Gary D'Hautmoniere wins Prix De France final race

The Prix De France competitions, reserved only for French trotters, came to a fitting end on Friday evening at the Marsa racetrack with the Classes A1/A/B Gold final on the 2,640m distance.

Eight horses qualified for this prestigious final, namely Galassius, Gatsby De La Motte, Gordon Sarthois, Get Love, Horis De Beval, First De Vendee, Gary D'Hautmoniere and Hermes D'Haufor.

Much to the disappointment of his fans, top favourite Horis De Beval, winner of the last three races it competed in, was scratched.

In the final, Get Love was first in front but was soon overtaken by Charles Camilleri's ten-year-old Gary D'Hautmoniere. The latter, a Class B trotter, hung on to first position up to the post where it was just a length-and-a half ahead of favourite Hermes D'Haufor, driven by veteran driver Frencu Cassar.

The winner clocked an average of 1'17.1" per kilometre for the 2,640m distance.

Guillaume Maupas, international director of the French Trotting Association, the sponsors, presented the championship cup to Joe Cachia, owner of the winning horse.