The 12th edition of the St. Francis Cup is set to take place this year, with GAIN Equine Nutrition as the official sponsor. Established in 2014, this competition is synonymous with the Copper Class and remains one of the most highly anticipated events for horses in this category.
Over the years, the spring races have featured both renowned horses familiar to spectators and those with long-standing careers in Malta.
During a press conference at the Malta Equidrome, the draws for this year’s Malta Racing Club final were conducted. The final is scheduled for the 23rd of March.
The press conference was addressed by Mr George Grech, importer of the GAIN Equine Nutrition brand, a well-known provider of horse care products. He expressed his immediate willingness to support the final when approached. As a horse owner himself, Mr Grech acknowledged the
significance of such events for fellow owners. He emphasised that reaching the final is an achievement in itself, as these competitions are the pinnacle of the sport. As part of his sponsorship, he announced that each participant would receive a voucher for GAIN products, in addition to the prizes awarded to the top-finishing horses.
Speaking on behalf of the Malta Racing Club, Vice Chairman Mr Tony Demanuele highlighted the importance of the final for the Copper Class. He noted that this category is crucial to the Club, as it often serves as the starting point for many horse owners and jockeys embarking on their
journey into the sport. Additionally, he pointed out that some horses achieve their best performances in this class, making it an essential part of the local racing scene.
Dr Matthew Brincat, CEO of Malta Equidrome, extended his best wishes to all participants, reinforcing the idea that the Copper Class serves as the foundation for horse racing competitions in Malta. Mr Max Zammit, CEO of EquestriMalta, also wished the participants well, expressing his appreciation for the growing support from new sponsors. He reaffirmed that EquestriMalta remains committed to supporting Copper Class participants and the sport as a whole.
The press conference concluded with the ballots for the racing numbers behind the autostart.
The draw resulted as follows:
No. 1: Oro Doc
No. 2: Idoline
No. 3: Invite de Star
No. 4: Rose Lloyd
No. 5: King of Terrail
No. 6: Ernest des Angles
No. 7: Fanfan Stuart
No. 8: Influx du Parc
No. 9: Jasmin de Coulamer
No. 10: High Handed
No. 11: Head Over Heels
No. 12: Hendy d’Auberville
