Although yesterday's card at the Marsa Racetrack included a Premier Class race, the event that attracted most attention was the Monte final, sponsored by Abracadabra Pixxina Jacuzzi, on the 2,660m distance.
After a lapse of several years, Monte races made a return at the racetrack earlier this month when two semi-finals from this competition were held.
It seems that this type of racing, very popular in France, has gone down well with Maltese horse racing followers. The Monte final aside, the rest of the events yesterday were trotting races on the 2,140m distance.
Noel Baldacchino was the meeting's best driver with three wins.
The final was a keenly-contested race from start to finish. Having gone ahead in the early stages, 10-year-old Danish horse Falco, ridden by Oliver Briffa, fell behind at one stage of the race but regained the lead 500 metres from the post to win ahead of Preem MS and Iras du Bottet.
The Premier Class race witnessed a hard tussle along the final straight between newcomer Joker de Choisel, James de L'Iton and Fox Waltz.
It was Joker de Choisel, driven by veteran Frenċu Cassar, that crossed the finishing line first ahead of James de L'Iton. Fox Waltz had to settle for third place. The winner registered a commendable time of 1'15.8'' per kilometre.
First position in the Gold 2 race alternated between a number of horses until Lutin du Val, another newcomer to Maltese trotting and under the control of Baldacchino, grabbed the initiative half-a-lap from home. Lutin du Val was followed by Kaki du Vivier and Malta Jeanpaul in that order.
Sakura Victory looked well-placed to win Gold 5 but was overtaken just before the finishing line by Peter Agius's Gigant K in only its second race in Malta. Master Lupin was third.
The Silver 1 race was won by Speedy Gold RP, under the charge of Julian Farrugia, after increasing its pace considerably in the last 100m.
Kaolin De Bannes, led by Anthony Fenech, met no difficulty to win the Silver 3 race by four lengths. In Silver 5, Baldacchino drove Krac des Nouettes to victory after jumping into the lead 500m away from the post.
The next meeting will be held on Friday at 7 p.m.
Yesterday's winners
Race 1: Bronze 4, 2,140m - Joker Des Sarts (R. Gatt).
Race 2: Bronze 2, 2,140m - Juliette Rodney (G. Attard).
Race 3: Bronze 1, 2,140m - Go on Chic (P. Giordmaina).
Race 4: Silver 5, 2,140m - Krac des Nouettes (N. Baldacchino).
Race 5: Gold 2, 2,140m - Lutin du Val (N. Baldacchino).
Race 6: Monte final, 2,660m - Falco (O. Briffa).
Race 7: Premier, 2,140m - Joker de Choisel (F. Cassar).
Race 8: Gold 5, 2,140m - Gigant K (N. Baldacchino).
Race 9: Silver 3, 2,140m - Kaolin de Bannes (A. Fenech).
Race 10: Silver 1, 2,140m - Speedy Gold RP (J. Farrugia).