minn Magnat
Two race meetings will be held this weekend, the first on Saturday 7th June (Sette Giugno public holiday) and then on Sunday 8th June, both meetings commencing at 1.45pm and having 9 races on each card.
These two meetings have some brilliant attractions reserved for spectators being:
(i) the Sette Giugno Cup final reserved for Premier class trotters on Saturday;
(ii) the Mediterranean Derby for thoroughbreds on Sunday;
(iii) a very interesting Premier class race on Sunday; and
(iv) three balanced Gold class races spread across the two meetings.
The Sette Giugno Cup final
Saturday’s main attraction undoubtedly consists of the Sette Giugno Cup final on the short 2,140m distance, which is reserved for Premier class trotters of any nationality except for French horses taking part in the Prix de Vincennes.
This championship was born as the MRC Premier Trot in the 2009 and 2010 editions but its name was then changed to the Sette Giugno Cup as from 2011, with the aim of linking it to the time of year in which it is held as well as with one of Malta’s national feasts, which gives our sport a connection with Malta’s history.
The race distance was originally the longer 2,640m distance in 2009 to the same (2,140m) since 2010, remaining also the same distance when the name was altered in 2011.
The shift to the Sette Guigno name we also saw an alteration to the championship format which moved from the original (MRC Premier Trot) style of just a final (10 finalists two of which were scratched in 2009 and 9 finalists with one scratched in 2010) to a semi-final and final format with the change in name as from 2011.
This year we had 20 participants in the championship, with 10 of them making it to the final.
The winning horses were Arnie Sensation (MRC Premier Trot 2009), Think Yatzee (MRC Premier Trot 2010 and Sette Giugno Cup 2011), Zilver Boko (Sette Giugno Cup 2012) and Orcas Bac (Sette Giugno Cup 2013). We are guaranteed a new winner this year as all participants have not yet carved their name on this Cup.
The best time to date is that registerd by Orcas Bac last year of 1’14’7 per kilometre.
So, returning to this year, the 9 participants (the 10th – Lage, has unfortunately been scratched) hail from three countries, i.e. Denmark, Germany and Sweden and are aged between 8 and 11 years. Winners of 22 races and having placed another 45 times between them, the full list of 6 geldings, 2 stallions and 1 mare reads as follows:
1. Zandina Boshoeve, Swedish 8 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro25,660 and a best time of 1’15’3 per kilometre. It has 7 wins and 9 places from its 26 races in Malta with a best time of 1’13’7 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’7 per kilometre on 2,140m);
2. 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 three times (including this year’s BOV Tazza l-Kbira final) and placed another five times in its 9 races in Malta so far, with a best time of 1’13’9 per kilometre on 2,140m;
3. Vejby Boom, Swedish 8 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK676,390 and a best time of 1’11’6 per kilometre. It has won three races and placed another four times in its 9 races in Malta so far, with a best time of 1’13’3 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’6 per kilometre on 2,140m);
4. Zalgado Transs R, German 8 year old, with overseas winnings of NOK604,684 and a best time of 1’12’8 per kilometre. It has won twice and placed another 7 times from its 10 races in Malta to date, with a best time of 1’13’0 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’2 per kilometre on 2,140m);
5. Rocky Composite, Swedish 8 year old, with verseas winnings of SEK580,600 and a best time of 1’13’0 per kilometre. It has a win and a place from its 6 races in Malta with a best time of 1’15’0 per kilometre on 2,640m (1’15’2 per kilometre on 2,140m);
6. New Star D K, Danish 9 year old, with overseas winnings of DNK277,200 and a best time of 1’13’3 per kilometre. It has two wins and three places from its 6 races in Malta with a best time of 1’14’4 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’7 per kilometre on 2,140m);
7. 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 has 3 wins and four places from its 11 races in Malta with a best time of 1’14’5 per kilometre on 2,640m (twice) (1’14’6 per kilometre on 2,140m);
8. Vanmaker Limburgia, German 11 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK977,418 and a best time of 1’12’2 per kilometre. It has not won in Malta as yet but it has placed no less than 11 times from its 19 races in Malta with a best time of 1’13’6 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’0 per kilometre on 2,140m);
9. Yanantin Boko, Swedish 9 year old, with overseas winnings of SEK2,317,225 and a best time of 1’11’5 per kilometre. It has a win and a runner-up place in Malta in its two races so far with a best time of 1’14’1 per kilometre on 2,140m.
Clearly suited for this short distance with no less than seven of these horses having made their best time in Malta on either the 1,640m or 2,140m, it is noticeable that nearly all of them hae a best time locally of 1’14’5 per kilometre or better, with nearly all of them having made 1’14’7 per kilometre or better on 2,140m.
The prize-money amounts to Euro2,400 with Euro1,350 going to the winner.
No doubt a much anticipated final with great quality participants, promising a mighty struggle not just for the win but also for one of the leading positions that would guarantee a place in the VOB Grand Final in three weeks’ time.
We wish the best of luck to all participants, their owners, trainers, handlers and drivers, for whom participating in such a prestigious final is an honour in itself, putting their hard work and dedication in the Maltese horse-racing scene.
Mediterranean Derby
And from a relatively recent championship to one of Malta’s historic finals, the Mediterranean Derby reserved for thoroughbreds which will be held on Sunday.
This is indeed the ultimate flat racing accolade in Malta, thoroughbreds’ Tazza l-Kbira, the foremost dream for all thoroughbred owners, trainers and jockeys here in Malta.
Flat racing enthusiasts are also bound to enjoy their discipline being in the limelight on this occasion.
This happens to be the 125th annual anniversary of the first time that this championship was held way back in 1889, this being the oldest championship which is still being held in Malta, so many years later. However, like the Sette Giugno Cup, even this honour saw a change of name, being originally known as the United Service Challenge Cup.
When Malta was predominantly a flat racing country especially during the British colonial times, this trophy saw truly glorious years. The situation changed especially from the sixties with trotting becoming clearly the more popular discipline and with the situation becoming more precarious particularly between the eighties and the early years of this century.
Suffice to say that this great event was not held on no less than seven occasions during those years (1985, 1988, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001). But this trophy returned with a bang in 2002 and has continued to be held to date.
This year a full list of eight finalists are due to compete in this rather long 1,750m race, including last year’s winner Kimberley Downs and 2011 winner Buttermilk. Hailing from three countries, Germany, Ireland and the USA, the participants (five geldings, two stallions and a mare) are aged between 4 and 9 years, being:
1. Kimberley Downs, US 8 year old, having 14 wins (including last year’s Mediterranean Derby, Coronation Cup and Johnnie Walker Cup, and the Exotique Cup Final 2011) and one place from its 17 races in Malta to date;
2. Pearl Storm, Irish 6 year old, having 4 consecutive wins in its 4 races in Malta to date;
3. Timolin, German 7 year old, having won or placed in all its races in Malta, i.e. six wins (including the Chukkas Cup 2013) and 13 placed from its 19 races in Malta;
4. Ollie Fliptrik, US 9 year old, being the participant having raced most in Malta (30 races), earning 5 wins (including a win in the Mediterranean Horse Union Jockeys’ Championship 2011) and 15 places,
5. Gold As Good, Irish 4 year old, which also won or placed in all its races in Malta, i.e. a win and six places from its 7 races in Malta;
6. Key Art, Irish 7 year old, seeking its first wn or place after just two races in Malta;
7. Darielli, US 7 year old, having two wins and four places from its 12 races locally;
8. Buttermilk, Irish 7 year old, having two wins (including the 2011 Mediterranean Derby) and 10 places from its 23 races in Malta.
Undoubtedly another great challenge for one of these thoroughbreds to carve its name on this historic Cup and join an exclusive list of well-known horses to have managed this incredible feat.
The prize-money amounts to Euro875 with Euro500 going to the winner.
Once again, we wish the best of luck to all participants, their owners, trainers, handlers and drivers, in the certainty that they will already appreciate the honour of taking part in this race and may the win go to the most deserving horse.
Normal races
All normal trot races during this weekend will be held on the short 2,140m distance.
Undoubtedly the main one is the Premier class race contained in Sunday’s race card with 13 popular participants, including Ego Sanna, Madam di Poggio, Utah Hornline and Made In Hoff, which all placed twice in their last three outings, Opal Hall which was runner-up in its penultimate race, Chiara Sisu and Isalus which both placed well last month, former Prix de Vincennes and President’s Cup winner Mont Cenis Honey, Onyx Lucernais which was promoted to the Premier class earlier this year, and recent newcomers Precieux Perrine, Palazio Valterne and Brio.
Finally we also have an absolute newcomer registered with the highest handicap points for a newcomer in Malta, i.e. Italian 11 year old stallion Goblin Grif, winner of Euro203,099 (37 wins and many places) and with a splendid best time of 1’10’8 per kilometre on 1,600m registerd in May 2010 at the Milan racecourse . Among its most prestigious wins we find the Premio GD Club per l’Emilia Romagna on 1,600m at Milan in July 2012, the Premio Indal in the same racecourse and on the same distance in December 2011. It also raced in France and managed to win a good race at Lyon Parilly in December 2010. Its strong performances continued until its last year when it managed five consecutive wins on the 1,600m and 2,060m distances as well as five other places in the first four.
The three Gold class races (two on Saturday and one on Sunday) are equally interesting.
Thus in the first race we find in-form horses such as Nacarat Campbell coming from a win in its last race, Razor Shadow, having a win and a place in its last three races, Quel Homme with two places in its last three outings, Malewe – runner-up in its last race and Quozak Prior, Orage du Pont and Niky du Donjon which all placed in their penultimate race, among all the valid participants.
The second race is also replete with interesting horses. Laval is coming from a win in its last race, Qadjar Turgot was winner and runner up in two of its last three outings, Quio de Nappes was runner-up twice in the last three races, Quartz Dancer finished second in its last race and Why Not As and Nubi Lens did likewise last month, Versace Boko is coming from two consecutive places while Versace Boko also placed in its last race.
Then most of the horses participaints in Sunday’s Gold class race would be promoted to the Premier class with a win and in some instances even with a good place. Here we find various horses which have just been relegated from the Premier class, including P.A. Surprise, Quiet Way, Nono de Crouay, Original Blue and Argus Hanover.
Among the others we find Count of Life and Oscar Mati which are coming from a good win, Pan de Couperies which won its penultimate race and Oolong which had a good win last month, whilst horses such as Nitesco d’Antony, Wies Buitenzorg, Quintet, Orion du Vaumicel and Quioco Dry all obtained good places (some of them twice) in their last three races.
The remaining races are normal ones reserved for Silver, Bronze and Copper class trotters on the short 2,140m distance, with French 5 year old Va Brusan being scheduled to debut in the Bronze class on Saturday.
Malta Racing Club Academy End of Academic Year Championship
The Malta Racing Club Academy will end the 2013-14 academic year on Saturday 14thJune with the presentation of certificates to the participating youths and children.
With pleasure we also report that during these two meetings we will see the start of another championship reserved for Shetland Ponies (on the 700m distance) driven by students of the Malta Racing Club Academy. This championship is intended to mark the end of the said academic year.
Since the first championship of this nature held a couple of months ago, we already see an increase in participation, with these rising from the 10 in the first championship to 14 in this championship.
One heat will be held on Saturday and another on Sunday, with the first three horses from each making it to the final which will be held on the same distance on Sunday 15thJune.
The participating drivers which include both male and female competitors are Esmeralda Grima, Dorian Grech, Edmilson Zammit, Elenia Briffa, Yasmin Cutajar, Shaun Fenech and Gabriel Micallef in the first heat and Sheldon Micallef, Leon Tanti, Christian Gauci, Martina Hili, Denilson Cortis, Clint Gauci and Dejan Calleja in Sunday’s heat.
We congratulate the Malta Racing Club Academy for this initiative and wish all the best to the participating young drivers who will certainly acquire further valuable experience through their taking part in this new championship.
Last Meetings
The salient attraction of the last meeting consisted in 12 semi-finals from the Le Trot championships reserved for French trotters on the short 2,140m distance. All trot classes were in action, from the Premier to the Copper class.
We also had two interesting Gold class normal races on the longer 2,640m distance during Friday’s meeting which also turned out to be extremely exciting.
During Sunday’s meeting a presentation was also made by Mr Mark Vella on behalf of the Malta Racing Club, to Messrs Julian Bezzina and Joseph Borg, owners of 11 year old French trotter Prieure’ to mark the national record of 1’12’7 per kilometre established by this horse on the 1,640m distance on the 4th May 2014 (which also became this horse’s absolute best personal time).
Le Trot semi-finals – Prix de Vincennes (Premier class)
Ourasi Diams and Original Blue exchanged the lead between them in the first 600m of Friday’s Prix de Vincennes semi-final, until they were overtaken by Pat de Fontaine, which however in turn was overtaken by Nabab du Chatelet after around a couple of hundred metres. The situation remained the same until the last half lap when Onyx Lucernais managed to go in front and to be the first horse to enter the final straight.
However, in the meantime, Pat de Fontaine had gone out three wide to be well-placed to launch its attack and sprinted brilliantly throughout the final straight to take the lead in the middle of the straight and go on to its second win in Malta in a time of 1’17’5 per kilometre, a length and a half ahead of Pike Blue, followed by fellow qualifiers Nabab du Chatelet and Ourasi Diams.
Pouloud Keroc’H was the first horse to take the lead in Sunday’s first Prix de Vincennes semi-final, but this horse was overtaken by Prieure’ after just 600m and from then on the race had little story as the latter controlled the race comfortably (followed mainly by the same Pouloud Keroc’H and newcomer Pedro Vici), increasing its speed further in the last 400m and then powered to its third consecutive and seasonal win in a very good time of 1’14’5 per kilometre, a length ahead of Pouloud Keroc’H, followed by Pedro Vici (which was disqualified), with the other two places in the final going to Perceval and Royal Pierre which finished in that order.
In the remaining semi-final, it was newcomer Quito d’Ecroville which took an early lead, remaining in front until the last 600m when it was overtaken by Mont Cenis Honey but the former regained its lead after a few tens of metres and was the first horse to enter the final straight.
However the race was far from over because another newcomer, Pronostic de Neige managed to power to the front with 200m to go and went on to a dream debut in another very good time of 1’14’6 per kilometre, a length and a half ahead of Oltedo de Rieux, followed into the final by Oran and Quouky Jet.
Le Trot semi-finals – Prix d’Enghien (Gold class)
Quito Soyer took an early lead in the first Prix d’Enghien semi-final but it was soon overtaken by Quito de Femisson and then again the latter had to concede the lead to Oeillet de Phens.
However the crucial moment of the race arrived with a lap to go as Quart de Cidre powered to the front and from then on the race had no story as the latter controlled the race, increasing its speed further in the last half lap and continued going strong to claim its second consecutive and seasonal win in a very good time of 1’14’4 per kilometre, three and a half lengths ahead of Oiellet de Phens, followed by Quito Soyer, Ollico Pellois and Nagano Phedo which all qualified for the final.
Quel Noir took an early lead in the second Prix d’Enghien race followed mainly by Quintet. The latter attacked in the back straight and these two horses ran head-to-head well ahead of all the others and entered the final straight together.
The straight was once more a challenge between these two horses with Quintet finally having the better and reaching the finishing post first. However the latter was disqualified for hooking with Quel Noir thus claiming its first seasonal win (its second win in Malta) in 1’14’8 per kilometre, six and a half lengths ahead of Pile Ou Face, followed into the final by Quel Imprevu, Pissaro and Pepone du Castelet in that order.
“Normal” races – Gold class
In the first Gold class normal race held on Friday on the longer 2,640m distance, we saw Finnish 15 year old veteran Count of Life return to victory after an absence of two years and two months from the Winners’ Circle (its 9th win in Malta) beating runner-up Quartz Dancer by over a length in a time of 1’17’3 per kilometre.
Then in the second race, Italian 9 year old Laval notched its first win in Malta in a time of 1’17’1 per kilometre, thanks to a great sprint in the last 300m which saw it overtake then race leader Quel Homme at the beginning of the final straight and then power to a comfortable four and a half length win on fellow Italian runner-up Malewe.
Doping test results
Recently the Malta Racing Club received the result of five other doping tests taken in 2014. Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of Cloria Victis, Perceval, Oltedo de Rieux and Quiet Way respectively winner and placing horses in the BOV Tazza l-Kbira final held on the 27th April and Icare de Jemma which placed in fourth place in the Tazza San Frangisk final held on the 11th May, which results confirmed that they were all clean from prohibited substances.
We wish you another two exciting meetings this weekend.
