by Magnat

Two race-meetings will be held this weekend at the Marsa race track. The first is scheduled for next Friday at 6.30pm whilst the second will be held on Sunday commencing at 1.30pm.

Ten races will be held in Friday’s meeting and eleven races in Sunday’s, all of which shall be trotting races over a 2,640m distance, consisting of heats from the SECF championships exclusively for French trotters.

As usual a championship for every class is being organised, with each championship bearing the name of a well-known French racecourse, the Prix de Caen for the Copper class, the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer for the Bronze class, the Prix de Cabourg for Silver class horses, the Prix d’Enghien being reserved for the Gold class and the Prix de Vincennes featuring Premier class horses.

Five heats will be held for each of the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer and the Prix de Cabourg (four qualify from each heat for the semi-finals), four heats in the Prix de Caen and the Prix d’Enghien (five qualify from each heat) and three heats in the Prix de Vincennes (six qualifiers from each heat).

The Prix de Vincennes heats typically generate most interest. Nine horses are registered in each heat with the one being held on Friday appearing to be the toughest. It includes among others Tazza l-Kbira winner In Vitro du Bourg, Dragonara Cup winner Kakisis, Summer Championship winner Lady de Vindecy, Lou Petiot and Mica Bonero which placed third and fourth respectively in the Dragonara Cup final, Melino du Rib, a newcomer having a best time of 1’11’9 per kilometre and winnings of Euro359,530, with 8 wins and numerous placings in its overseas career, and others.

Even the Premier class heats being held on Sunday include a number of very popular names such as Premio Trofeo del Mediterraneo winner James de l’Iton, June Prix de Vincennes winner (on a 2,140m distance) Madis Boy and runner-up Liosco Atout, Dragonara Cup finalist Land Havaroche, Le Bon Mayennais and Mont Cenis Honey which both registered a win in their last Premier class race and many other horses.

Some former Premier class horses will feature in the Prix d’Enghien, the heats of which include popular horses such as L’An Deux Milles, Lucky Fan, Lys de l’Oasis, Kojak d’Isques and others.

Apart from the afore-mentioned Melino du Rib, nine other new French horses are registered to make their debut this coming weekend. These are Ne Classique, Nevada Silver, Obelix Blue and Ophelia de Sassy in the Silver class, Maestro d’Eloges and Mickey de Loiron in the Gold class and Premier class horses Moutier, Mykonos d’Artee and Mystere du Gabaron. If these horses all make their debut, we will reach the figure of 220 newcomers this year.

Last Sunday we also saw Danish trotter Keelan making its debut in Malta coming in as a reserve in the Premier class race. This horse which participated in races in a number of countries including Denmark, France and Sweden, has a best time of 1’11’9 per kilometre and winnings of SEK1,502,938, well over double the amount necessary to qualify for the Premier class.

In last Sunday’s races, we had winning horses originating in no less than six countries, i.e. Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and mainly Sweden.

In the Premier class, Swedish trotter Isolated registered a splendid win, launching its attack in the last phase of the race and going on to win its first race in Malta with a good time of 1’16’4 per kilometre on a 2,140m distance. Interestingly, the next best time, i.e. 1’16’9 per kilometre, was registered by Norwegian horse Chilly Beast in the Bronze class, an excellent time for that class.

In the Gold class, Danish horse Kejser Flamingo earned promotion to the Premier class, taking the lead in the early stages and maintaining it until the end to achieve a deserved win.

First wins in Malta were also registered by Swedish horses Livi Cantona and Manifi Pointer in Silver class races. On the other hand, it is worth noting 16-year old veteran Mackbrain’s win in the Copper class, showing that if well taken care of, such horses can still have their say in competitive racing.

Once again jockey Michael Sultana had some good showings in Kuwait, where he managed to obtain another win and a number of placings.

Our final word today is dedicated to the “Societe’ d’encouragement a’ l’elevage du cheval francais” (SECF in short), sponsors of the championships commencing this weekend. Set up in 1864, as its name indicates, the principal aim of this organisation is to promote the development of trot racing in France and the protection of the French trotter.

Its objectives include the preservation of the sports ethic in trot racing, the promotion of the French trotter, identifying and eliminating any irregularities and bad practices in the sport (such as through the carrying out of doping tests) and co-ordinating the organisation of trot race meetings in over 200 racecourses throughout France. It also takes care of the financial aspect of this sport.

These championships thus enable the SECF to pursue its aims by promoting French trotters and following their progress and development even outside France. For us Maltese, they enable us to follow five keenly contested championships including many of the best French trotters on the Island and gives us a glimpse of contests between such trotters on French soil in the past.

We wish you all another two pleasant meetings this weekend.