In Vitro Du Bourg breaks record

Ten of the 11 races on an all-trotting card yesterday involved competitions for French horses. The other was a qualifier. All races were on 2,140 metres.

The programme attracted another bumper crowd with two Premier Class semi-finals from the Prix De Vincennes in the programme. There were two other semi-finals from the Gold Division and the Prix D'Enghien competition.

Yesterday, Noel Baldacchino was best driver with no fewer than four wins.

In the first Premier semi-final, Baldacchino managed to put Ianosito into the lead midway through the distance resulting in this trotter passing the post a clear winner.

Gilou Du Moulin came two lengths behind Ianosito followed by Ilik De Baconval and Houston in that order. Ianosito clocked 1'14.1" per kilometre.

In the other semi-final, James Carabott's In Vitro Du Bourg had a most convincing victory. It was around 12 lengths clear of the runner-up in the race after taking the lead a lap from the post.

So dominant was In Vitro Du Bourg's run that this trotter went on to establish a new record for the 2,140m distance at Marsa, clocking 1'13.7'' per kilometre. In Vitro Du Bourg was in its second outing in Malta.

Hermes D'Haufor and Faverol looked racing towards a photo-finish decision in the Gold Class semi-final. However, at the end veteran driver Frencu Cassar managed to steer clear off Faverol to clinch first position. Fly Speed was third.

In the second Gold Class semi-final, Baldacchino conducted Heros De Morvil to a second consecutive victory after grabbing the lead a lap from home. Hans Des Landiers was second and Idee De Besneville third.

The first Silver Class semi-final from the Prix de Cabourg, was won by Baldacchino's Gagneur Di Brillon. This trotter had to go all out along the final metres to withstand the stiff challenge from Julie Du Loisir.

This was also Gagneur Di Brillon's second win on the trot.

In the other Prix de Cabourg semi-final, four trotters dashed closely together along the final metres with the finishing line reached first by Ksar, yesterday driven by Charles Camilleri.

The next meeting at Marsa is scheduled for Sunday, starting at 1.30 p.m.

Winners at racetrack

Race 1: Qualification, 2,140m - Diatka De Pitz (E. Zerafa).

Race 2: Prix De Caen, Bronze 2, 2,140m - Jump Of Glory (N. Baldacchino).

Race 3: Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer, Bronze 1, 2,140m - Figaro Speed (C. Camilleri).

Race 4: Prix De Caen, Bronze 2, 2,140m - Gil (S. Formosa).

Race 5: Prix De Cabourg, Silver Division, 2,140m - Gagneur De Brillon (N. Baldacchino).

Race 6: Prix De Vincennes, Premier Class, 2,140m - Ianosito (N. Baldacchino).

Race 7: Prix D'Enghien, Gold , 2,140m - H. D'Haufor (F. Cassar).

Race 8: Prix De Vincennes, Premier Class , 2,140m - In Vitro Du Bourg (J. Carabott).

Race 9: Prix De Enghien, Gold Division, 2,140m - Heros De Morvil (N. Baldacchino).

Race 10: Prix De Cabourg, Silver, 2,140m - Ksar (C. Camilleri).

Race 11: Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer, Bronze 1, 2,140m - Jeo De Touvois (V. Vassallo).