Med. Derby double for Just The Best

Just The Best, the French six-year-old runner, won yesterday's main event at the Marsa Racetrack - the Mediterranean Derby - over a short distance of 1,750m.

Ridden by Ramon Grima, Just The Best has won this prestigious race at Marsa for the second year running.

This year, the Med. Derby was organised by the Malta Racing Club thanks to the financial support of Fairplay Bingo. The race formed part of the 32nd meeting of the season that consisted of ten races in all.

The derby final was contested by eight horses. After a very favourable start for Lucky Friendly (Oliver Briffa) and Mean Mr Mustard (Demis Zammit), Just The Best (Ramon Grima) increased its speed with some 400m to go. At the post, Grima's mount was half-a-length ahead of Lordswood (Eric Zammit) and Laparisienne (Paul Abela).

No Telling (Michael Sultana) finished fourth. The official time of the race winner was 1.49.5".

MRC chairman Matthew Brincat presented the winning trophy to jockey Grima and John Farrugia, owner of the winning horse.

Grima said he was ecstatic to have won the derby twice in succession.

"The fact that Just The Best was coming from another win at Marsa a few weeks back, made him feel more confident ahead of the big race," he said.

"I was also surpised by the horse's strong sprint in the final metres."

In the Young Drivers Race, Wall Street News (Silvan Schembri) led all the way to win the race ahead of Gubben Karsk (Anton Cassar), Newport Hornline (Deemer Casha) and Klein Burois (Sebastian Schembri).

The card also included a race from the Premier class.

Favourite James de l'Iton (Noel Baldacchino) was overtaken 50m from the post by French mare Lady de Vindecy (Julian Farrugia) which was making its debut in Malta. Land Havaroche (James Carabott) and Race Ball (Tony Demanuele) were third and fourth respectively.

The next racing programme will be held on Sunday. This will include five finals from the SECF Championships for French trotters. The first race starts at 2.30 p.m.

Yesterday's Winners

Race 1: Copper, Lucky Sam De Court (T. Demanuele).

Race 2: Copper, Kolk Barbes (R.t Magro).

Race 3: Bronze, Chilly Beast (H. McKay).

Race 4: Silver, Robin Grain (J. Farrugia).

Race 5: Young Drivers, Wall Street News (S. Schembri).

Race 6: Mediterranean Derby final, Just The Best (R. Grima).

Race 7: Gold, Lord The Best (M. Mifsud).

Race 8: Premier, Lady de Vindecy (J. Farrugia).

Race 9: Silver, Energy Launcher (J. Zammit).

Race 10: Silver, Toronto Launcher (C. Xerri).