by Magnat
Two other race meetings will be held this weekend, one on Saturday 19th and the other on Sunday (Easter Sunday) 20th April, with the first starting at 1.30pm and the second at 3pm. Saturday’s racecard includes seven races (plus a race for Maltese ponies) with eight races on Sunday.
After last week’s BOV Tazza l-Kbira semi-finals and in anticipation of next week’s Tazza l-Kbira meeting, the climax of the Maltese trot racing season, these two meetings are dedicated to “normal” races with the main attractions being a high quality Premier class race on Sunday, three Gold class races (one on Saturday and two on Sunday) and two flat races, one in each meeting.
Trot races are all over the rather long 2,640m distance.
Sunday’s Premier class race presents us with a really mixed bag amongst the 16 participants. These range between recent winners Phenix de la Roque (recent winner of the Assikura Gold class championship), Prince Gaillard (a win and three places in its last outings) and Zalgado Transs R (coming from a win and two places) to past 2013 President's Cup winner Gently di Poggio, recent newcomers Polisson Wood and Pegelas and all the other extremely valid participants.
We also have two 11 year old newcomers coming in as reserves in this race, i.e. French gelding Pike Blue and German stallion Jos Cortina. The latter is registered with the highest number of handicap points for newcomers. It won SEK1,400,429 overseas and has a best time of 1'11'5 on 1,640m. German, but with a pedigree full of US blood, it has raced in various countries, such as Germany, Sweden and France, participating in a number of high profile races with distances ranging from the mile to 2,750m, until it ended its overseas career in 2012.
Saturday’s Gold class race is nearly a Premier class race, pitting against each other a list of participants which are on the doorstep of the said top trot class.
These include various trotters just coming down from the Premier class, such as Nagano Phedo, Zandina Boshoeve, Orion du Vaumicel, Nitesco d’Antony and P.A. Surprise, and others which are coming from recent positive performances such as Wies Buitenzorg (a win and a place in its last three outings), Pan des Couperies (four consecutive places), Why Not As, Quermes Rush and Give To Get with good places over the last month.
Sunday’s Gold class races are equally attractive.
The first includes various horses which have shown optimal form in recent weeks, such as New Star D K (a win and a runner-up placing in its two races in Malta), Quid de la Muette (two wins from its last three races), Happiness Photo (two places in its last three races), Presidential and Nubi Lens (each having a runner-up place in its penultimate race), Noble d’Ete (which placed second around a month ago) and so many others. Italian 8 year old stallion Mireya is also scheduled to debut in this race.
The same is the case for the last Gold race, featuring trotters such as Obelix Cream coming from a win and a place in its last three outings, Cowboy Party and Queen du Sablier which both won their last race, Ouest Mabon (having a good runner-up place in its last race) and Malewe which placed third a couple of weeks ago, among all the solid horses in this race.
The remaining trot races are dedicated to the Silver, Bronze and Copper classes, with French 9 year old Rhodes Fortuna being scheduled to debut in the Silver class and Swedish 6 year old Snubbelduns expected to do likewise in the Bronze class.
This weekend’s racecards also include two flat races, both on the sprint 1,250m distance.
Saturday’s race is reserved for Class B thoroughbreds with seven participants, i.e. Gold As Good coming from five consecutive places, Ollie Fliptrik having four consecutive places, 2011 Mediterranean Derby winner Buttermilk which placed well in its last race, Darielli, Mr Roxy Music and Spectrum Bond, all in search of an improvement in form after recently returning to racing after a long stop and Johnny McGurk which should also make its return after nearly four years away from racing.
Then Sunday’s race is a Class A race with six participants, including some of this year’s best thoroughbreds, Pearl Storm (three consecutive wins in its three races in Malta), Safari Storm (a win and a runner-up place in its two races among us), Timolin coming from seven consecutive places and Sleepwalking which makes its return after a two year absence, since winning the 2012 Mediterranean Derby. It will be interesting to also follow the performance of two 7 year old newcomers which are scheduled to debut in this race, i.e. Irish gelding Key Art and Japanese gelding (quite a rarity to have a Japanese horse racing here in Malta) Zen.
In Sunday’s meeting, we are also scheduled to have the presentation of the Driver of the Month Award for March to Michael Sultana, kindly sponsored by M. Demajo (Wines & Spirits) Ltd through their brand Johnnie Walker.
So, no championships are on the card this weekend, but undoubtedly the races contained in these two programmes – whether for trotters or for thoroughbreds - involve more than enough quality and variety to guarantee an entertaining Easter weekend at the Marsa racecourse, as we all warm up for the great racing bonanza that awaits us with the Tazza l-Kbira final next week!
Last Meeting
The three Bank of Valletta Tazza l-Kbira semi-finals on the 2,640m distance dominated last Sunday’s meeting and provided us with the 12 finalists for this 80th year anniversary edition of the Tazza l-Kbira. The three of them provided spectacular fare in front of a numerous crowd. Apart from these, among all the interesting races on the 9 race card, we also had a beautiful Gold class “normal” race and two quality Silver class races, all on the rather long 2,640m distance.
BOV Tazza l-Kbira Semi-finals
Pacha de la Frette took an early lead in the first semi-final but was overtaken after 500m by Quiet Way with Pacha de la Frette continuing to follow closely. The situation remained the same until around 400m from the end, when Pacha de la Frette started to close the gap from the race leader and various horses commenced their attack.
Into the final straight we saw Quiet Way just ahead of Pacha de la Frette, but with Pouloud Keroc’H sprinting strongly close by. Pacha de la Frette went in front 200m from the end but in a dramatic finale Quiet Way made a strong reaction and Pouloud Keroc’H found an opening on the outer lanes to sprint to its second seasonal win in a very good time on 2,640m of 1’15’3 per kilometre, half a length ahead of Quiet Way, followed by Perceval and Pacha de la Frette which all made it to the final.
Tap Dance took the lead after around 400m from the start of the second semi-final but The Bad Rock overtook it with two laps to go. For most of the race this horse led the field followed by Tap Dance and Madam di Poggio, ahead of the other participants. Poppes Fighter however advanced on the outer lanes and went up to second place with a lap to go.
But The Bad Rock increased its speed at this stage and this horse dominated the remainder of the race increasing its pace again in the last 500m to win comfortably by two lengths (its first seasonal and third win in Malta) from the strong-finishing Sultan November, followed into the final by Poppes Fighter and Madam di Poggio. The race time was 1’16’3 per kilometre.
The first kilometre of the last semi-final was characterised by a number of changes taking place in front. Cloria Victis took the lead early on but it was overtaken by Original Blue after just 500m. However, Pat de Fontaine had other ideas and went in front with just under two laps to go, with another change in the lead taking place with a mile to go when Cloria Victis went in front once again.
From then on Cloria Victis dicatated the pace until the final straight, followed for most of the time by Prieure’ two wide and Pat de Fontaine hugging the rail. However at the start of the final lap, Oran had advanced well into fourth place. At the entry into the final straight we saw a wonderful struggle between four horses practically in one line, Cloria Victis in front attacked without mercy by Pat de Fontaine, Prieure’ and Oran which was sprinting impressively four wide.
Oran was the strongest of the lot, storming to the front 100m from the end and notching its second seasonal and fourth win in Malta in the season’s best time so far on the 2,640m distance, a brilliant 1’14’4 per kilometre, a length and a half ahead of Pat de Fontaine, followed by Cloria Victis and the fast-finishing Oltedo de Rieux, which became the last horses to qualify for the final.
Gold class
This race saw two French newcomers being among the protagonists. Obelix Molgard took an early lead followed by one of these newcomers Querios du Randou and Regent de Tillard, with various other horses following closely.
The situation remained the same until mid-backstraight when Querios du Randou attacked and took the lead briefly, with Obelix Molgard reacting well and taking over again. In the meantime, newcomer Qadjar Turgot was advancing strongly on the outer lanes to place itself immediately behind Obelix Molgard at the entry into the final straight. Qadjar Turgot attacked and took the lead 200m from the end to celebrate its debut with a win in 1’17’8 per kilometre, more than a length ahead of Obelix Molgard, followed by other newcomer Querios du Randou and Quo de Clerlande in that order.
Silver class
In the first Silver class race we saw a dominating performance by another four French newcomers. One of these, Ravageur de Payre, took the lead 750m from the end and seemed on its way to victory. However at the same time we saw Rasting Celina, another newcomer, advancing well three wide, overtaking one horse after another and at the start of the final straight arrived within striking distance from the race leader.
The final straight was then an exciting challenge between these two horses, with Ravageur de Payre trying to keep in front and Rasting Celina pushing hard to overtake the former. The photofinish ultimately awarded a dream debut to Rasting Celina, just a nose in front of Ravageur de Payre, followed by other newcomers Recif du Layon and Rex Speed in 1’16’8 per kilometre.
Lucas Ness took the lead at the start of the last Silver class race, managing to dictate the pace until the last 450m, when it was suddenly attacked by various horses, chief among which were newcomer Quersis, Reveal Champ Blanc and Foot Stompin Music.
Running five wide the latter sprinted well and took the lead in the middle of the straight but from nowhere we saw an impressive progression by Quirinus Vrie running six wide, which challenged Foot Stompin Music in the final metres and reached the finishing post first by just a head at its first win in Malta, with Foot Stompin Music being denied first place for the second consecutive time. Touch The Diamond and Pepita Ans took the remaining places in that order. The race time was 1’17’9 per kilometre.
Activities for students of the Malta Racing Club Horse Racing Academy
Last week we ended our article with a look at the past, at the Tazza l-Kbira semi-finals of 40 and 35 years ago. This week we end with a look at the future ... at those that we expect to be future protagonists of Maltese horse-racing, the drivers of the future.
A few weeks ago, the MRC Horse Racing Academy held a championship at the Marsa racecourse for its young students, both male and female, having Shetland ponies capable of running with the trot gait.
In preparation for this championship, it was really nice to note these youths training under the helpful guidance of their instructors, together with their Shetland Ponies, on various Saturdays during the time when the Academy is in session.
The heats for this junior championship which complemented the Ray Auto Dealer Challenge Cup for Silver class trotters and which was titled the Ray Auto Junior Trophy were held in the weekend of the 30th and 31st March. Ten participants took part split equally in two heats or semi-finals, with the first three from each qualifying for the final.
The first heat was won by Sunrise driven by Denilson Cortis, followed into the final by Ten Sharp driven by Clint Gauci and Garth Micallef’s Lightning. Jaydon Cutajar’s Cory won the second semi-final, with Ginger driven by Shaun Fenech finishing runner-up, whilst Sunny Day presented us with a female finalist, Martina Hili, finishing third.
On the eve of the final, more than 30 MRC Academy students joined students from other riding clubs (the La Valette Riding Club and the Cross Riding Club) and took part in Mounted Gymkhana Games, in which students were in most cases riding on horseback.
The final was then held the meeting of Sunday 6th April between the above-mentioned six participants on a 700m distance. Ten Sharp driven by Clint Gauci took an early lead followed by Denilson Cortis’ Sunrise. However in the final straight Ten Sharp refused to keep up its pace and was overtaken by Sunrise.
But Ten Sharp reacted well and managed to re-claim the lead in the middle of the straight, appearing to be on its way to victory until a few metres from the end when it again refused to maintain its pace, with Denilson Cortis’ Sunrise thus seizing the opportunity, taking the lead again and winning from the same Ten Sharp (Clint Gauci), with Sunny Day (Martina Hili) finishing third.
After this race, Dr Matthew Brincat, Chairman of the Malta Racing Club, conducted the presentations, trophies to the first three finishers in the final and medals to all the ten young Academy students who participated in this championship.
This was another successful activity organised by the MRC Horse Racing Academy and it is anticipated that a similar activity would be held in the near future. For the young drivers winning or placing in such a championship, the satisfaction is undoubtedly great, but for me the most critical aspect is participation and the learning experience derived therefrom.
Indeed, such activities foster a great learning culture among our young, prospective drivers. First of all, they help them to refine their driving skills in preparation for the big occasion of the particular heats and finals under the watchful eyes and helping hands of their instructors, but in particular, they help them to develop an attitude of sportsmanship.
Thus, although the importance of competition is recognised, our youngsters also come to appreciate that this should always take place in a spirit of fairness, respect for the rules of the game and sportsmanship, where those competing with us are not enemies but remain friends. A useful lesson for life ... and not just for children and youths but for all of us.
Well done to all those who have been instrumental in the promotion of this Academy since its setting up, in the past, present and future and to the instructors and all those who have given or are giving their contribution, large or small, to its activities and success.
It is fitting to celebrate the successes of our current horses, drivers and jockeys, but an initiative such as the Academy is critical to ensuring a rosy future for Maltese horse-racing and to contribute to a more complete education (i.e. not just academic) for all participating children and youths.
I also take the opportunity to thank Mr Tommy Cunningham, who kindly provided me with detailed information about the above-mentioned activities.
We wish you another two exciting meetings this weekend.
