In Vitro Du Bourg wins by a whisker

The Premier Class race was the main event on the card in yesterday's fifth meeting of the season at Marsa.

The six trotting races in programme were all on the rather long 2,640m distance while the only flat race of the afternoon was run on 1,750m. Noel Baldacchino was the meeting's best driver with two wins to his credit.

The much-awaited Premier Class race was 25 minutes late due to problems concerning three horses.

When it finally got started, Shogun Bonus, driven by Charles Degiorgio, took an immediate lead and looked cruising towards victory.

However, at the very end Shogun Bonus was completely surprised by a sprinting In Vitro Du Bourg, driven by James Carabott.

In Vitro Du Bourg won the race just on the line, clocking 1'16.4'' per kilometre.

Quack Pot was third behind Shogun Bonus. Degiorgio is currently here on holiday from Sweden where he is driving on a professional basis.

In Gold 3, Shaun Formosa's Pajarito Nada went on to chalk up a third win on the trot. This trotter dashed into the lead 100m from the finishing line and never gave up on his position. Pajarito Nada's main challenger, Jarnac Du Moulin, was second and Golf Oul Dada third.

Mare Josepha Du Hainaut, although leading for most of the distance, could only settle for fourth place behind Golf Oul Dada.

Hermes D'Alt was also the leading trotter in the Silver 1 race. However, it was overtaken some 600m away from the post by German trotter Permit Hanover, the eventual winner yesterday under Baldacchino's control.

Charles Gialanze's Pamir Point won the Silver 3 race after jumping into the lead midway through the distance.

The flat race was won by Irish mare Kohima, ridden by Eric Zammit. Kohima took first position from Generous Spirit and went on to win by no fewer than four lengths. Generous Spirit had to content with the runner-up spot followed by Diouganer in third place.

The next meeting is on Sunday.

Yesterday's winners

Race 1: Bronze 3, 2,640m - King Size Spender (G. Attard).

Race 2: Bronze 1, 2,640m - Jabito Jusse (N. Baldacchino).

Race 3: Flat, 1,750m - Kohima (E. Zammit).

Race 4: Gold 3, 2,640m - Pajarito Nada (S. Formosa).

Race 5: Premier, 2,640m - In Vitro Du Bourg (J. Carabott).

Race 6: Silver 1, 2,640m - Permit Hanover (N. Baldacchino).

Race 7: Silver 3, 2,640m - Pamir Point (C. Gialanze).