French trotters steal show

The 56th meeting of the season, held yesterday afternoon at the Marsa Racetrack, comprised eight trotting races, all semi-finals from various championships for French trotters.

These championships are organised annually by the Malta Racing Club with the financial backing of the French horse racing association Societè du Cheval Francais.

From the two Premier class semi-finals (Prix de Vincennes championsip), 10 horses qualified for the final.

In the first semi-final, favourite Major Chaleonnais (Charlò Debono) led all the way to obtain its seventh win of the year and second in a row.

Noble d’Ete (Raymond Clifton), veteran trotter Joker de Choisel (Frenċu Cassar), Milord Barbes (Charles Camilleri) and Norman d’Avril (Noel Baldacchino) also made it through to the final race.

Major Chaleonnais clocked an average time of 1.16.2” per kilometre.

Nevaio des Bordes (Brian Hili) increased its pace in the final 500m of the second Premier class semi-final.

This horse went on to register its first win in Malta from Mig Of The Wood (Baldacchino), Nelson du Val (Salvu Cutajar) and Kakisis (Johan Axisa).

Mica Bonero (David Galea) also advanced after finishing fifth. Nevaio des Bordes did an average time of 1.15.2” per kilometre.

In the first semi-final from the Prix d’Enghien for Gold class trotters, No Comprendo (Andrew Farrugia) started to slow down and changed pace around 350m from the end.

It was Naja In Blue (Mario Falzon) that took the lead on way to its third victory of the season at Marsa by a length from Magnifique Sablais (Julian Farrugia), Orlando Tejy (Baldacchino), Nomade de Mai (Camilleri) and Ludo de Bellande (Emmanuel Fenech).

There was a tight finish in the second Gold class semi-final when Ouest du Vivier (Cliferty Calleja) and Night Inlet (Baldacchino) sprinted together in the final metres.

Ouest du Vivier secured its second successive win with Oscar de la Vallee (George Schembri), Lys des Etroits (Hili) and Midoun du Home (Camilleri) claiming the remaining berths in the final.

Yesterday’s winners

Race 1: Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer semi-final, Noble Candeen (Eric Bezzina).
Race 2: Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer semi-final, Olifant du Puoy (Frans Tanti).
Race 3: Prix de Cabourg semi-final, Nagano Phedo (Christian Xerri).
Race 4: Prix de Cabourg semi-final, Label Chouan (David Ellul).
Race 5: Prix de Vincennes semi-final, Major Chaleonnais (Charlò Debono).
Race 6: Prix d’Enghien semi-final, Naja In Blue (Mario Falzon).
Race 7: Prix de Vincennes semi-final, Nevaio des Bordes (Brian Hili).
Race 8: Prix d’Enghien semi-final, Ouest du Vivier (Cliferty Calleja).