The highlight in yesterday’s meeting at Marsa, the 14th of the season, was the second semi-final from the Tazza l-Kbira championship for Premier trotters on a long distance of 2,640m.

This race was won by the ever-popular Livi Cantona under the guidance of Charles Camilleri.

Eleven horses qualified for the final of the competition as Ouest du Vivier (Cliferty Calleja) was the fastest in the early stages, opening a length’s lead from Arnie Sensation (Carmelo Farrugia) and Bello Fratello (Clint Vassallo).

With a lap to go it was Nelson du Val (Salvu Cutajar) that went in front but with some 200m to go this horse was overtaken by outsider Mystere d’Urfist (Noel Baldacchino) and Livi Cantona.

These two front-runners sprinted together in the final metres with Livi Cantona going on to obtain its second win in a row at the racetrack.

Nelson du Val, Ouest du Vivier, Arnie Sensation and Label Chouan (David Ellul) also qualified. Livi Cantona clocked an average time of 1.15.1” per kilometre.

The programme yesterday also included three races from the Gold category.

Nicos de Peneme took its third win of the season in the first, finishing just in front of Lime Casted (Julian Farrugia), as Oscar Mati (Rodney Gatt) dashed strongly from the outside for its second win of the season in the next Gold race.

Favourite Oviedo du Sam (Redent Magro) ran untroubled in the other Gold race of the day.

In the only flat race of the day, raced over 1,750 metres, English Sleepwalking (Demis Zammit) obtained its first win at Marsa from Etoile du Pic (Michael Sultana).

The winners at the racetrack

Race 1: Silver, Money Boy (Andrew Spiteri).
Race 2: Silver, Oregon de la Foret (Annunziato Schembri).
Race 3: Flat, Sleepwalking (Demis Zammit).
Race 4: Gold, Nicos de Peneme (Charles Camilleri).
Race 5: Silver, Lonestar Somolli (Brian Zammit).
Race 6: Gold, Oscar Mati (Rodney Gatt).
Race 7: Premier SF, Livi Cantona (Charles Camilleri).
Race 8: Gold, Oviedo du Sam (Redent Magro).