EquestriMalta Grand Finals close off racing year

The final major event of the 2024 horse racing season will take place on December 26 at the Malta Equidrome, where the Malta Racing Club is organising a meeting featuring 11 races.

Nine of these races are reserved for owners, while the remaining two will serve as the highlight of the day – the EquestriMalta Grand Finals.

This marks the second consecutive year that EquestriMalta has provided financial support for these finals, contributing a record-breaking prize fund and unveiling a newly designed artistic trophy for the winners.

Max Zammit, CEO of EquestriMalta, expressed his enthusiasm for supporting the season-closing Grand Finals once again, building on the success of the previous year. He emphasized the record prize money being offered and noted that the two Grand Finals will feature some of the most consistent and in-form horses of 2024 competing for the prestigious titles.

Zammit highlighted the use of the standing start, which adds a competitive edge by allowing top-performing horses from different categories to race against each other.

During the event, he also unveiled the new trophy, a bronze figure of a trotter and driver, enhanced by intricate metalwork created by talented artist Sebastian Aquilina.

Additionally, Zammit invited the public to attend the event and participate in a fundraising initiative for the Malta Community Chest Fund, coinciding with Istrina Day.

Tony Demanuele, vice-chairman of the Malta Racing Club, provided technical insights into the two Grand Finals.

The first, the eight race of the day, will feature horses from the Copper, Bronze, and Silver categories competing together.

Bronze category horses will give a 20-metre advantage, while Silver category horses will give a 40-metre advantage to those in the Copper category.

The Premier and Gold Grand Final, the eleventh race on the schedule, will see Premier category horses giving a 20-metre advantage to Gold category horses.

Demanuele underlined the exclusivity of these Grand Finals, which follow an invitational format.

Only the best-performing horses of the year, as determined by their classification as of December 15 are eligible to participate.

Matthew Brincat, CEO of the Malta Equidrome, extended his best wishes to all participants and encouraged families to attend this unique racing event, which offers a festive twist on traditional horse racing.

The press conference concluded with the drawing of distances and starting numbers for the Grand Finals. The race distance was set at 3160 meters.

EquestriMalta Grand Final

Copper-Bronze-Silver categories

No.1    Dario Del Brenta        3160m

No.2    Fast Loulou                 3160m

No.3    Gima Tege                  3160m

No.4    Givre Nonantais          3160m

No.5    Attack Photo               3180m

No.6    Hanouchka                  3180m

No.7    Miracle of Heaven      3180m

No.8    Galeo du Portugal       3180m

No.9    Forever Ice                  3200m

No.10  Carbonfibre                 3200m

No.11  Diamant du Ruel         3200m

No.12  Equateur Mauzun       3200m

EquestriMalta Grand Final

Premier-Gold categories

No.1    Iron De Ginai              3160m

No.2    Cruise                          3160m

No.3    Emile du Var               3160m

No.4    Flash de Cellan           3160m

No.5    E Aequo de Cosse       3160m

No.6    Eclair des Vaux           3160m

No.7    Mac Smily                  3180m

No.8    Call Jack                     3180m

No.9    Akela Play                  3180m

No.10  Cepage des Ulms        3180m

No.11  Al Capone Stecca       3180m

No.12  Velvet Gio                  3180m