The third meeting of the season, made up of eight races, was held at the Marsa racetrack, yesterday. The main events of the afternoon were a Premier Class race for trotting horses on 2,140m and a flat race on a less demanding 1,250m.

Fifteen horses lined up for the Premier race.

Early leader Norwegian Arifant (Tony Tanti) started to slow down around 500m from the post and was overtaken by Count of Life (Samuel Bezzina). In the straight for home, this Finnish horse held strongly to stave off the challenge coming from Anguz RC (Tony Demanuele) and Energy Launcher (Redent Magro). Troubadour S (Andrew Spiteri) finished fourth.

Count of Life clocked an average time of 1.16.4 per kilometre.

The programme yesterday also included two Gold Class races.

Nomade de Mai (Charles Camilleri) sprinted well in the final metres of the opening Gold race and registered its first win from Vasterbo Hitchiker (Raymond Clifton), Jobie Lucky (Carl Caruana) and Dialect Af Prinfo (Redent Magro).

There was a keen tussle involving four horses in the final metres of the other Gold race in programme.

It was Le Bolide du Suret (Melvin Farrugia) that finished first by a whisker from Hulot and Natif de l’Hommee.

Race Ball (Tony Demanuele) was fourth.

American newcomer (Ramon Grima) upped its pace in the decisive stages of the only Flat race on the card.

This five-year-old horse registered its first win in Malta in front of favourite Fyelehk (Michael Sultana), Marivan (Eric Zammit) and Swedish Capital Hill (Demis Zammit).

Another racing programme will be held on Sunday afternoon.

Yesterday’s winners

Race 1: Copper, New Hope (Reuben Azzopardi).
Race 2: Silver, Zilver Boko (Tony Demanuele).
Race 3: Bronze, Marchallach (Rodney Gatt).
Race 4: Flat, Darielli (Ramon Grima).
Race 5: Gold, Nomade de Mai (Charles Camilleri).
Race 6: Silver, Socrates (James Briffa).
Race 7: Premier, Count of Life (Samuel Bezzina).
Race 8: Gold, Le Bolide Du Suret (Melvin Farrugia).