by Magnat
The last two race meetings of the first phase of the season will be held over the next week or so, i.e. the first on Friday 20th June and then the following Friday 27th June. Each of these meetings starts at 7pm and includes 9 trot races on the short 2,140m distance.
The main highlight is naturally the Variable Odds Betting Grand Final reserved for Premier class horses of all nationalities, with half of the ten finalists being chosen from the best placed horses in the Prix de Vincennes final and the remainder from the top performers in the Sette Giugno Cup final.
The finalists are aged between 8 and 12 years, with five French, three Swedes and two Germans. Winners of 26 races and having placed another 52 times between them, the full list of 7 geldings, 2 stallions and one mare is as follows:
1. 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 three times (including the Sette Giugno Cup final) and placed another 7 times from its 11 races in Malta to date, with a best time of 1’13’0 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’13’7 per kilometre on 2,140m);
2. 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 from its three races so far with a best time of 1’14’1 per kilometre on 2,140m.
3. 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 eight times from its 22 races in Malta with a best time amongst us of 1’13’6 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’5 per kilometre on 2,140m);
4. Pat de Fontaine, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro255,850 and a best time of 1’13’8 per kilometre. It has won twice and placed another three times from its 7 races in Malta with a best time of 1’14’4 per kilometre on 2,140m;
5. 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 10 places from its 27 races in Malta with a best time of 1’13’7 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’2 per kilometre on 2,140m);
6. 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 12 times from its 20 races in Malta with a best time of 1’13’6 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’0 per kilometre on 2,140m);
7. 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 three times in its 6 races in Malta with a best time of 1’14’5 per kilometre on 2,140m;
8. Prieure’, French 11 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro263,900 and a best time of 1’13’8 per kilometre. It has won four times (including last week’s Prix de Vincennes final) and placed another time from its 6 races in Malta with its best time in Malta and also its absolute career best time being the national record of 1’12’7 per kilometre on 1,640m (1’14’0 per kilometre on 2,140m);
9. 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 six times in its 10 races in Malta so far, with a best time of 1’13’9 per kilometre (twice) on 2,140m;
10. Quouky Jet, French 10 year old, with overseas winnings of Euro248,120 and a best time of 1’13’0 per kilometre. It has one place from its 3 races in Malta with a best time of 1’14’9 per kilometre on 2,140m.
Clearly suited for this short distance with all these horses having made their best time in Malta on either the 1,640m or 2,140m distance, it is noticeable that all of them also have a best time locally of 1’14’9 per kilometre or better.
The prize-money amounts to Euro3,200 with Euro1,800 going to the winner.
Undoubtedly this Grand Final provides a fitting climax with which to end this first phase of the season!
This Friday’s racecard also presents us with an attractive “normal” Premier class race which unites 13 high value participants, including recent winners Made In Hoff and Original Blue, Mont Cenis Honey which was runner-up a couple of weeks ago, Chiara Sisu, Ego Sanna, Isalus and Papy de la Potel which all had good performances recently, last year’s President’s Cup final winner Gently di Poggio, recent newcomers Goblin Grif, Pedro Vici and Palazio Valterne and Swedish 9 year old newcomer Zwack and German 8 year old newcomer Wee Catch Diamond; both geldings.
The latter is registered with the highest handicap points for a newcomer in Malta. It has been racing abroad since September 2008, first in Germany and then in Sweden and France. Its winnings total SEK1,104,089 thanks to 16 wins and many places, having a best time of 1’12’4 per kilometre, registered twice, both in Sweden (Aby and Eskilstuna) on 1,640m, in January 2012 and then in July 2013. Its most prestigious win was probably the German Breeders’ Crown for 5 year olds in Gelsenkirchen (2,000m) in November 2011 with prize-money of Euro58,548. Since mid-2013, in Sweden, it has also remained quite consistent, with some seven places between 2nd and 5th on various distances, apart from making its above-mentioned joint best time.
These two meetings also feature 4 Gold class races, two in each meeting.
The first Gold class race in this week’s meeting includes various horses coming from optimal performances, such as Rapide du Matin coming from a win and a runner-up place, Quome d’Avignere and Nacarat Campbell which both won their penultimate race, Markus Klipp and Regent de Tillard with two consecutive places, Malewe and Foot Stompin Music which were both runners-up in recent weeks.
The second race then mixes various horses which were recently relegated from the Premier class, such as Royal Pierre, Quiet Way, Onyx Lucernais, Argus Hanover, Rocky Composite, P.A. Surprise and Brio, as well as horses coming from promising performances such as recent winner Veikko Hornline and other horses having good places such as Quermes Rush, Quintet and Wies Buitenzorg.
Next week’s Gold class races are no less, with both featuring various recent winners, such as Quito de Femisson, Purple Hall and Laval in the first and Quel Homme in the second. Many others are coming from good places in their last couple of outings, such as Quio de Nappes, Quartz de l’Isac, Niky du Donjon, Quid d’Aliermont, Pissaro, Quel Imprevu and Versace Boko in the first race and Quartz Dancer, Los Angeles, Ollico Pellois, Nitesco d’Antony and Quicker Magoda in the second.
The other races are six for the Silver class, four for Bronze class horses, with the two remaining races being reserved for the Copper class. French Red Love and Roc du Bois, both 9 years old, as well as 8 year old Saphir Censerie and Swedish 6 year old Bella Chip are scheduled to debut in the Silver class, while French 6 year old Uranos is expected to make its first appearance in the Bronze class.
Undoubtedly, this great final and various balanced “normal” races should provide an exciting end to the first phase of this season! I must confess that this year I will miss the Summer Championship and the summer races under the beautiful Mediterranean evening sky, but it is naturally appropriate that racecourse maintenance works should take priority this summer. In any case after a few weeks of rest for both horses and humans we look forward to meeting again in September for the second phase of the season.
Last Meeting
Last Sunday’s meeting was totally dominated by the Le Trot finals reserved for French trotters of each class, sponsored by the French trot association, the SECF. As is normal at this time of year, the race distance was the short 2,140m.
After each final, Ms Emmanuelle Morvilliers, on behalf of the sponsors, accompanied by Malta Racing Club Chairman Dr Matthew Brincat, presented the trophies and prizes to the winning drivers and owners.
Prix de Vincennes (Premier class)
Pat de Fontaine was the fastest horse at the start of the Prix de Vincennes final taking a small lead from Prieure’ and Ourasi Diams. However Prieure’ had other ideas and managed to overtake the raceleader with a mile to go.
This horse held on steadily to the lead and guided in a masterly fashion by Charles Camilleri, increased its pace further in the last 400m followed by Pouloud Keroc'H and Pat de Fontaine. However in the final straight, although sprinting at impressive speed, this horse faced an extremely determined challenge from Pouloud Keroc’H and especially Pat de Fontaine, but this was Prieure’s day claiming its fourth consecutive and seasonal win in an excellent time of 1’14’3 per kilometre, a head ahead of the same Pat de Fontaine, with Pouloud Keroc’H, Ourasi Diams and Oran following in that order.
Prix d’Enghien (Gold class)
Pepone du Castelet took an early lead in the Gold class final, followed by Quel Noir, a situation which remained the same until around 500m from the end when Oeillet de Phens went two wide to overtake Quel Noir and attack the race leader.
Pepone du Castelet and Oeillet de Phens entered head-to-head into the final straight but the latter took the lead soon afterwards and sprinted towards the finish line, but at the same time it was subjected to a strong challenge by Quito Soyer with these two horses providing an exciting head-to-head finish.
The photo finish awarded the first seasonal win (its second in Malta) and the Prix d’Enghien to Rodney Gatt’s Oeillet de Phens in 1’15’6 per kilometre, only half a head ahead of the same Quito Soyer followed by Quel Noir and Pepone du Castelet in that order.
Prix de Cabourg (Silver class)
The lead changed hands a number of times in the first 600m of the Prix de Cabourg final, with Rio du Gers taking over with a kilometre and a half to go. However the latter changed pace just before the start of the last lap leaving space for Recife du Layon to take the lead.
The latter remained in front until the last 250m when it was overtaken by a number of horses, with the final straight witnessing an exciting duel between four horses sprinting at breathtaking speed until the finishing post. Panda des Fleches driven by Christopher Cassar, was the strongest of the lot, claiming its first seasonal and second win in Malta in 1’16’0 per kilometre, just a head in front of Quazoumax, followed by Roi du Solat and Rocky de Jervi in that order.
Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer (Bronze class)
It was Titus du Rib which went in front early on in this final, with Pancho Villa taking over after 600m only to be substituted soon afterwards by Notre Joyeux. However at the start of the last lap Roff Gy powered to the front maintaining its lead until the final straight.
In the meantime however, in the backstraight we saw Pacha de Sassy advancing one place after another on the outer lanes to place itself in second place at the start of the last half lap. Pacha de Sassy continued advancing well and to narrow the gap with the race leader. Into the final straight it was Roff Gy followed closely by Pacha de Sassy, with these two horses sprinting head-to-head.
Pacha de Sassy, driven by Omar Cauchi was the stronger horse on the day, going in front 100m from the end and claiming its fourth consecutive and fifth seasonal win and the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer in 1’17’0 per kilometre, a couple of lengths ahead of the same Roff Gy, followed by Record du Stade and Titus du Rib.
Prix de Caen (Copper class)
Nympheta de Bisoir took an early lead in the Prix de Caen final, but with 1,200m to go we saw Uranium des Arkads advancing on the outside lanes from the back places to go up to second place. Soon afterwards, at the beginning of the last lap, Nympheta de Bisoir changed pace and was disqualified, thus leaving the road open for Uranium des Arkads to take the lead.
This horse actually increased its speed in the last half lap to take a more pronounced lead. However in the last 300m 18 year old veteran Icare de Jemma closed in on the race leader and gave it a good run for its money in the final straight. However 6 year old Uranium des Arkads driven by Kurt Saliba held on to claim its second consecutive and fourth seasonal win and this edition of the Prix de Caen in a time of 1’17’9 per kilometre, more than a length and a half ahead of the same Icare de Jemma, followed by Mirage d’Ete and Ocean Gede’ in that order.
Normal races – Gold class
Newcomer Quartz de l’Isac dominated the only Gold class “normal” race in Sunday’s programme from the early stages until the final straight. However this horse was followed like a shadow for most of the race by Quito de Femisson, with the latter launching its attack three wide in the last 350m, managing to get head-to-head with Quartz de l’Isac at the beginning of the final straight and then taking the lead in the last 150m to go on to record its first win in Malta in 1’16’2 per kilometre, a length ahead of the same Quartz de l’Isac, followed by the fast-finishing Markus Klipp and Regent de Tillard.
Doping test results
Recently the Malta Racing Club received the results of another two doping tests taken in 2014. Congratulations go to the owners and trainers of The Womanizer which placed third in the San Frangisk Cup final held on the 11th May, which result confirmed that it was clean from prohibited substances.
Unfortunately Pout de Quelaines’ result from the same final was positive, with this horse thus being disqualified apart from suffering the other penalties contemplated by the regulations. Thus the revised result of the San Frangisk Cup final for Copper class trotters reads as follows: winner is Ocean Gede', followed by The Womanizer, Icare de Jemma and Noble d’Urzy in that order.
Malta Racing Club Academy End of Academic Year Championship
And there was indeed one additional final last Sunday and this was no less than the others!
We are referring to the Malta Racing Club Academy End of Academic Year Championship final for students of this Academy, driving Shetland Ponies on a 700m distance, which was preceded by a parade of all participants.
The participants in this final were Ginger (Shaun Fenech), Lightning (Gabriel Micallef), Rosey (Esmeralda Grima), Ten Sharp (Clint Gauci), Baby Boko (Dejan Calleja) and Rover (Denilson Cortis).
The winner was Denilson Cortis’ Rover ahead of Baby Boko driven by Dejan Calleja and Clint Gauci’s Ten Sharp. A big well done to the three of them, but we also wish to congratulate and encourage all the 6 participants in this final as well as all the 14 participants in this championship.
You all gave your very best in a spirit of sportsmanship and thus deserve our full praise and admiration. And indeed it was therefore very appropriate that all these participants were presented with a memento of their participation in this championship. Keep it up!
This brings to seven the total number of races organised during the academic year by the Academy for its students, thus fulfilling its commitment to hold an average of a race per month as a competition for its students during the race meetings organised by the Malta Racing Club.
The Variable Odds Betting Cup
I have long argued in favour of horse-racing championships having a long-term identity. This helps them to build a historical heritage that is passed on from one winner to another. Every year that passes continues to enhance the prestige of the particular championship.
That is one of the main features making the Tazza l-Kbira, the Mediterrean Derby, the President’s Cup and the SECF (now Le Trot) championships so prestigious – the historical heritage of being held regularly with one winner following the other. Other championships are gradually building up to this status, such as the Sette Giugno Cup (started as the MRC Premier Trot), the Summer championship, the Autumn championship, the Coronation Cup etc.
Names might change (e.g. the Tazza l-Kbira used to be known by various names such as the Malta Trotting Championship Cup, the Malta Racing Club Challenge Cup etc and the same was the case for instance of the Mediterranean Derby which was originally the United Service Challenge Cup) and sponsors tend to change from time to time but the particular championship remains in place.
This is the case even abroad with the Prix d’Amerique, the Elitloppet and the other big international racing appointments.
But for every rule there is an exception and this is certainly the case for the Variable Odds Betting Cup or the Bookmakers Cup, which has always been sponsored by the Bookmakers at the racecourse and has acquired its own distinct historical heritage through this very name, through this particular sponsor.
This Cup thus represents an original feature and heritage in the Maltese horse-racing scene – one which has been intimately linked with its sponsors since inception and remains so till today.
This is a mainstay of horse-racing in Malta and for this we must thank the various bookmakers which have contributed to it by their sponsorship over the years.
Going back in history, the first edition of this Cup that I came across was that which commenced in December 1981 and ended with the final of the 3rd January 1982, won by Gael.
From then on this Cup started being held practically every year for the next 19 years. I say “practically” because as is typical of most Maltese horse-racing championships, there are years in which the particular championship or final was not held; indeed we do not find trace of this Cup in years such as 1986, 1993, 1995 and 1998.
On the other hand, another feature of this Cup is that in various years it was contested more than once. Thus for instance in the 1984 edition there were three finals on the same day (29th January), for classes E and F, for class G and for class H. In 1990, this honour was contested twice, in February for trotters in classes C and D and in November for class C horses.
After the final held on the 23rd April 2000 (won by Black Zack), reserved for classes A and B, this Cup was absent from the Maltese horse-racing calendar until it came back with a bang in 2009 and has continued to date.
And even now, this Cup is contested twice a year.
Race distances for this Cup have also varied over the years from short to long distances. Now we have both, i.e. the short 2,140m distance in June and the longer 2,640m distance in December.
Another feature of this Cup is that the particular championship, or Grand Final nowadays, has been open for a variety of classes. There were years when it was an Open championship with horses in all the senior classes being eligible to contest, e.g. in 1981, 1982 etc.
Over the years this honour has had the characteristic of having been won by horses racing in each of the old trot classes, i.e. from the top A1 class to the lowest class H.
Since 2009 however this key honour of Maltese horse-racing has been reserved for our best horses, those of the Premier class and not just, but those which would have passed through a gruelling selection process through the French trotters’ championships and the Sette Giugno Cup – truly resulting in a Grand Final befitting this honour with such a great tradition!
May we have another great final and a new winner carving its name on the history of this great Cup!
This is also the last article before the summer break given that the 27th June meeting will be the last before we break off for the summer holidays.
I have now written these articles for 4 full years, starting soon after the South African World Cup and now we are in the midst of the Brazilian World Cup: 145 consecutive articles, always on a voluntary basis, with the passion and enthusiasm of an amateur who loves this sport.
I must confess that in the last couple of years, due to the long hours I have been working, I have struggled hard to find around six hours a week in the middle of the night and in weekends to research, write and translate these 2,500 – 3,000 word articles. Actually I have long been thinking of stopping.
In order to reduce some time from my commitments but without stopping, I have now opted for a middle of the road approach over the coming year, i.e. not to stop, nor to write an article a week, but to start writing an article every two or three weeks as from next September. I think this would provide a fairer balance and make this effort more sustainable.
As always at this time of year it is also fitting that I thank those people who have kindly helped me in the preparation of these articles. First of all, the Chairman, Council and employees of the Malta Racing Club, for their constant support.
I also single out my friend Mr Nicholas Farrugia, who is always ready and willing to help in terms of statistics and information about the Maltese trot scene and guidance on a variety of horse-racing matters. It is very difficult to ask him something about the trot discipline in Malta that he would not be in a position to answer! Many thanks Nicky!
As has been the case in past years there have also been various other horse-racing experts and journalists who have provided me with instrumental information whenever I contacted them. These include (in alphabetical order) Twanny Bugeja, Mark Consiglio, Lorraine Cunningham, Tommy Cunningham, Mike Orland, Kenneth Vella, Mark Vella and others.
Another word of thanks goes to those people who have kindly “liked” my article on facebook from time to time. Although not many in number I appreciate each and every one and they are a source of encouragement for me. My thanks also to those who read these articles and found them interesting.
A final word of thanks goes to the experts who provide their nominations for the Driver of the Month Award and whom I contact every month to provide me with their nominations. Your contributions are very appreciated.
And now, after the last two meetings, we wish you all happy holidays! We meet again, God-willing, in the first half of September, for what will hopefully be an exciting second phase of the season.
In the meantime, we wish you two great meetings to end the first phase of the season in style.
