French runner Etoile du Pic wins Coronation Cup

There were another 11 races on yesterday's card at the Marsa racetrack with ten trotting events, on the 2,140m distance, and the 1,750m Coronation Cup final for flat racers.

Honours in the Coronation Cup final went to Etoile du Pic, yesterday competing in its second race in Malta. The four-year-old French runner, controlled by Michael Sultana, dominated throughout the 1,750m distance to win by four lengths.

This race was marred by the injury suffered by British horse Dancing Dracula while its jockey Eric Zammit tumbled to the ground some 200m from the post. Suberto and Diouganer finished second and third respectively. The winner clocked 1'48.8".

Charles Magro led Fox Waltz to its third consecutive win in the HSBC Premier Class. Although leading from start to finish, Fox Waltz had to fight hard till the end to hold on to its position when pressed by another top trotter, Puck Daro. Demilo Action was third horse in. Fox Waltz clocked a good time of 1'14.6" per kilometre.

In the HSBC Gold 2, Internet looked set to register its fourth consecutive win but was overtaken in the last metres by Rally Simb, driven by John Briffa. Third place went to Borlis Giant.

Claudio Refalo's Light A Candle chalked up its third successive win in the HSBC Gold 4 after holding off the stiff challenges coming from second horse in Galet De La Croix and third-placed Ex Air.

A final tussle between six horses in the Silver 1 race ended with V.G. Mad Maker, under the charge of Sam Cassar, taking first place.

Veteran driver Raymond Clifton put Vasterbo Lymmel into the lead midway through the distance to go on and win the Silver 3 a length ahead of second horse in Trombone Kall.

The Silver 5 was won by Salvu Bartolo's Circus Flip but not before it had to go all out along the final 100m when challenged by Rybo Amiral.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, starting at 2 p.m.

Yesterday's winners

Race 1: Bronze 6 - Altid Cowboyland (M. Ellul).

Race 2: Bronze 5 - Orient Hornline (C. Cauchi).

Race 3: Bronze 4 - J'Oserai (V. Farrugia).

Race 4: Bronze 1 - Joie du Drieur (R. Gatt).

Race 5: Flat - Coronation Cup - Etoile du Pic (M. Sultana).

Race 6: HSBC Gold 4 - Light A Candle (C. Refalo).

Race 7: HSBC Premier - Fox Waltz (C. Magro).

Race 8: Silver 1 - V.G. Mad Maker (S. Cassar).

Race 9: HSBC Gold 2 - Rally Simb (J. Briffa).

Race 10: HSBC Gold 2 - Vasterbo Lymmel (R. Clifton).

Race 11: Silver 5 - Circus Flip (S. Bartolo).