The 58th meeting of the season at the Marsa racetrack yesterday was made up of 10 races, all semi-finals in events for French trotters only.

The championship races, organised by the Malta Racing Club in conjunction with the Societe du Cheval Francais, were held on a long distance of 2,640m with the two Prix de Vincennes semi-finals for Premier class trotters being the highlight of the afternoon.

These two races were won by Mont Cenis Honey (Noel Baldacchino) and mare Lady de Vindecy (Julian Farrugia).

Mont Cenis Honey, the pre-race favourite, led all the way, fending off the challenge of James de l’Iton (Charles Camilleri) and Lou Petiot (Michael Axisa) in the straight for home for its third win in a row.

Land Havaroche (James Carabott) and Kamis de l’Eveche (Salvu Vella) also progressed to the final stage. Mont Cenis Honey clocked an average time of 1.17.3” per kilometre.

In the other Premier semi-final, favourite In Vitro du Bourg (Ivan Bilocca) was overtaken a few metres away from the post by Lady de Vindecy which claimed its third win of the year in an average time of 1.17.0” per kilometre.

Lucky Marceaux (Rodney Gatt), Kakisis (Johan Axisa) and Madis Boy (Charles Camilleri) also advanced to the final.

Also yesterday, 10 trotters from the Gold category moved into the Prix d’Enghien final.

In the first race from this class, Kiflosak Cordiere (Frenċu Cassar) made a strong dash on the outside to register its fourth win of the season.

Max Galbe (Carmelo Agius) was second ahead of Never Better (David Ellul), Nill’s Daka (Mario Farrugia) and Lascar Beaujolais (Clive Gerada).

Lucky Fan (Charles Camilleri) profited from the disqualification of Match des Bannes (Noel Baldacchino) and L’Ideal de Fersan (Carl Caruana) in the final metres of the second Gold semi-final.

Lucky Fan won the race from Intrus des Rioults (Carmelo Micallef), Look Castelets (Rodney Gatt), Lucky des Brisants (Raymond Micallef) and Noble d’Urzy (Andrew Farrugia).

Sultana sixth

Michael Sultana yesterday represented the Malta Racing Club in the last stage of the Mediterranean Championship for jockeys in Syracuse, Sicily.

Riding Rio Torto, Sultana finished sixth. This race, over a distance of 2,100m, was won by Italian jockey Fusco, with Ciko Jet, in front of Viking Med, mounted by Morocco’s Zergane, and Saltace with Tunisian Mahfoudh on its back.

Malta and Morocco had started the race joint leaders in the standings.

The North Africans were crowned champions thanks to Zergane’s second place. Malta had to settle for the runners-up spot.

The winners at racetrack

Race 1: Prix de Caen semi-final Copper – Newmarket Boy (Shawn Portelli).
Race 2: Prix de Caen semi-final Copper – Kendo du Chene (Larson Mifsud).
Race 3: Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer semi-final Bronze – Koko Loco (Michael Ellul).
Race 4: Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer semi-final Bronze – Mousko Royal (Mario Fenech).
Race 5: Prix de Cabourg SF Silver – Neo de Mira (George Muscat).
Race 6: Prix d’Enghien SF Gold – Kiflosak Cordiere (Frenċu Cassar).
Race 7: Prix de Vincennes semi-final Premier – Mont Cenis Honey (Noel Baldacchino).
Race 8: Prix d’Enghien SF Gold – Lucky Fan (Charles Camilleri).
Race 9: Prix de Vincennes semi-final Premier – Lady de Vindecy (Julian Farrugia).
Race 10: Prix de Cabourg semi-final Silver – Muflier des Fleurs (Noel Baldacchino).

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