Saturday 31st May 2014
25th and 26th horse-racing meetings 2014 – 30th May and 1st June

by Magnat


Two race meetings will be held this coming weekend, the first on Friday starting at 6.30pm and the next one on Sunday with the first race commencing at 1.45pm.  Both meetings are reserved for trot races with 10 races in each meeting.


There are two main highlights in these two meetings, i.e. the Le Trot championships semi-finals all on the 2,140m distance and a number of “normal” trot races on the longer 2,640m distance with the main attractions here being  two races reserved for Gold class trotters during Friday’s meeting.


During Sunday’s meeting a presentation will also be held to Messrs Julian Bezzina and Joseph Borg in their capacity as owners of French 11 year old trotter Prieure’ which driven by Charles Camilleri registered Malta’s national record of 1’12’7 per kilometre on the 4th May on the 1,640m distance – the first time that an average below 1’13 was registered in Malta.  A big well done to Prieure’, Messrs Bezzina and Borg and also to driver Charles Camilleri for this incredible feat!


Le Trot Championships


The main attraction of these two meetings consists of three Prix de Vincennes semi-finals for Premier class French trotters.  Although rather limited in number, the quality of these hoses is undoubted.


24 participants are scheduled to take part in these semi-finals.


The first will be held on Friday and comprises seven participants, i.e. Pat de Fontaine with a win and two places this season, Quiet Way with four places in its last six races, recent newcomer Pike Blue, Ourasi Diams with two places this year, last year’s Tazza l-Kbira winner Nabab du Chatelet, Original Blue which comes from a good place in its last race and Onyx Lucernais which was promoted to the Premier class this year.


Then the remaining two semi-finals will be held on Sunday.  The first semi-final unites eight horses, being past Tazza l-Kbira and Prix de Vincennes winner Mig of the Wood, Perceval which won once and placed twice this year (including its runner-up placing in the BOV Tazza l-Kbira final), Pouloud Keroc’H which won two races and was runner-up once in its four outings in Malta, recent newcomers Quito de l’Ormeau and Royal Pierre, Prieure’ coming from two straight wins (and having also a runner-up place from its four outings in Malta), both made in impressive times, i.e. the above-mentioned national record of 1’12’7 per kilometre on 1,640m and 1’14’0 on 2,140m and Papy de la Potel with a win from its three races in Malta so far.


We also have two 11 year old newcomers in this race, i.e. stallion Plougastel Rush and gelding Pedro Vici.


The latter is registered with the highest handicap points for a newcomer in Malta.  Winner of  Euro 387,560 (20 wins and various places), despite having raced only 58 times in France.  It participated in various races with substantially high prize-money.  Among its remarkable performances we find a row of 9 consecutive victories between November 2009 and May 2010, its win in the Prix de Cosse Le Vivien (Vincennes - 2,100m, Euro70,000 total prize-money) in November 2012 registering its personal best time of 1’12’3 per kilometre, a 5th place in the prestigious Prix des Landes  (Vincennes – 2,850m, Euro110,000 total prize-money) in November 2013 and its runner-up place in its last race in France, the Prix de Strasbourg (Vincennes – 2,850m, Euro80,000 total prize-money) in December 2013.


The last semi-final comprises another eight well-known trotters, being past Prix de Vincennes and President’s Cup winner Mont Cenis Honey, Precieux Perrine which had impressive winnings of around Euro440,000 in France, consistent Oltedo de Rieux having a win and five places from its nine races this year, Oran with two wins and two places this year, recent newcomers Quouky Jet and Pronostic de Neige, as well as gelding newcomers 11 year old Palazio Valterne and 10 year old Quito d’Ecroville.


The latter is registered with the highest handicap points for a newcomer in Malta.  Winner of Euro391,290 (10 wins and many places), it has a best time of 1’12’6 per kilometre  registered on 2,100m in November 2011 and it participated in various races with total prize-money of Euro70,000 or higher (including some with prize-money exceeding Euro100,000).  Among its best performances this horse won the Prix de Lure (Enghien – 2,875m, Euro80,000 total prize-money) in March 2010 and the Prix de Poitiers (Vincennes – 2,700m, Euro75,000 total prize-money) in January 2012.


With just four from each heat making it to the final, the challenge for one of the coveted places will undoubtedly be extremely tight, with little to split the qualifiers from the other equally deserving horses.


Twenty Gold class trotters will participate in two Prix d’Enghien semi-finals with the first five from each making it to the final.  Here we see a mix of eleven 10 year olds, four 11 year olds, three 12 year olds and two 13 year olds.


The first semi-final sees horses such as Quart de Cidre, Quito Soyer and Nagano Phedo which are all coming from wins, others such as Quozak Prior and Ollico Pellois which are coming from good runner-up places (with the latter actually coming from a win and four consecutive placings in its last five races), Quattro du Gite had a win and a place in its last three races, Oeillet de Phens is coming from four consecutive places and Quelino d’Amour, Niky du Donjon and Quito de Femisson which all managed to place to make it to the semi-finals.


Then it will be the turn of equally meritorious horses such as Pile Ou Face with its two consecutive and five seasonal wins, Pan des Couperies with a win in its last outing and six previous consecutive placings, Qadjar Turgot coming from a win and a runner-up place, other runners-up Pepone du Castelet and Qualisman, as well as Pissaro, Quel Noir, Orage du Pont, Quintet and Quel Imprevu which all placed in their respective heat.


The other semi-finals are reserved for the Silver (Prix de Cabourg), Bronze (Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer) and Copper (Prix de Caen) classes.


The Prix de Cabourg comprises 32 participants aged between 7 and 15 years which are split into three semi-finals with the first four from each making it to the final.


The Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer includes 20 participants aged between 7 and 16 years split into two semi-finals with the first five from each making it to the final.


The Prix de Caen sees 21 trotters aged between 5 and 18 years split in two semi-finals with the first five from each qualifying for the final.


Undoubtedly 12 semi-finals promising great spectacle at the Marsa racecourse.


Normal races


These two meetings also include a number of “normal” races reserved for the Gold, Silver and Bronze classes on the longer 2,640m distance.


The most senior races are two reserved for Gold class trotters during Friday’s meeting.


These include various horses coming from a win or a runner-up place in their last three outings, including Xray Hornline, Milord Barbes, Count of Life and Why Not As in the first race and Quel Homme, Queen du Sablier and Obelix Molgard in the second.


We also have three newcomers in these two races i.e. Swedish 7 year old mare Nina Ruda, French 10 year old gelding Quito Clayettois and Italian 8 year old stallion Millionarios.


We also have another newcomer in the Bronze class, i.e. French 9 year old Ritchy Star.


So, once again we have another two super meetings with various top class attractions which will certainly keep spectators on tiptoes throughout the respective races.


Last Meeting


The salient attraction of the last meeting consisted of the start of another championship, with two semi-finals (on the short 2,140m distance) from the Sette Giugno Cup reserved for Premier class trotters except for French trotters which shall participate in the Le Trot championship Prix de Vincennes reserved for them this weekend. 


We also saw some very interesting “normal” races on the longer 2,640m distance, particularly two high quality ones for Gold class trotters.


During this meeting Julian Farrugia was also honoured with the Driver of the Month Award for April.


Sette Giugno Cup semi-finals


Zalgado Transs R was the fastest horse at the start of the first Sette Giugno Cup semi-final, but this horse was overtaken by favourite Yanantin Boko after just 250m.  The latter maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the race increasing its speed further in the last half lap and reserving its best for the final straight to claim its first win in Malta in comfortable fashion in a time of 1’14’5 per kilometre, a length and a half ahead of Zalgado Transs R, followed into the final by Zandina Boshoeve, Vanmaker Limburgia and Rocky Composite in that order.


Opal Hall took an early lead in the second semi-final, but was overtaken after about 650m by BOV Tazza l-Kbira winner Cloria Victis.  From then on this race had little story as Cloria Victis controlled the race with ease, increasing its speed in the last half lap and then literally dominating the final straight to claim its second consecutive and third seasonal win in the national seasonal best time on the 2,140m distance of 1’13’9 per kilometre, no less than five and a half lengths ahead of The Bad Rock, with Vejby Boom, Lage and New Star D K, all making it to the final.


 “Normal” races


Quirio Charm took the lead in the early stages of the first Gold class race but this horse was overtaken by Nitesco d’Antony with two laps to go.  The latter maintained its lead until the final straight, but with half a lap to go we saw Phenix de la Roque going three wide to progress in an impressive manner and to come within striking distance of the race leader with around 300m to go.


However from then on there was no doubt as to the winner as Phenix de la Roque sprinted marvellously in the centre of the track to go in front in the middle of the straight and went on to claim its second seasonal and fifth win in Malta in 1’16’5 per kilomere, a length ahead of the fast-finishing Made In Hoff, followed by Nitesco d’Antony and Lost Photo.


The lead alternated between Quio de Nappes, Oscar Mati and Reado November in the first 800m of the second Gold class race, with the lead finally falling to Quio de Nappes which gave the race a rather calm pace.  The pace however increased in the last lap with Quio de Nappes increasing its lead with half a lap to go.


However the race was not yet over as Oscar Mati produced a great sprint in the final straight to go in front with 100m to go and finished up claiming its first win in the last 15 months (its 6th in Malta) in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre, nearly two lengths ahead of Quio de Nappes, followed by Versace Boko and Purple Hall.


In the Silver class we first saw French 13 year old Nacarat Campbell return to victory after an absence of a year and ten months from the Winners’ Circle (its 8th win in Malta) thanks to a strong sprint in the final straight, beating runner-up Regent de Tillard by no less than five lengths, in a good time for this class on 2,640m of 1’16’1 per kilometre, thus returning back to the Gold class.


Then it was the turn of another French trotter, 12 year old Ouf Boy, which claimed its first win in Malta, author of an irresistible sprint in the final straight which enabled it to beat Rapide du Matin by a length in a time of 1’17’3 per kilometre.


Finally French 11 year old Petrus du Vivier went in the lead in the final straight and went on to beat runner-up Quersis by a comfortable one and a half lengths to secure its second seasonal and seventh win in Malta in 1’17’8 per kilometre.


The Le Trot Championships – named after famous French racecourses


And so, now that the dust has settled on the Bank of Valletta Tazza l-Kbira, we have started the Le Trot championships reserved for French trotters of all classes and sponsored by the French trot racing association, the SECF.


Now in their 12th year (the first edition took place in 2003) and held twice a year, in May - June on the short 2,140m distance and in November – December on the longer 2,640m, these championships are acquiring a distinct heritage in the Maltese trot racing scene, maintaining their reputation for relatively high prize-money (by Maltese standards, naturally).


They seem to be going from strength to strength in terms of popularity.  This year the number of registered horses has risen by 36 from 226 last year to this year’s 261.  An increase in numbers in all of the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper classes, except for the Premier class which has seen a drop of 13 entrants.


Indeed, statistics show that over the last 20 years, the increase in French trotters in Malta coincided with the introduction of these championships.


We tend to refer to these championships by reference to the particular trot class involved, as we do with our other championships.  However, in this case, each class championship bears the name of a famous French racecourse, Vincennes, Enghien, Cabourg, Cagnes Sur Mer and Caen.


And this symbolises one of the striking differences between Franch and Maltese trot racing: the variety of racecourses!  In our case due to our country’s limited size, we have just one national racecourse, the Marsa racecourse (plus naturally the Ta’ Xhajma racecourse in Gozo) in which all our championships and normal races are held.


On the other hand, in France according to the official figures for 2013, there were no less than 223 racing tracks, with these having actually diminished to some extent in recent years, from 228 in 2009 and having even exceeded 230 in prior years.  Between them, last year, they hosted some 1,559 race meetings (compared to our 53), with no less than 11,023 trot races.


Indeed, France is the European country with the largest number of racecourses for the trot discipline.


They are also extremely varied, whether in terms of length of the track which varies from one racecourse to another, the direction in which the horses run (some are clockwise and others anti-clockwise), type of track, e.g. sand, grass, cinders etc.


Naturally these racecourses do not all have the same stature.  There is a difference between the legendary Vincennes racecourse known as “le temple du trot” (or the temple of trotting) and some small racecourse which would organise less than ten race meetings a year.


However, they all have their value and if nothing else they have enabled the trot discipline to acquire its national status in France, being spread across the entire country.


Indeed, from an equestrian perspective, France is divided into nine regions – the main presence of racecourses is in the West (46) of the country and the South West (43), followed by the Anjou-Maine region (36), Lower Normandy (28), Upper Normandy (16), the South East & Corsica (16), the Mid East (16) and finally the North (10) and the East (7).


Racecourses are split on the basis of the level of their infrastructure, starting with five national poles – which one can call the guiding lights of French trot racing – Vincennes, Enghien, Cabourg, Cagnes Sur Mer and Vichy.


Then there are the 20 regional poles – Nantes, Angers, Laval, Argentan, Caen, Graignes, Mauquenchy, Agen Le Passage, Beaumont de Lomagne, Bordeaux- Bouscat, Toulouse, Marseille Vivaux and Borely, Lyon Parilly and La Soie, Saint Galmier, Amiens, La Capelle, Le Croise Laroche and Reims – and subsequently the racecourses of 1st, 2nd and 3rd categories. 


Despite the fact that the latter are not as well-equipped and well-known as the national and the regional poles many of them harbour a horse-racing passion which is second to none.


Interestingly our championships are named after four of the national poles but with the additional of the regional pole of Caen, as if to emphasise that French trot racing is not represented merely by the national racecourses but is one in which the regional racecourses also have a large stake.


All of them tend to have their key races (or here in Malta we would call them finals) and it is impressive that even the smaller racecourses sometimes even manage to attract some of the most well-known horses on such occasions.


I must admit for instance that one of the regions which I tend to follow quite closely is Corsica – a large island which is part of France but geographically detached from the mainland. 


This has four racecourses open for both trot and flat racing, Ajaccio (1,070m), Biguglia (1,065m), Prunelli di Fium Orbo (1,400m) and Zonza (950m), nearly all of which (except for Prunelli di Fium Orbo) organise races on a clockwise basis (as against our racecourse with its anti-clockwise races) and all of them have a grass track (as against our sand). 


Perhaps due to being situated on an island, the number of their mature trotters aged between 6 and 10 years tends to be quite restricted and many of them tend to race against each other week in week out.  Yet we in Malta have over the years tended to import quite a number which have raced there, with some of them registering good successes here in Malta, such as James de l’Iton, Mig of the Wood and Mont Cenis Honey among others.


Proof, if any was needed, that no racecourse has a monopoly on quality!


But now these French trotters are challenging each other in our national racecourse.  In their eyes however, we can still see the reflection of the French racecourses in which they raced in the past, and the great experience they gained in their younger days in that country with such a strong trot tradition  ...


We wish you another two exciting meetings this weekend.