Prix de Vincennes honours for In Vitro du Bourg

The Marsa racecourse yesterday hosted five SECF finals during the last Sunday meeting before the mid-season break.

The attention of the horse racing enthusiasts was mainly centred on the Prix de Vincennes final which was contested by Premier class trotters on the 2,640m distance.

Noel Baldacchino and Charles Camilleri were the meeting's most successful drivers with two wins each.

Thirteen-year-old In Vitro du Bourg, driven by Ivan Bilocca, led from start to finish in the showpiece final. James de L'Iton, the other main challenger for victory, suffered the misfortune of breaking 200m from the end and was subsequently disqualified, thus leaving the way clear for In Vitro du Bourg to claim victory.

Jajolet took second place ahead of Kosker Mancellerie.

Before the start of the Prix de Vincennes final, the drivers entered the racecourse riding quad bikes, a novel idea that went down well with the crowd.

The Prix d'Enghien Gold final had quite an exciting finish with five trotters dashing closely together towards the finishing line.

Kojak D'Isques, controlled by Camilleri, crossed the finish line first ahead of Ksar and Intrus Des Rioults.

Baldacchino, driving Jump Of Glory, surprised one and all in the very last metres to win the Prix de Cabourg Silver final. Magnum, which had led for most of the distance, had to settle for second place ahead of Mambo De Chrismi.

Baldacchino chalked up his second win when steering Moustique Rose to its fourth win on the trot when topping the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer Bronze final.

The winner finished three lengths clear of runner-up Jibilo Du Terme. Icare De Jemm was third.

Klein Burois, under the reins of Camilleri, beat favourite Jabito Jusse along the final straight to seal victory in the Prix de Caen Copper final. Gatsby de la Motte was the third horse in.

Arnie Sensation, directed by Gozitan driver Julian Farrugia, won the MRC Premier Trot. It was followed by Socrates and The Big Blue World.

Yesterday's winners

Race 1: Copper, 2,140m - Nove De La Merite (F. Portelli).

Race 2: Bronze, 2,140m - Xenia Mic (D. Ellul).

Race 3: Copper (Prix de Caen final), 2,640m - Klein Burois (C. Camilleri).

Race 4: Bronze (Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer final), 2,640m - Moustique Rose (N. Baldacchino).

Race 5: MRC Premier Trot, 2,640m - Arnie Sensation (J. Farrugia).

Race 6: Gold (Prix d'Enghien final), 2,640m - Kojak D'Isques (C. Camilleri).

Race 7: Premier (Prix de Vincennes final), 2,640m - In Vitro du Bourg (I. Bilocca).

Race 8: Silver (Prix de Cabourg final), 2,640m - Jump Of Glory (N. Baldacchino).