by Magnat

Two race-meetings will be held this weekend at the Marsa race track. The first is scheduled for next Friday at 6.15pm whilst the second will be held on Sunday commencing at 1.30pm. Eight races are scheduled in each meeting, all of which are trotting races.

The spotlight will be mainly on the Dragonara Casino Championship Final which will feature as the seventh race in Sunday’s meeting over a 2,640m distance. This final will include horses hailing from three countries, i.e. France, Sweden and Norway. Two twelve year-olds (Kain Poifond and Kakisis), five eleven year-olds (Label Pont Vautier, Land Havaroche, Lipouz Lesmelchen, Lou Petiot and Think Yatzee), one ten year old (Mica Bonero) and two nine year-olds (My Red Force and Play on Me) are on the starters’ list.

These horses have had success in their overseas career as well as some optimal performances recently here in Malta. We look forward to an exciting and well-fought out race involving all participants, and wish them the best of luck.

The seventh race on Friday will be the Dragonara Casino Championship Consolation Final, which is another important race and includes various popular Premier class trotters such as Arnie Sensation, Bello Fratello, Magicien du Tija and others.

The Dragonara Condition race finals for the remaining classes will also be held this weekend on the 3,140m distance and they are split between the Friday and Sunday meetings. On Friday, we will have the finals for the Copper and Silver classes, whilst the finals for Bronze, Silver A (horses having most points in the Silver class) and Gold class horses will be held during Sunday’s programme. Some keen races are anticipated with quality participants in every final. Thus for instance, the Gold class final includes various horses which are currently in good form such as Mimile du Hamet, Major Luchois, Landi Breton and others.

A number of normal Copper, Bronze and Silver races will also be held in these two meetings and Swedish mare Tirkita is scheduled to make its debut in one of the Silver class races. No less than six horses registered their first win in Malta in last Sunday’s programme. The most prestigious win was registered by French newcomer Mont Cenis Honey which took an early lead in the Premier class race and managed to maintain it until the end, despite challenges by other prominent trotters such as L’As de Seuilly and Key Value which finished second and third respectively.

German mare Wildnis won its first flat race in Malta when it surged ahead at around mid-race and managed to defend its lead from favourite Mr Roxy Music which finished second. Never Better, another horse winning its first race in Malta registered the best time of the day of 1’16’9 per kilometre on a 2,640m distance, whilst all the other horses registering their first win were in Bronze class races, i.e. Noli de Murray, Cocos Kaos and Noble Candeen. On the other hand Match de Bannes confirmed his consistency, winning its sixth race this season in the Gold class.

Looking outside our shores, well done to one of our leading flat racing jockeys, i.e. Michael Sultana, who made us proud by competing in and winning a race in Kuwait. We wish him all the best for the other races in which he is participating in that country.

Our final reflection refers to the finals which are being held this week in these two meetings. Whilst most of the finals in the first part of the season were held over short distances, these will be contested over the middle/ long distances of 2,640m (Premier class) and 3,140m (other classes).

Championships and finals are among the most exciting features of this sport, with qualifiers leading to the selection of the best and most in-form finalists. Typically prizes for winning and placing horses are more attractive than usual and the prestige and extra competitive spirit associated with inscribing the winning horse’s name in the history of the particular championship increase attendance at the racecourse and raise the adrenalin of owners, trainers, drivers and spectators.

It is however important to note that the organisation of such finals and the attraction of sponsors for such championships require material effort by the Malta Racing Club. Indeed, in a country with limited resources such as ours, obtaining sponsorships for horse-racing championships is not straightforward even in the light of the competition coming from other sports. It is good that we appreciate these efforts and the resulting championships and thank the sponsors. In this particular case, special thanks go to the new management of the Dragonara Casino who have tangibly demonstrated their support for horse-racing by sponsoring this championship.

We wish you all another two exciting meetings this weekend.