By Magnat

The racing year 2011 will kick-off with a bang next Sunday 2nd January at 12.50pm with a festival featuring various equestrian breeds kept in Malta. This should be a very varied meeting and be of interest for the whole family.

It will feature various pony races, trot races, both harness and monte’, as well as two flat races. The harness trot races will include a number having a specific theme, e.g. a race for veteran drivers, another for young drivers and no less than six owners’ races. A qualification race will also be held for horses which need to gain points to be promoted to the “normal” racing classes.

We will also see a flat race for Class A horses with another being reserved for those in Class B, both over the middle distance of 1,750m distance. Six horses are registered in each race, including a number of well-known horses, such as Etoile du Pic, Lordswood and Mean Mr Mustard.

The monte’ race will be contested over the 2,160m distance and also features six horses, including two racing in the Premier class, i.e. Liosco Atout and Love de Fleur, which together with Power Cape will start the race with a 20m handicap vis-à-vis the other horses.
The biggest attraction of the festival consists of a Grand Final for Premier class horses over a 2,640m distance, involving an equal number of horses from those which competed in the Prix de Vincennes final and those which took part in the President’s Cup Final.

There are six French horses, In Vitro du Bourg, James de l’Iton, Kakisis, Lou Petiot, Madis Boy and Melino du Rib, three Swedish horses, Arnie Sensation, Bello Fratello and Carnegie Hall and one Italian participant, Enjoy Kronos. Many of these have been among the best protagonists this season. A spectacular, hard-fought race is anticipated, with an uncertain outcome.

A number of presentations will also be held during the festival, for the best performers this season, including among others those for the top trotter, top flat race horse, top driver and top jockey.

Last meeting
An excellent spectator turn-out followed the spectacular meeting held on Sunday 19th December, featuring eight races, five of which were the SECF finals (one for each class), under the distinguished patronage of the French ambassador to Malta H.E. Daniel Rondeau, the Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Sport the Hon Clyde Puli, leading SECF officer Mr Benoit Fabrega, Mr Bernard Vassallo, Chairman of the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport and Malta Racing Club officials, led by Chairman Dr Matthew Brincat.

The main race was the Prix de Vincennes final reserved for Premier class horses. Mont Cenis Honey driven by this year’s champion driver Noel Baldacchino went in front in the early stages and kept an excellent pace throughout, retaining the lead despite a late strong attack from Madis Boy and Kakisis, thus winning its fourth win from as many races in Malta in a splendid time of 1’15’7 per kilometre. The runner-up was Madis Boy which had won June’s Prix de Vincennes, followed by Kakisis, Lou Petiot and In Vitro du Bourg in that order.

Lucky des Brisants won the Prix d’Enghien for Gold class trotters, taking a decisive lead in the second half of the race, to win its second race this year (and promotion to the Premier Class), from Kiflosak Cordiere, Max Galbe, Never Better and Noble d’Urzy.

The Prix de Cabourg (Silver class) saw the domination of Muflier des Fleurs which won its third consecutive race, being also promoted to the Premier class, in the same time of the Prix de Vincennes final, i.e. 1’15’7 per kilometre. At the post it was followed by Neo de Mira, Kaki du Vivier, Nevermind and Lawrence Crown.

The Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer final (Bronze class) was won by Mousko Royal after resisting a tough challenge from November Oaks, whilst the Prix de Caen (Copper class) was won by an impressive margin by Kendo du Chene which registered its sixth win this season.

Final word
In this last write-up of the year, it is appropriate to take a look at the best trot timings of the 2010 season. Interestingly all of them were registered between July and December. The best time on the 1,640m distance was 1’13’9 per kilometre and this was registered by twelve year old Kain Poifond in July during the Malta – Sicily friendship races held in Malta. The best time on the 2,140m distance (1’15’3 per kilometre) was registered by another twelve year old, i.e. Kakisis, in a Premier class race held in September.

Four horses share the best time of 1’15’7 per kilometre on the 2,640m distance, i.e. the afore-mentioned Kakisis which registered it in October during the Dragonara Cup semi-finals, as well as three ten year olds, Mont Cenis Honey, Madis Boy and Muflier des Fleurs making the same time during the SECF finals in December.

The best time over the long 3,140m distance was that of 1’17’5 per kilometre (in a Premier class race held in October) and pertains to eleven year old Le Bon Mayennais. The Monte’ races’ best time was that of twelve year old Knock de Manche (1’18’3 per kilometre) over a 2,180m distance and this was registered in an Open handicap race held in October.

We wish a very Happy New Year 2011 to you and your loved ones and a most enjoyable MRC start of season festival next Sunday.

RACING CARD FOR SUNDAY 2nd JANUARY 2011
"A. Shetlands
12:50pm"

1. John Areta
2. Spark
3. Qastni
4. Il-Boy
5. Toninu
6. Baqri
7. Freedom
8. Kiss Melody
9. Fiorello

"1. Qualification Trott
2140mts 1:00pm"
€100 - €60 - €35
1. Yra Landerije
2. Glowing Star
3. Tina du Bois
4. Jeski du Nic
5. Vasterbo Breezy

"2. Owners Trott
2140mts 1:20pm"
€200 - €100 - €70 - €35
1. Kocheal Baz
2. Katuelo
3. L'Orne
4. Kiki Jarzeen
5. Loulou de la Rose
6. Simb Rattigan
7. Edge
8. Numa du Goutier
9. Ilex Garden
10. Cost A Lot

"3. Owners Trott
2140mts 1:40pm"
€200 - €100 - €70 - €35
1. Matin du Loir
2. Newmarket Boy
3. Hulegardens Filur
4. Kejser Engely
5. Luriga Liz
6. Gandhi Brogard
7. Nashville Victory
8. Noel de Corneville
9. Matter What
10. Liowin Hearted
11. Ville Peson

"B. Ponijiet C
1200mts 1:50pm"
Arnes
1. Lady Gaga
2. Spirit
3. Niki
4. Kina
5. White Face

"4. Flat B
1750mts 2:00pm"
€180 - €80 - €40
1. Tarrujji
2. Buttermilk
3. Letthewordgoforth
4. Ollie Fliptrik
5. Spain Millenium
6. Genievre

"C. Ponijiet B
1200mts 2:20pm"
Arnes
1. Nakita
2. Shazanne
3. Crazy Toy
4. Danger Dream
5. Open Your Eyes
6. Christina

"5. Trott Anzjani
1640mts 2:40pm"

1. Elizar Laday
2. Ligist Qui
3. Luc du Broc
4. Mario Tejy
5. Sherif As
6. Pireas Pride
7. Corlas d'Anjou
8. Rambler As
9. Linus Spot

"6. Owners Trott
2140mts 3:00pm"
€200 - €100 - €70 - €35
1. Mad Hatter
2. Loulou de Vallees
3. Lucky d'Hercla
4. Tornado Hornline
5. Mint Spirit
6. Lys de l'Oasis
7. Biggles Coquet
8. Count of Life
9. My Danover
10. Marlow As

"7. Trott Monte
2160mts 3:20pm"
€300 - €120 - €70 - €35
1. Neo du Loudat
2. Neo Sauconnier
3. Don Valentio
4. Power Cape
5. Love de Fleur
6. Lisoco Atout

"8. Trott Young Drivers
2140mts 3:40pm"
€100 - €70 - €35
1. Ex Air
2. Jasper Erem
3. Insa
4. Fairway
5. Jabito Jusse
6. Fredrico Kim
7. Nashwan Boy

"9. Flat A
1750mts 4:00pm"
€180 - €80 - €40
1. Nikos Heriniere
2. Mean Mr. Mustard
3. Lordswood
4. Etoile du Pic
5. Minnow
6. Adorable Med

"10. Trott fix Xaretta
1640mts 4:20pm"
1. Quick the Lind
2. Gubben Karsk
3. Super Chic
4. Vida Esta Loca
5. Inspector Godiva
6. Troy Boko
7. Firmin de Socoa
8. Absolute Cashflow
9. IP Broadway
10. Latif

"11. Final Premier
2640mts 4:40pm"
€1200 - €500 - €250 - €125
1. Garnagie Hall
2. In Vitro du Bourg
3. James de l'Iton
4. Melino du Rib
5. Arnie Sensation
6. Bello Fratello
7. Lou Petoit
8. Enjoy Kronos
9. Kakisis
10. Madis Boy

"D. Ponijiet A
1200mts 5:00pm"
Arnes
1. Lenkinija
2. Sweet Bobby JR
3. Morena
4. Rise Up
5. Shanja
6. Heart Breaker
7. Red Indian

"E. Ponijiet A1
1200mts 5:10pm"
Arnes
1. Swiss Song
2. Beauty Body
3. Rustic Boy
4. Danger Toy
5. Kimberlino
6. Red P

"12. Owners Trott
2140mts 5:30pm"
€200 - €100 - €70 - €35
1. Noble Spirit
2. Nep
3. Must du Buisson
4. Super Mack Grocer
5. J.D.Crown
6. Totti Boko
7. Matador Knick
8. Kobber Dust
9. Prince Brilliance
10. Agobra Bingo

"13. Trott Young Drivers
2140mts 5:50pm"
€100 - €70 - €35
1. Origo Casino
2. Nacelle du Bessay
3. Nuthan d'Emi
4. Above Roland
5. Bugatti Dream
6. Mambere
7. Ocean du Loisir
8. Orasi Index

"14. Owners Trott
2140mts 6:10pm"
€200 - €100 - €70 - €35
1. Royal Pointer
2. Chilly Beast
3. Meadow Dancer
4. Look Castelets
5. Royal Crafts K.
6. G. Force Son
7. Lawrence Crown
8. Kandy du Fruitier
9. Jet de Mee
10. Louise Wood

"15. Owners Trott
2140mts 6:30pm"
€200 - €100 - €70 - €35
1. Judon du Cap Vert
2. Catch and Smash
3. Garden Pax
4. Montbrun
5. Splanky
6. Only For Girls
7. Zut
8. Klokkeblomst
9. Magnum
10. Ace of Heart