Fiston Brehalais notches sixth win as Darby tops A1 race

Yesterday's fifth Autumn meeting at the Marsa Racetrack included one flat race on the 1,200-metre distance.

The remaining eight races on the card were all scratch events on 2,140m, open only to the higher classes.

Carmelo Farrugia and Noel Baldacchino were best drivers yesterday with two wins each.

In the top class race, that is Class A1, Allthing led for most of the distance but could not last the pace in the final straight where it was Carmelo Micallef's Darby which grabbed the lead to go on and pass the post first.

Darby was followed home by second-placed Linus Car as Allthing had to settle for third.

In the first Class A event, Monsieur Shane, under the guidance of Carmelo Farrugia, led from start to finish while top favourite, Tip And Run, coming from two wins on the trot, could only make it to fourth place.

In the other Class A race yesterday, Real King, driven by Ray Cassar, also preserved its early lead all the way.

In one of the two Class B events, Noel Baldacchino's Fiston Brehalais recorded a good time of 1:15.9 per kilometre after surging into an attack some 700 metres away from the post to win its sixth successive race at the Marsa racetrack, two of them this season.

Fiston Brehalais got promoted to Class A.

For the record, the second Class A race was won by the mare Bella Guard, driven by Julian Farrugia. It was Bella Guard's second race in Malta.

Eight runners were under the starter's orders for the only flat race on the programme. Winner Vasari, ridden by John Galea, led all the way followed across the finishing line by Suberto and Dancing For Dollars, second and third in respectively.

Yesterday's winners

Race 1: Class C - Grand Aubiose (J. Carabott).

Race 2: Class D - Olga Butterfly (N. Baldacchino).

Race 3: Class C - Quattro Laday (C. Farrugia).

Race 4: Class A - Monsieur Shane (C. Farrugia).

Race 5: Class A1 - Darby (C. Micallef).

Race 6: Class B - Fiston Bre-halais

Race 7: Flat - Vasari (J. Galea).

Race 8: Class B - Bella Guard (J. Farrugia).

Race 9: Class A - Real King (R. Cassar).