Gymkhana
23 May, 1976
ALCYON III
THE CHAMPION TROTTER
Superb Racing by French Driver
Malta has a new trotting champion by the name of ALCYON III. Driven to perfection and in superb fashion by French driver Michel Faucault, ALCYON ran a great race to win the most coveted prize of all - "The Club Trotters Challenge Cup” which is the ambition of drivers and owners alike.
Besides the Gilded Cup, Mr. John Briffa, the young owner, and usual driver of the winning horse, won also the handsome sum of LM500. Both these prizes were presented by the Kursaal Company Limited.
The programme consisted of nine events, but all faded in the background to make way for this, the seventh race, without a shadow of a doubt the highlight of the local racing season.
As the minutes and the seconds ticked for this meeting of the giants one could feel the tension building up. And as the runners were called to take up their positions, the atmosphere was tense and electrifying. For one of these aces, the great prize and honour was less than four minutes away!
THE RACE
A loud roar greeted the white flag as the runners set off for the mile and a quarter race. As expected, there was not much to choose between them as ALCYON, ACTEON JOLY and ATOME just leading the bunch. Excitement continued to mount as the announcer spotted the cap of the favourite URBAIN L together with ALCYON III at the seventh furlong.
Now the battle was really on! And more fuel was added, when BORELY VICTOR, a comparatively recent import with an excellent record moved up to challenge the two leaders.
And so, we came up to the vital part where the men separate themselves from the boys at the final straight. To the surprise of many URBAIN L faded out, possibly feeling the effect of too early a challenge, but then ALCYON III, now really sniffing the sweet smell of success, had to put up with another two assaults from ULTRA SON B and AU FON DES BOIS.
But ALCYON III running like the true ace he was timed beautifully to cross the finishing amidst the deafening roars of the record crowd present, two lengths ahead of that other great trier, UNIQUE TRESOR. ULTRA SON B was third for the second year running.
The scenes that followed this most popular win had to be seen to be believed. The packed crowd spilled on to the track and milled round the winner. From on top, it looked like as if an ants' nest was burst open. A garland in the form of a horseshoe bedecked ALCYON III and the driver, M. Faucault, who had seen other triumphs with ALCYON III in France, was carried shoulder high. But so thick where the jubilant crowds on the track that ALCYON just could not be taken round for his much-deserved lap of honour.
The winner’s time was 3 minutes 50.5 seconds. And so, our congratulations go to M Faucault, to Mr J Briffa and of course to ALCYON III, a great champion indeed!
At the end of the meeting Mr Eric W. Mac Adie presented the Challenge Trophies to the winners. The biggest cheer was reserved to ALCYON’s driver and owner who were again carried shoulder high with the cup. A really fitting climax to a memorable meeting.
CREDITS: Malta Vintage Horse Racing
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