Think Yatzee extends winning run to three races

Yesterday's meeting at Marsa was made up of seven trotting events, all on the short 1,640m distance, a flat race on 1,250m, and an event for Italian ponies running over 1,140m.

Think Yatzee, driven by Clint Vassallo, registered its third successive Premier win in as many races at Marsa. This trotter grabbed the lead at the entrance to the final straight and pulled clear of Bello Fratello, second, and Glory Cowboyland, third.

A tussle involving no fewer than five trotters along the last 150m of the Gold 4 race ended in favour of It's My Way (Brian Hili). Grover IT and Totte Spiro were second and third respectively.

The Gold 5 race had quite an exciting finish, involving a number of horses. At first, it looked as though Handy was set to win but was overtaken right on the finishing line by Agobra Bing (Frank Portelli). Handy was eventually disqualified and second place was awarded to Idaho. Coffeeshop CF came in third.

Demis Zammit's Santuzza surged ahead midway through the final straight to clinch victory in the Flat Class A race. Santuzza finished ahead of Waterpaint and Walker.

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

Yesterday's winners

Race 1: Bronze 3, 1,640m Pamir Point (R. Gatt).
Race 2: Bronze 5, 1,640m Alfa Spider (J. Farrugia).
Race 3: Silver 1, 1,640m Requiem Buttler (C. Refalo).
Race 4: Flat Class A, 1,250m Santuzza (D. Zammit).
Race 5: Italian ponies, 1,140m Xafrinu (B. Pulis).
Race 6: Gold 4, 1,640m It's My Way (B. Hili).
Race 7: Premier, 1,640m Think Yatzee (C. Vassallo).
Race 8: Gold 5, 1,640m Agobra Bingo (F. Portelli).
Race 9: Silver 3, 1,640m Gin T. Dalmo (M. Mifsud).

Baldacchino first in Agnano race

Noel Baldacchino continued to raise his and the Malta Racing Club's profile yesterday when he won a race in the Mediterranean Championship heats, held at the Agnano Racecourse in Naples, Italy.

Baldacchino, currently the top driver in Malta, finished first when in control of Grillo Cof.

In Naples, Baldacchino was accompanied by Matthew Brincat, Malta Racing Club chairman who had talks with other delegates on the setting up of the Mediterranean Horse Racing Union.