Heralding the start of the President’s Cup for Premier class trotters, the two semi-finals were the main attraction of yesterday’s 56th meeting of the season, made up of 11 races. The semi-finals, on the short 2,140m distance, were won by Isolated and Arnie Sensation.
Ten horses qualified for the final stage of the President’s Cup. In the first semi-final, Swedish newcomer Jitterbug (Andrew Farrugia) surged ahead in the early stages but began to slow down 300m from the post.
The race produced a close tussle involving six horses in the final straight. Isolated (Noel Baldacchino) obtained its second consecutive win from debutants Carnegie Hall (Darren Mizzi) and Niarpan (Charles Camilleri). Alf Eme (Julian Farrugia) and Melino du Rib (Clifforty Calleja) also progressed to the final.
Arnie Sensation (Carmelo Farrugia) sprinted well in the final metres of the second Premier class semi-final. This horse clinched its third win of the year from Lucas Ness (Mario Farrugia), Enjoy Kronos (Eugenio Bondin), Bello Fratello (Anthony Spagnol) and Shamin (Rodney Gatt).
In the only Gold class race of the programme, Lord The Best (Mark Mifsud) increased its pace 400m from the post to register its third win of the season from Kojak d’Isques (Camilleri). Socrates (John Briffa) and Ker Pellois (James Briffa) finished third and fourth respectively.
Yesterday’s card also included two flat races on a short distance of 1,250m. In the first flat race, English mare Minnow (Michael Sultana) led all the way to chalk up its second win in Malta with a 10-length lead from Letthewordgoforth (Demis Zammit), Ollie Fliptrik (Oliver Briffa) and Sognador (Eric Zammit).
There was a close finish in the second flat race when Mary Celest (Charles Pace) and Mean Mr Mustard (Demis Zammit) sprinted together in the final straight. Mary Celest secured its second win in a row with Etoile du Pic (Sultana) and Dama Di Kirey (Ramon Grima) finishing third and fourth.
Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Copper, Mercure Qui Sait (K. Azzopardi) – 1.17.6”.
Race 2: Copper, Hulegardens Filur (C. Caruana) – 1.16.9”.
Race 3: Flat, Minnow (M. Sultana) – 1.14”.
Race 4: Bronze, Mr King (F. Tanti) – 1.16.1”.
Race 5: Gold, Lord The Best (M. Mifsud) – 1.15.1”.
Race 6: Flat, Mary Celest (C. Pace) – 1.15.8”.
Race 7: Bronze, Zut (J. Schembri) – 1.16.1”.
Race 8: President’s Cup semi-final, Isolated (N. Baldacchino) – 1.17.7”.
Race 9: Silver, Ganniway (K. Catania) – 1.16.3”.
Race 10: President’s Cup semi-final, Arnie Sensation (C. Farrugia) – 1.15.9”.
Race 11: Copper, Divinis (C. Magro) – 1.16.4”.