President’s Cup heats

Yesterday’s meeting at Marsa heralded the start of the President’s Cup for Premier Class trotters with four heats on a long distance of 2,640m.

Twelve trotters qualified for the final stage of the President’s Cup.

Outsider True Q (Shawn Portelli) obtained its first win at the racetrack in the first heat.

This Swedish ten-year-old led all the way and finished first from Harmonic Silvio (Shawn Formosa) and favourite Livi Cantona (Charles Camilleri) in an average time of 1.17.1” per kilometre.

Another Swedish horse, Nec Carmolo (Noel Baldacchino), dashed strongly from the outside in the home straight of the second Premier heat to win from Arnie Sensation (Carmelo Farrugia), and Belafonte (Charlo Debono).

Nec Carmolo clocked an average time of 1.16” per kilometre which was the best time of the day at the racetrack.

There was a tight finish to the next Premier heat when Flash Coger (Julian Farrugia) and Malin Roro (Noel Baldacchino) sprinted together in the straight for home.

Flash Coger clocked 1.17.6” per kilometre to win the race with Le Coup de Foudre (Charles Camilleri) and Matin de Manche (Brian Hili) coming home third and fourth respectively.

In the remaining Premier heat, Swedish debutant Utah Hornline (Raymond Clifton) started in-creasing pace with a lap to go and finished a length-and-a half ahead of Skip Dimanche (Charlo Debono) in 1.17.2 per kilometre.

Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Bronze, Cocos Kaos (Jason Vassallo).
Race 2: Silver, C.J. Blueyedkissed (Chris Vassallo).
Race 3: Premier, True Q (Shawn Portelli).
Race 4: Silver, Totti Boko (Charles Camilleri).
Race 5: Premier, Nec Carmolo (Noel Baldacchino).
Race 6: Bronze, Sweep The Floor (Julian Farrugia).
Race 7: Premier, Flash Coger (Julian Farrugia).
Race 8: Premier, Utah Hornline (Raymond Clifton).