Competitions for French trotters get under way at Marsa

The 40th meeting of the season comprised 10 races, nine of which were heats from the Prix D'Enghien (Gold Class) and the Prix De Cabourg (Silver Class) reserved for French trotters on the 2,140m distance. The top four in each heat progressed to the semi-finals.

The other race on the card was from the Premier. Christian Xerri and Ivan Bilocca were the meeting's best drivers with two wins each.

In Vitro du Bourg, driven as usual by Bilocca, surprised one and all in the final straight of the Premier class to claim its second victory on the trot.

Knock de Manche was a close second ahead of Joyful du Douetil.

In the opening heat from the Prix D'Enghien (Gold), Noel Baldacchino's Lindsay Neve took the lead some 400 metres from the end but had to go all out to stave off the late surge of Kojak d'Isques.

Magic de la Frette and Lutin du Val were the other trotters that booked their place in the semi finals.

Lucky des Brisants, controlled by Xerri, was victorious in heat two after storming clear early in the race.

The other entries that made it to the semi-finals were Knight Brunel, Intrus de Rioults and Magnum.

Wayne Farrugia's Monticello jumped into the lead at the entrance to the home straight of heat three of Prix D'Enghien to win this race ahead of Lord The Best, Kaki du Vivier and veteran Faverol.

Leader du Puits, driven by Bilocca, won the fourth and last heat of the Prix D'Enghien by no fewer than ten lengths after leading all the way.

Kiki Petteviniere, Lucullus and Krac de Perran also made it through to the semi-finals.

The next meeting at the Marsa racetrack is scheduled for Friday at 6.30 p.m.

Yesterday's winners
Race 1: Prix De Cabourg Heat 1, Mousko Royal (S. Cutajar).
Race 2: Prix De Cabourg Heat 2, Marcangelo (C. Camilleri).
Race 3: Prix D'Enghien Heat 1, Lindsay Neve (N. Baldacchino).
Race 4: Prix De Cabourg Heat 3, Manu Grange L'Abbe (M. Borg).
Race 5: Prix D'Enghien Heat 2, Lucky des Brisants (C. Xerri).
Race 6: Prix D'Enghien Heat 3, Monticello (W. Farrugia).
Race 7: Premier, In Vitro du Bourg (I. Bilocca).
Race 8: Prix De Cabourg Heat 4, Ilik de Baconval (C. Xerri).
Race 9: Prix D'Enghien Heat 4, Leader du Puits (I. Bilocca).
Race 10: Prix De Cabourg Heat 5, Mirage d'Ete (R. Scerri).