Baldacchino gains treble in Tazza l-Kbira quarter-finals

The Marsa Racetrack hosted an interesting 10-race programme yesterday. Most of the attention centred on the four quarter-finals from the Tazza l-Kbira, sponsored by Emirates.

Noel Baldacchino stole the limelight as he won three of the four quarter-finals.

In the first quarter-final, Baldacchino steered last year's winner James De L'Iton to a commanding victory. Isolated and Intrus Des Rioults placed second and third respectively while Landi Breton and Hans Des Landiers also qualified to the semi-finals.

Lovely Mab, also driven by Baldacchino, grabbed the lead a lap from the end of the second quarter-final and managed to cross the finish line two lengths ahead of Lys De L'Oasis. Kakisis, Aces Americ and My Danover were the other trotters that reached the semis.

Baldacchino's Liosco Atout produced a very strong dash along the final 100 metres to win the third quarter-final, just ahead of Loustic D'Anjou (Rodney Gatt). The other qualifiers were Le Bon Mayennais, Lover Boy Index and L'Ideal De Fersan.

Popular trotter In Vitro Du Bourg (Ivan Bilocca) won the fourth and last quarter-final after leading for most of the distance.

The last trotters to book their place in the semi-finals of the Tazza l-Kbira were Joker De Choisel, Le Coup De Foudre, Hiracan De Brehan and Loulou Du Lamee.

In the Gold race, Kosai L.J. (Frenċu Cassar) made a storming finish to place first.

Michael Sultana's Minnow won the flat event by three lengths. Maria La Perfida was second and Light Med third.

The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, starting at 1.30 p.m.

Yesterday's winners

Race 1: Copper, 2,140m - Handy Star (C. Caruana).

Race 2: Copper, 2,140m - Angel Crown G.J. (P. Bonello).

Race 3: Tazza l-Kbira, QF 1, 2,640m - James De L'Iton (N. Baldacchino).

Race 4: Tazza l-Kbira QF 2, 2,640m - Lovely Mab (N. Baldacchino).

Race 5: Silver, 1,640m - High Speed Night (C. Camilleri).

Race 6: Tazza l-Kbira QF 3, 2,640m - Liosco Atout (N. Baldacchino).

Race 7: Tazza l-Kbira QF 4, 2,640m - In Vitro Du Bourg (I. Bilocca).

Race 8: Flat Open, 2,250m - Minnow (M. Sultana).

Race 9: Gold, 1,640m - Kosai L.J. (F. Cassar).

Race 10: Silver, 1,640m - Super Swede (K. Sciberras).