by Magnat
Another race meeting will be held on Sunday 27th April – an eight race all trot card starting at 2pm.
This is most probably the season’s most important meeting - at least from a trot perspective - with the Bank of Valletta Tazza l-Kbira final, on the rather long 2,640m distance, being the sixth race on the card.
This race was preceded by a great Presentation Night at Chukkas Restaurant last Thursday evening, presided over by the Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, the Hon Mr Chris Agius, together with Bank of Valletta Chief Executive Officer Mr Charles Borg, the Council of the Malta Racing Club and the co-ordinators of this unique event – an occasion which was clearly enjoyed and appreciated by all those present, including owners, drivers, handlers and family members relative to all finalists.
Open to all nationalities, the 11 Premier class participants (the 12th, Pacha de la Frette, was unfortunately scratched) hail from four different countries, i.e. France, Sweden, Germany and Italy and are aged between 8 and 13 years. Winners of 20 races and having placed another 58 times between them, the full list of 9 geldings, 1 stallion and 1 mare reads as follows:
1. Oltedo de Rieux, French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro183,230 and a best time of 1’13’5 per kilometre. It has three wins and 10 places from its 23 races in Malta with a best time of 1’14’3 per kilometre on 2,640m.
2. Sultan November, German 10 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK582,179 and a best time of 1’11’8 per kilometre. It has three wins and 13 places from its 27 races in Malta with a best time here of 1’14’0 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’16’3 on 2,640m).
3. Perceval, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro238,890 and a best time of 1’13’0 per kilometre. It has a win and a place from its 3 races in Malta with a best time of 1’15’4 per kilometre on 2,640m.
4. Madam di Poggio, Italian 8 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro90,325 and a best time of 1’13’2 per kilometre. It has won once and has five other places from its 11 races in Malta with a best time of 1’13’4 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’15’8 on 2,640m).
5. Cloria Victis, Swedish 10 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,336,703 and a best time of 1’12’4 per kilometre. It has won once and placed another five times in its 7 races in Malta so far, with a best time of 1’14’2 per kilometre on 2,640m.
6. Oran, French 12 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro347,910 and a best time of 1’11’7 per kilometre. It has won four times and placed another seven times in its 19 races in Malta to date, with a best time of 1’13’6 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’4 per kilometre on 2,640m).
7. Poppes Fighter, Swedish 13 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK973,600 and a best time of 1’12’8 per kilometre. It has a win and eight places from its 21 races in Malta, with a best time of 1’14’3 per kilometre on 2,640m.
8. Pouloud Keroc’H, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro235,970 and a best time of 1’13’3 per kilometre. It has won twice and placed another time in its 3 races in Malta so far, with a best time of 1’15’3 per kilometre on 2,640m.
9. The Bad Rock, Swedish 11 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK1,228,450 and a best time of 1’13’5 per kilometre. It won three times and placed another three times in its 9 races in Malta, with a best time of 1’14’5 per kilometre on 2,640m (twice).
10. Quiet Way, French 10 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro212,750 and a best time of 1’12’4 per kilometre. It placed three times in its 5 races in Malta so far, with a best time of 1’15’4 per kilometre on 2,640m.
11. Pat de Fontaine, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro255,850 and a best time of 1’13’8 per kilometre. It won a race and placed twice in its 4 races in Malta to date, with a best time of 1’14’5 per kilometre on 2,640m.
Clearly suited for the 2,640m distance with no less than eight of these horses having made their best time in Malta on this distance, it is noticeable that all of them have a best time locally of 1’15’4 per kilometre or better (with nearly all of them having made 1’15’8 or better on 2,640m).
No doubt a set of participants whose quality truly honours this 80th year anniversary from the first holding of this most prestigious final! Indeed, being in the final is already an honour in itself, managing to place would be something special and winning, literally the cherry on the cake! We augur that all participants will do their utmost to do well but always in a spirit of true sportsmanship.
Even the total prize-money is special, aimed at commemorating this anniversary. A total of Euro8,000, with the winner receiving Euro4,250, Euro2,000 for the runner-up, Euro1,000 for the third placed, Euro500 for the fourth placed and Euro250 going to the fifth placed.
Truly a race not to be missed! We wish the best of luck to all participants, their owners, trainers, handlers and drivers – may they be rewarded for all their efforts and hard work! We also thank once again Bank of Valletta for their kind sponsorship which is also critical for the success of this edition.
The remaining races are all trot races on the sprint 1,640m distance, with two Gold class races among them. In the first we find various horses with recent good placings such as Ironbar, Means Nothing, Quarborandum and Quo de Clerlande among the solid 14 horse field. French 10 year old gelding Quel Homme is also due to debut in this race.
Among the best recent performers in the second Gold class race we find Cowboy Party and Pile Ou Face both winning their penultimate race, and Count of Life and Ouest Mabon placing well recently, among all the 12 valid participants.
The remaining races are three for the Silver class and two for Bronze class trotters with French 9 year old Rocky Mati being scheduled to debut in the Silver class.
So, it will be feast day at the Marsa racecourse next Sunday! The racecourse will be beautifully and colourfully set up for this fantastic appointment, the Malta Racing Club has prepared a spectacular backdrop with among others parades of classic motorcycles, of the finalists led by various past winners and so much else! But the key attraction is naturally the BOV Tazza l-Kbira final itself with 11 participants all keen to carve their name on this special 80th anniversary edition – who will be winner?
Last Meetings
The main attractions last weekend were undoubtedly Sunday’s Premier class race, the three Gold class races spead across the two race cards and the two flat races. Trot races were on the rather long 2,640m distance with flat races being competed on the sprint 1,250m distance.
Premier class
True Q took the lead after the first couple of hundred metres of Sunday’s Premier class race, maintaining the lead until around 1,800m to go when it was overtaken by newcomer Jos Cortina, which in turn was substituted in front by Gently di Poggio just 400m later.
But the real action arrived on the backstraight when various horses launched their attack on the race leader, chief among which was Utah Hornline which managed to go in front with 600m to go. But at the same time we witnessed an impressive acceleration by Zalgado Transs R which left the back places and ran four wide to get close to the race leader in no time.
With 300m remaining Utah Hornline and Zalgado Transs R were running head-to-head but the latter took the lead at the start of the final straight and sprinted excellently to comfortably notch its second seasonal win in a good time on this distance of 1’15’7 per kilometre, more than three lengths ahead of the fast finishing Opal Hall, followed by Utah Hornline and True Q.
Gold class
Orion du Vaumicel took an early lead in Saturday’s Gold class race and dictated the pace comfortably until the backstraight when various horses started advancing menacingly and attacking the raceleader.
Notwithstanding this, Orion du Vaumicel was the first to enter the final straight but at this stage it could do nothing to resist Zandina Boshoeve’s strong attack, with the latter going in front around 150m from the end and continuing strongly until the end to claim its second seasonal and fifth win in Malta in 1’16’8 per kilometre, around a length and a half ahead of the fast finishing Quermes Rush, followed by Give To Get and Pan des Couperies.
Edge Trick went in front after 400m from the start of Sunday’s first Gold class race, only to be overtaken by Presidential with two laps to go. However at the start of the last lap we saw Quid d’Aliermont accelerating on the outer lanes and coming within striking distance of Presidential.
The situation remained the same until the last 350m when Quid d’Aliermont attacked Presidential and managed to go in front at the start of the final straight, maintaining its lead to ultimately reach the finishing post first. Quid d’Aliermont was however disqualified for hooking in the last 200m with the win going to 14 year old veteran Happiness Photo at its second seasonal win in 1’17’6 per kilometre, half a length ahead of New Star D K, followed by Veikko Hornline and Presidential in that order.
Malewe went in front early on in Sunday’s second Gold class race, but it was overtaken by Lost Photo after just 500m. From then on, the latter imposed its pace on the race and even managed to increase its speed as from the backstraight, entered the final straight with a good lead on its challengers and went on to claim its first win in Malta in comfortable fashion, in a time of 1’17’0 per kilometre, two and a half lengths ahead of Quio de Nappes, followed by Count of Life and L’Ideal de Fersan.
Silver class
These two meetings also held in store no less than 5 Silver class races. Saturday’s two races were won by Danish 6 year old Razor Shadow at its second consecutive and seasonal win in 1’17’2 per kilometre, over four lengths ahead of runner-up Quooper de Connee and by French 10 year old Quid Pierre at its first win in Malta also in 1’17’2 per kilometre and similarly with a lead of over four lengths in front of Megiddo.
Belgian 10 year old Ackaturbo won Sunday’s first Silver class race, its first seasonal and eighth win in Malta in 1’17’7 per kilometre, with another large lead of around 5 lenghts on Nasdaq du Closet, then French 9 year old Rubis d’Olivier claimed its first win in Malta around three and a half lengths ahead of Blott Tooma in last weekend’s best time in this class of 1’16’7 per kilometre and finally it was Neo de Mira’s turn to return to victory after more than three years (its first seasonal and sixth win in Malta) and after a six month stop, in 1’17’7 per kilometre, three quarters of a length ahead of Navaho Simoni.
Flat races
The Class A flat race held last Sunday was completely dominated by Pearl Storm which led from start to finish, increasing its speed further in the final straight to claim its fourth consecutive and seasonal win no less than five lengths ahead of Safari Storm which did its best to challenge the winner, followed by Timolin. The race time was the seasonal best so far on this distance, of 1’12’41.
Saturday’s Class B flat race had a similar outcome with Gold As Good literally taking all competitors by storm and leading by a wide margin throughout the entire race to claim its first win in Malta in 1’13’69, finishing some eight lengths ahead of Ollie Fliptrik, followed by Buttermilk.
Doping test results
Recently the Malta Racing Club has received the results for the first doping tests taken in 2014. Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of Julian Port and Take Out Blue, winner and runner-up respectively of the Assikura Bronze class final held on the 23rd March 2014, whose results both confirmed that they were clean from prohibited substances.
The Tazza l-Kbira final in years gone by – 40 and 35 years ago ...
And so we have arrived practically on the eve of this year’s final. The 80th anniversary of this No. 1 trophy in Maltese trot racing and the seventh consecutive time in which it was re-launched in 2008 after its virtual absence in the 1990s (except for 1999) and the early years of this millennium.
Since then, it is worth remembering the 5 winners, i.e. James de l’Iton (2008 and 2009), In Vitro du Bourg (2010), Kakisis (2011), Mig of the Wood (2012) and Nabab du Chatelet (2013).
But as we have done over the last four years, on this occasion, we go back further in time and take a look at finals held a long time ago, precisely 40 and 35 years ago. At the time racing used to take place in the “old racecourse”, at 1.75 miles (over 2,800m) long, one of the longest racecourses in Europe at the time, with the race being competed on one lap around the racecourse.
Two weeks ago, we took a look at the semi-finals held in those years (1974 and 1979) and now we take a look at the respective finals, which incidentally were both won by favourites or relative favourites.
1974
Eight finalists (all French as was normal in those days) came under starters’ orders in this final held on the 5th May 1974, i.e.: Ardent VI, Sam II, Ulm V, Urbain L, Tarzan Novel, Un Reve Royal, Ultra Son B and Arrysomme. The two other qualifiers Quiscale III and Troubadour L were unfortunately scratched before the race.
The best-backed participant was Ardent VI with Urbain L also being one of the most fancied. A record crowd was present at the racecourse to watch the season’s last programme culminating in the most awaited race of the year. As the participants were taking their places for the start of the race every available space at the racecourse was full.
Urbain L, Un Reve Royal (the previous year’s winner) and Sam II (the winner two years’ before) took an early lead leading a field of participants all grouped closely together. The situation remained the same for the first half of the race but with around 1,200m to go Ardent VI took the initiative of attacking the race leaders.
However in the course of doing so, Ardent broke and lost ground and thus with a kilometre to go, it left the road clear for Urbain L which continued to increase its speed, thus continuing to consolidate its lead.
Into the final straight Urbain L was still in the lead and attacked mainly by Ulm V which however broke under pressure and notwithstanding Ultra Son B’s courageous late strong spint, then-10 year old Urbain L driven by its owner and trainer Alfred (Fredu) Fenech, was the deserved winner, followed by the same Ultra Son B and outgoing champion Un Reve Royal.
Loud cheers and applause followed at the end of the race with spectators milling round the winner and its driver to congratulate them on this fine win.
1979
Fast forward to 5 years later, when the final was held on the 17th June 1979 in the season’s last meeting, held extremely late compared to the custom at the time.
The nine participants (again all French) were Full Pyl, Ecossais II, Elagabal, Erubi, Eldy des Etangs, Espoir des Marais, Dultor, Dicav and Eros Normand. The other qualifier, Beguin du Mesnil, was scratched from the final. Espoir des Marais was the leading favourite.
The race was characterised by two false starts before the nine trotters got running for real to a great roar from the spectators. Eldy des Etangs and Eros Normand took an early lead which they maintained until mid-way through the race when Full Pyl came up to challenge them and managed to take over the lead.
However whilst Eros Normand lost ground, Eldy des Etangs returned back and regained its lead around the final bend, followed by Full Pyl. But the entry into the final straight was the sign for Espoir des Marais to unleash its deadly sprint on the outside lanes, powering to the front, challenged by Elagabal which was also sprinting well close to the rails.
These two horses challenged each other separated by the width of the course, but at the finishing post then-9 year old Espoir des Marais, also driven by its owner John Cardona, was the clear winner, half a length ahead of the same Elagabal, with Eldy des Etangs finishing third.
Once again loud cheering and clapping characterised the aftermath of the race, with spectators spilling into the racecourse and with John Cardona being carried shoulder high among Espoir’s many supporters milling around horse and driver.
Undoubtedly two great finals! And now we prepare to follow another great final – this time not from the past but from the present. Which horse will manage to carve its name on this Cup – relatively small in size but enormous in prestige and heritage - thus joining these famous names from past years?
We wish you a great Tazza l-Kbira meeting on Sunday.
