by Magnat

This season’s tenth meeting will be held next Sunday 6th March starting at 1.30pm, a long programme with eleven races, ten for trotters and the other for thoroughbreds. The trot races will be over the rather long 2,640m distance plus a short flat race over 1,250m.

The trot races will be split as follows: two for the Copper class, four for Bronze class horses, two for the Silver class and one each for the Gold and Premier classes, with the meeting being characterised by the large number of horses taking part in each race.

Although these races do not involve any championship, various balanced races are on the card. Thus, the Premier class race has a sixteen-horse line-up worthy of a final, seeing for instance the return of former Prix de Vincennes winner Joker de Choisel after a rather long absence, and other popular horses such as Muflier des Fleurs, Ker Pellois, Le Bon Mayennais, Bello Fratello and various others.

The Gold class race also has sixteen registered participants including a number which were recently in the Premier class and which would be promoted with a win or in some cases even a good place; among others Kojak d’Isques, Milano du Gite, Max Galbe, Carnegie Hall and My Red Force.

Two French trotters are scheduled to make their debut, i.e. Rainer du Vernay in the Copper Class and Owens Kin in the Silver class.

The Flat race is for Class A thoroughbreds with another full field of eight horses. It includes horses born in Ireland, Great Britain, France and the Czech Republic, an Irish newcomer (Adorabile Med – previously scratched) and with some (e.g. Tarruji and Salsiane) coming from recent positive outings.

Last meetings
Race meetings were scheduled to be held on both last Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, Saturday’s programme had to be stopped after the third race due to bad weather conditions, with the remaining races being held on Sunday.

The focus of the weekend was on the eight Tazza l-Kbira heats, with six horses from each heat qualifying for the quarter-finals. In the first heat, Arnie Sensation led all the way, finishing ahead of Mint Spirit and Kalipso Pierji. Then Magnific As took its first win in Malta going in front in the final straight and beating Isolated and Glory Cowboyland.

In the third heat, the photo-finish gave Major Chaleonnais its second consecutive win in the best time (1’15’6 per kilometre) on the 2,640m distance since the completion of the extensive works on the racecourse in November 2009. Flash Coger was a close second and Malin Roro third.

Liosco Atout managed to beat the challenge of veteran James de l’Iton to win the fourth heat, with newcomer Marquis Penalan finishing in third place. The following heat was dominated by another newcomer Magic de Assigny, but this horse was disqualified, with the win going to Wiss Night Hawk (first win in Malta), from Affe Fager and Lonshults Anders.

Mon Daniel came strongly in the final stages of the sixth heat to also take its first win in Malta from Key Value and Kain Poifond, while afterwards, Livi Cantona registered its fourth win from the last six races, beating Swedish newcomer Keeping Quality and Madis Boy. Finally, Marathon Villers, another debutant, won the last heat from its closest challengers Count of Life and Neo de Mira.
In the remainder of the programmes, the Copper Class races were won by Jeo de Touvois, Pondus Sund and Luriga Liz, the Bronze Class races had as winners Tintin Haleryd and Divinis, whilst the Silver Class races were won by New Sun, King Boy du Dane and Lotus du Goth.

Behind the Scenes
Saturday’s meeting kicks off under dark skies, rain and close to freezing temperatures. Everybody’s hope is that the weather will improve enough to permit the meeting to continue normally, but the clouds appear determined to pour every possible drop of water onto the racecourse!

By the second race, the Chairman, Council members, drivers’ representatives and stewards are clearly concerned on whether the racetrack’s conditions are suitable for racing or not, and whether continuing the programme could create safety hazards for horses and drivers.

They are engrossed in discussion on whether it would be best to continue the programme or to postpone the remaining races. What would be the implications of a postponement, especially in respect of the Tazza l-Kbira heats, and what weather conditions are likely to subsist the next day?
Between the second and third race, in pouring rain, a Council delegation led by the Chairman makes its way through puddles of water to the paddock for a frank discussion with the drivers. They follow the third race from there evaluating the track’s condition during the race. Afterwards, the delegation consults the drivers again, with the vast majority of them being clearly in favour of a postponement.

Various opinions are voiced when the discussion continues between Council members and the Stewards after the race, but the decision is unanimous that no compromise can ever be made with the safety of drivers and horses and thus, irrespective of the expense and administrative implications involved, the remaining races are postponed to Sunday’s meeting.

The spectators who had braved the inclement weather conditions hasten to reach their means of transport to shelter from the rain and cold. Council members hope that the morrow will reserve kinder weather conditions, but are sure that the decision, taken after extensive consultations between them, the Stewards and the drivers, is the right one.

We wish you all another interesting meeting next Sunday.