Skip Dimanche, the Swedish eight-year-old trotter, yesterday won the major race in programme as Sunday afternoon racing was back after the summer holidays.
The Premier Class race formed part of the 40th meeting of the season. The card was made up of eight races, all for trotters and held on a mile distance.
Ten horses lined up for the Premier race. Skip Dimanche (Charlo Debono) was the fastest from the early stages, opening a half-length’s lead from Energy As (Carmelo Farrugia) and Solid Lady Spin (Eugenio Bondin).
Midway through the final straight, Skip Dimanche was still going strong and managed to hold off the challenge of Solid Lady Spin. Energy As and Uncle Sund (Tony Tanti) were third and fourth respectively.
The winner clocked an average time of 1.15.9” per kilometre. For Skip Dimanche this was its first victory at the racetrack.
In the first Gold race in programme, Quick Cape (Julian Farrugia) was unchallenged for most of the distance.
This horse went on to finish first by a length from Matador Knick (Carmelo Farrugia), Orage du Pont (Antoine Grech) and Kosai LJ (Frencu Cassar). For Quick Cape this was its first win of the year while for Farrugia victory was his second of the day.
Swedish debutante Oscarina (Jonathan Farrugia) increased its pace with a lap to go in the second class Gold race.
This eight-year-old mare went on to easily beat the challenge from Kejser Flamingo (Rodney Gatt), Wim (Brian Zammit) and Neptune Carisaie (Herman McKay).
The card also included two races for Silver Class trotters.
French Nuthan d’Emi (Rodney Gatt) led all the way in the first for its third win of the season. Navaroso de Khepri (Noel Baldacchino) was second ahead of Izor Rick (Eugenio Bondin) and Internet (Raymond Clifton).
Stainless Steel (Charles Camilleri) started to slow down some 100m from the finishing line of the second Silver Class race.
This horse was eventually overtaken by Narcus du Roc (Noel Baldacchino) which obtained its fourth win of the year.
Victory Farming (Peter Paul Said) and Noble d’Urzy (Jeffrey Said) finished in third and fourth places.
Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Copper Class. Nashville Victory (Shawn Portelli).
Race 2: Bronze Class. Apple Tooma (Julian Farrugia).
Race 3: Bronze Class. Louise Wood (Mark Desira).
Race 4: Silver Class. Nuthan d’Emi (Rodney Gatt).
Race 5: Gold Class. Quick Cape (Julian Farrugia).
Race 6: Premier Class, 1,640 metres. Skip Dimanche (Charlo Debono).
Race 7: Gold Class. Oscarina (Jonathan Farrugia).
Race 8: Silver Class. Narcus du Roc (Noel Baldacchino).