Uhal Berven triumphs in President’s Cup final

Uhal Berven (Rodney Gatt) winning the President’s Cup.

Eight year old, Uhal Berven driven by Rodney Gatt, won the 2016 edition of the President’s Cup final, open for class Premier trotters on a short distance of 2140m. This final formed part of the 49th meeting of the season made up of nine races all for trotters on a short distance.

Nine trotters lined up for the class Premier final after that one of the finalists, Swedish Vejby Boom, was scratched only few minutes before the start of the final. In this top race, it was Uhal Berven (Rodney Gatt) that set the pace at first, opening a small lead from Midsummer King (Noel Baldacchino) and Ricky Rock (Clint Vassallo).

Uhal Berven ran untroubled during the 2140m distance and in the final metres not only maintained its pace but managed also to control the challenge of favourite Nico Oland (Julian Farrugia). Quo Williams (Charles Camilleri) and Ricky Rock (Clint Vassallo) ended respectively in third and fourth place.

At the end of this final, the President of Malta, H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca presented the President’s Cup to Matthew and Gaetano Sammut and Rodney Gatt, owners and driver respectively of the winning horse. Uhal Berven clocked an average time of 1.14.4” per kilometer. For this French trotter this was its first win in Malta. The other races in yesterday’s meeting were reserved for class Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper trotters. In the class Gold race, once again it was Rodney Gatt who finished first. Driving Swedish mare Cummin, Gatt took the lead midway through the final straight and triumphed by half length from Helacs Falo (Julian Farrugia) and Speedaway (Mario Fenech). Ronson Cloc (Carmelo Farrugia) followed home in that order. For Cummin this was its sixth win of the year and in Malta.

In the first class Silver race, U. Two Swing (Cliferty Calleja) gained its second win in Malta after holding off the challenge of favourite Barkaks Barabbas (Carl Caruana) in the final straight. Vikens Hot Lips (Jesmar Gafa’) produced a burst of pace on the outside midway through the final straight of the second class Silver race. This Swedish mare secured its first win in Malta from Italian Rodrigo (Mario Falzon).

In the third and last class Silver race, another Swedish mare, Coquihala sealed its third win of the season when driven by young Gozitan driver Joseph Cefai. Coquihala had to go all out in the final metres to stave off the challenge of Danish newcomer Sjango Cross (Marco Refalo). For Cefai this was also his first win at the Marsa Race track and in his career.

Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Saturday. The first race should start at 1.15pm.

Yesterday’s winners

Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Belle Brisbane (Tony Demanuele) – 1.18.5”

Race 2. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. High Handed (Tony Demanuele) – 1.18.6”

Race 3. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. U. Two Swing (Cliferty Calleja) – 1.15.4”

Race 4. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Trytocatchme (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.3”

Race 5. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Vikens Hot Lips (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.16.1”

Race 6. President’s Cup Final. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Uhal Berven (Rodney Gatt) – 1.14.4”

Race 7. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Cummin (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.4”

Race 8. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Coquihala (Joseph Cefai) – 1.16.5”

Race 9. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Rosy Lor (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17.4”

Uhal Berven inaqqax ismu fuq it-Tazza tal-President

Fil-korsa tal-Marsa l-bierah wara nofsinhar nizel is-siparju fuq l-edizzjoni 2016 tat-Tazza tal-President ghal zwiemel tal-klassi Premier fuq distanza ta’ 2140m. Din il-finali kienet taghmel parti mid-49 laqgha tal-istagun fuq disa’ tigrijiet kollha ghal zwiemel tat-trott fuq distanza qasira. It-Tazza tal-President din is-sena ntrebhet mill-Franciz Uhal Berven f’idejn Rodney Gatt.

B’kollox disa’ zwiemel hadu sehem f’din il-finali. Dan wara li wiehed mill-finalisti, Vejby Boom, gie skraccjat ftit minuti qabel il-bidu tat-tigrija. Uhal Berven ta’ Gatt kien l-aktar ziemel veloci wara l-karozza tat-tluq wara li nghata l-bidu ufficjali. Matul l-ewwel metri dan fetah vantagg zghir fost l-ohrajn minn Midsummer King u Ricky Rock (Clint Vassallo). Uhal Berven kellu girja konsistenti tul id-distanza kollha u rnexxilu jaqsam il-linja finali l-ewwel wara anki wara li xejjen fl-ahhar metri l-isfida tal-favorit Nico Oland (Julian Farrugia). Quo Williams (Charles Camilleri) u Ricky Rock (Clint Vassallo) dahlu fit-tielet u r-raba’ post rispettivament.

Fi tmiem il-finali, il-President ta’ Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca pprezentat it-trofew lil Matthew u Gaetano Sammut u Rodney Gatt, is-sidien u s-sewwieq rispettivament taz-ziemel rebbieh. Uhal Berven ha l-ewwel rebha tieghu f’Malta f’medja ta’ 1.14.4” fil-kilometru. Il-kumplament tat-tigrijiet kienu riservati ghal zwiemel mill-klassi Gold, Silver, Bronze u Copper. Fit-tigrija tal-klassi Gold, ghal darba ohra kien Rodney Gatt il-protagonist ewlieni. Permezz tal-Isvediza Cummin, hu mar quddiem f’nofs id-dritta finali biex din id-debba hadet is-sitt rebha stagjonali u f’Malta b’nofs tul minn Helacs Falo (Julian Farrugia) u Speedaway (Mario Fenech). Ronson Cloc (Carmelo Farrugia) temm warajhom f’dik l-ordni.

Fl-ewwel minn tliet tigrijiet tal-klassi Silver, l-Izvediz U. Two Swing (Cliferty Calleja) ha t-tieni rebha f’Malta wara li fid-dritta finali rrezista l-assalt tal-favorit Barkaks Barabbas (Carl Caruana). Attakk fuq in-nahha ta’ barra mibdi madwar 200m mit-tmiem tat-tieni tigrija mill-istess klassi wassal lill-Izvediza Vikens Hot Lips (Jesmar Gafa’) biex takkwista l-ewwel success f’pajjizna. Dan bi ftit mit-Taljan Rodrigo (Mario Falzon).

It-tielet u l-ahhar tigrija Silver kienet ikkaratterizzata minn taqtiegha eccitanti fid-dritta finali bejn tliet zwiemel Skandinavi misjuqa minn tliet sewwieqa Ghawdxin. Eventwalment kien iz-zghazugh Joseph Cefai li qasam il-linja finali l-ewwel permezz tad-debba Coquihala bi ftit mid-debuttant Daniz Sjango Cross (Marco Refalo) u Almondo Rich (Peter Paul Said). Ghal Cefai din kienet l-ewwel rebha fil-karriera tieghu filwaqt li ghal Coquihala dan kien it-tielet success tas-sena. Il-laqgha nkludiet ukoll tigrija tal-ponijiet shetland misjuqa minn tfal fuq distanza 640m. Din intrebhet minn Off The Record misjuq minn Denilson Cortis.

Ir-rizultati kollha

I Tigrija. Klassi Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Belle Brisbane (T. Demanuele) Hin – 2.48” (1.18.5”) 2. Boss Pierji (C. Camilleri) 3. Bolero De La Rive (G. Grech) 4. Bob Wielinga (J. Zahra)

II Tigrija. Klassi Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. High Handed (T. Demanuele) Hin – 2.48.2” (1.18.6”) 2. Axia Maltaise (M. Axisa) 3. Natalie Crown (V. Ghigo) 4. Uthman Des Rouches (A. Farrugia)

III Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. U. Two Swing (C. Calleja) Hin – 2.41.4” (1.15.4”) 2. Barkaks Barabbas (C. Caruana) 3. Purple Hall (C. Camilleri) 4. Tagena Run (J. Gafa’)

IV Tigrija. Klassi Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Trytocatchme (C. Camilleri) Hin – 2.43.3” (1.16.3”) 2. Janitor (J. Farrugia) 3. Lord Indika (J.P. Polidano) 4. Nikteha BLV (C. Vassallo)

V Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Vikens Hot Lips (J. Gafa’) Hin – 2.42.8” (1.16.1”) 2. Rodrigo (M. Falzon) 3. Royal Apanage (R. Magro) 4. Pronger (C. Refalo)

VI Tigrija. Finali Tazza tal-President. Klassi Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Uhal Berven (R. Gatt) Hin – 2.39.3” (1.14.4”) 2. Nico Oland (J. Farrugia) 3. Quo Williams (C. Camilleri) 4. Ricky Rock (C. Vassallo)

VII Tigrija. Klassi Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Cummin (R. Gatt) Hin – 2.43.5” (1.16.4”) 2. Helacs Falo (J. Farrugia) 3. Speedaway (M. Fenech) 4. Ronson Cloc (C. Farrugia)

VIII Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Coquihala (J. Cefai) Hin – 2.43.6” (1.16.5”) 2. Sjango Cross (M. Refalo) 3. Almondo Rich (P.P. Said) 4. Absolutelymeadow (K. Saliba)

IX Tigrija. Klassi Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Rosy Lor (N. Baldacchino) Hin – 2.45.4” (1.17.4”) 2. Ricciola Jet (D. Ellul) 3. Miss Bajen (R. Briffa) 4. Starfire Be A Man (S. Vella)

“Kuntent li rbaht finali fost l-aktar ewlenin” – Rodney Gatt, sewwieq Uhal Berven

Fi tmiem il-finali hadt ukoll il-kummenti tas-sewwieq Rodney Gatt fejn qalli li kien kuntent li rebah tigrija ta’ dan il-livell kontra avversarji mill-aktar tajbin. “Iz-ziemel telghatlu polza tajba wara l-karozza tat-tluq u n-numru erbgha ghini biex niehu l-kmand minnufih u nqassam it-tigrija kif xtaqt jien. Dan b’differenza minn dak li kelli naghmel fis-semifinali. Inhoss li din id-decizjoni halliet il-frott mixtieq ghax iz-ziemel baqa’ jzomm l-ewwel post sat-tmiem. Matul l-ahhar gimghatejn hdimna hafna biex iz-ziemel jilhaq l-ahjar forma possibli u nirringrazzja lis-sidien li fdaw dan iz-ziemel f’idejja. Fuq bazi personali ninsab vera kuntent specjalment wara li l-gimgha l-ohra kont irbaht finali ohra tal-klassi Gold b’Digital Motion” ikkonkluda Rodney Gatt.