Gentle Way, Arnie Sensation and Think Yatzee won the three major ] races on the card at the Marsa racetrack, yesterday.

These three favourites finished first in the heats from a new competition – the Sette Giugno Cup – open for Premier Class trotters on a short distance of 2,140m. In all, the programme consisted of 11 races, all for trotters.

Nine horses qualified for the final of the Sette Giugno Cup.

In the first heat, Candy Fantasy (Melvin Farrugia) started slowing down around 300m from the finishing line and was overtaken by Gentle Way (Eric Bezzina) which obtained its second win of the season from Isolated (Noel Baldacchino) and Super Qui (Brian Zammit).

Arnie Sensation (Julian Farrugia) increased its pace in the straight for home for its second win of the season in the next cup heat.

Mentor de l’Iton (Brian Hili) and Energy Launcher (Alex Cortis) also qualified for the final.

In the remaining Premier Class race, Think Yatzee (Clint Vassallo) shot into the lead with some 700 metres away from the post to win comfortably. This was Think Yatzee’s third win of the season.

Think Yatzee covered the distance in an average 1.16.1” per km.

Two newcomers, Nobel de Grimoult (Andrew Spiteri) and Skip Dimanche (Charlo Debono), also qualified for the final.

Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Copper, Insa (Frencu Cassar).
Race 2: Bronze, Narval d’Haufor (Michael Ellul).
Race 3: Bronze, Pout de Quelaines (David Galea).
Race 4: Silver, Orlando Tejy (Frencu Cassar).
Race 5: Premier, Gentle Way (Eric Bezzina).
Race 6: Bronze, Divinis (Charles Magro).
Race 7: Premier, Arnie Sensation (Julian Farrugia).
Race 8: Silver, Major Mitri (Andrew Farrugia).
Race 9: Premier, Think Yatzee (Clint Vassallo).
Race 10: Bronze, Nympheta de Bisoir (Jonathan Farrugia).
Race 11: Gold, Jobie Lucky (Carl Caruana).