The Cassar Fuels Championship final for Premier Class trotters was the main event at the racetrack yesterday where the 48th meeting of the season was held.

The race, on a rather short 2,140m distance, was won by Livi Cantona (Charles Camilleri).

Nine horses lined up for the final. It was Carnegie Hall (Darren Mizzi) the fastest horse in the early stages, opening a length’s lead from Norman d’Avril (Noel Baldacchino) and Flash Coger (Julian Farrugia).

Some 700m from the finishing line, Carnegie Hall ran out of steam and was eventually overtaken by Flash Coger. But Livi Cantona then hit the front in the straight for home and went on to register its seventh win of the season and the second in a row with Lou Petiot (Michael Axisa) the second horse in.

Lipouz Lesmelchen (Tony Demanuele) and Nabab des Corvees (Sam Cassar) followed in that order.

At the end of the race, Matthew Brincat, MRC chairman, presented trophies to the owners of Livi Cantona and driver Camilleri.

The winner clocked an average time of 1.14.7 per kilometre.

Outsider Naja in Blue (Mario Falzon) yesterday obtained its first win at Marsa in the Gold Class final.

This French ten-year-old increased its pace with a lap to go and triumphed from favourite Beckham Bob (Charles Camilleri) and Magnifique Sablais (Julian Farrugia).

Touch the Diamond (David Ellul) finished in fourth place.

In the Bronze Class final, favourite Syllabub (Rodney Gatt) dashed strongly from the outside 500m from the finishing line for its third win of 2011.

Above Roland (George Attard) was second ahead of Judon du Cap Vert (Eric Bezzina) and Garden Pax (Charles Camilleri).

Another racing programme was held late Friday, consisting of eight races, all for trotters.

The card included two other finals from the Cassar Fuels Championship, an international race, where horses were driven by Maltese and Swedish drivers, and a Premier Class race.

In the final for Silver Class trotters, favourite Mealington (Darren Mizzi) started to slow down around 400m from the post and was overtaken by Lutan Villetot (Charles Camilleri).

Navada Silver (Ronald Cassar) was the runner-up ahead of Must du Buisson (Michael Ellul) and Odelvio (Rodney Gatt).

There was a close finish in the Copper Class final when Nashville Victory (Shawn Portelli) and Conrads Circle (Shawn Formosa) sprinted neck-and-neck in the straight for home.

The honours went to Nashville Victory by a whisker.

Monte Cinto Mag (Benny Briffa) and Tapper Kana (Darren Mizzi) were third and fourth respectively.

Marco Tanti put Darco As in front in the Malta-Solvalla Amateur Race and this horse went on to win by a length from Swedish trio Jan Skoglund, with King Boy Du Dane, Lasse Punkari, driving Izor Rick, and Mats Holmstedt, who drove Brokkur TYC.

Master Perrine (Nathaniel Barbara) won the Premier Class race on Friday from True Q (Shawn Portelli), Kakisis (Johan Axisa) and Arnie Sensation (Carmelo Farrugia).

The next programme of races at Marsa will be held on Sunday afternoon.

Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Copper, Jet Starline (Mario Fenech).
Race 2: Bronze, Magnum (Frans Gauci).
Race 3: Bronze final, Syllabub (Rodney Gatt).
Race 4: Bronze, Larissa du Breil (Clifforty Calleja).
Race 5: Premier final, Livi Cantona (Charles Camilleri).
Race 6: Silver, Super Mack Grocer (Mario Borg).
Race 7: Gold final, Naja in Blue (Mario Falzon).
Race 8: Gold, Peasant Galant (Shawn Portelli).
Race 9: Silver, Baronello (Jason Vassallo).

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