two horses entered the final straight in one line.
However soon afterwards Nevaio des Bordes launched a blistering sprint to dominate the final straight and claim its sixth win in Malta, a length ahead of the fast finishing Blizzard AD, followed by Why Not As and Troy Boshoeve in 1’17’9 per kilometre.
Count of Life took an early lead in the second Gold class race maintaining this lead for about the first half of the race, until it was overtaken by Lost Photo. However in the back straight we saw Pissaro’s splendid sprint on the outer lanes, with this horse managing to go in front with 750m to go.
In the meantime, Reader Jyl went two wide to attack and come head to head with the race leader, managed to take the lead 300m from the end and then sprinted impressively until the end to obtain its third win in Malta a length and a half ahead of the fast-finishing Presidential, followed by Count of Life and Pissaro in 1’18’3 per kilometre.
Regent de Tillard took an immediate lead in Sunday’s Gold class race, a lead which it maintained until the backstraight when Means Nothing overtook the raceleader and was the first horse to enter the final straight. However at this stage Net de Ginai (four wide) and Pile Ou Face (two wide) unleashed a deadly sprint to contest the final metres between them.
Pile Ou Face was the stronger horse, going in front with a 100m to go and claiming its third seasonal and seventh win in Malta in 1’17’5 per kilometre, a length ahead of the same Net de Ginai, followed by Quintet du Vivier and Means Nothing.
Ray Auto Dealer Challenge Cup Semi-finals (Silver class)
Obelix Molgard took an immediate lead in the first semi-final, a lead which it maintained comfortably until the final straight. However as soon as the horses entered the straight the race leader suffered the determined attack of no less than three horses, Ollico Pellois – two wide, Command Coger – three wide and Zizazimoko on the extreme outside lanes.
Command Coger was the strongest of the lot, taking the lead in the last 100m and claiming its seventh win in Malta in 1’16’0 per kilometre, a length ahead of Ollico Pellois, followed by the other finalist Zizazimoko. Obelix Molgard could only finish fourth.
The second semi-final had little story as Quioco Dry went in front early on, followed by Roma M and various other horses. Notwithstanding the others’ attacks in the backstraight, these two horses actually accelerated in the last 700m and this pattern continued until the end, with Quioco Dry finishing comfortable winner for its second consecutive and third win in Malta in 1’17’2, a length and a half ahead of Roma M, followed into the final by Pirate d’Urzy. Panda des Fleches finished fourth.
Ringo Flower went in front at the start of the third semi-final, followed closely by Quid de la Muette and other horses. In the backstraight Quarborandum advanced to come head to head with the race leader, once again followed closely by Quid de la Muette.
The latter launched its attack three wide at the start of the final straight, went ahead in the middle of the straight and claimed its second consecutive and third win in Malta in the best time of these semi-finals (1’15’8 per kilometre), more than a length ahead of Ringo Flower, followed by Law Suit which also made it to the final. Quarborandum finished fourth.
The lead alternated between various horses in the early stages of the final heat, with Udice Boko going in front after around half a lap followed by Niffi and the other horses in a compact group. However the back straight once again provided a lot of activity with Bankir Zon taking the lead with half a lap to go, followed closely by Partner Blue.
These two horses entered the final straight together, but Partner Blue soon took the lead and then controlled the remaining part of the race comfortably winning its second consecutive and seasonal race in 1’17’3 per kilometre, around three and a half lengths ahead of Quatre de Coeur, with Mr Snowman becoming the last horse to qualify for the final. Bankir Zon finished fourth.
Class A flat race
Diamante Grande took an early lead in the Class A flat race on 1,750m, but after just 400m it was overtaken by Mr Roxy Music with favourite Pearl Storm immediately behind. With just 700m to go Pearl Storm attacked the race leader and took the lead easily, going on from there to dominate the last part of the race and to claim its third consecutive and seasonal win some three and a half lengths ahead of Ollie Fliptrik, followed by Cheeky Jack, in a time of 1’47’62.
Final note
My idea was that this week we would also feature the third and last part of the interview with Mr Emmanuel Fenech in respect of the legendary horse from the past, Neronien. However for reasons of space, due to the wide coverage which we are justifiably giving to the Tazza l-Kbira heats and to the various attractions at the Marsa racecourse last week, we are postponing the last part of this interview to next week’s edition.
We wish you two exciting meetings in the coming days.
