Yesterday’s programme at Marsa racetrack heralded the start of the Sette Giugno Championship with three heats for class Premier trotters on a short distance of 2,140m.
These heats formed part of the 28th meeting of the season made up of ten races, all for trotters. From the class Premier heats, 12 horses qualified for the final race of this competition.
In the first class Premier heat, it was Think Yatzee (Clint Vassallo) which made the fastest start in the first metres, opening a length’s lead from Noble d’Ete (Raymond Clifton) and Maximal Value (James Briffa).
But with 300m to go, Think Yatzee started to slow down and was overtaken by favourite Wiss Night Hawk (Noel Baldacchino). But even the latter surrended the lead to Skip Dimanche (Julian Farrugia) midway through the final straight.
Skip Dimanche secured its first win of the year with Livi Cantona (Rodney Gatt) and Noble d’Ete (Raymond Clifton) also progressing.
French Nabab du Chatelet (Redent Magro) surged ahead around 500m from the end of the second class Premier heat to gain its third win of the season.
Happiness Photo (Julian Farrugia), Nono de Crouay (Melvin Farrugia) and Op Le Cosseen (Charlo’ Debono) followed behind in that order.
Dutch Zilver Boko confirmed that it is one of the most consistent horses of the season.
In the third class Premier heat this horse cruised to its fifth win of the year after increasing its speed with a lap to go. Count Of Life (Michael Ellul), Eastwood OM (Pierre Caruana) and Oviedo Vici (Darren Mizzi) were the last three horses to progress.
The next programme of races is scheduled for Sunday.
Elitloppet race
The 2012 Elitloppet competition was held at the Solvalla Racetrack in Sweden yesterday.
It was Norway’s Yarrah Boko (Ulf Ohlsson) which won in the first heat with Swedish Commander Crowe (Christophe Martens) finishing first in the second one.
The Elitloppet final was contested between eight horses.
Once again it was Commander Crowe (Chrstophe Martens) which increased its speed in the final metres and finished first ahead of American Arch Madness (Brian Sears) and German Classic Grand Cru (Bjorn Goop).
The winners
Race 1: Class Copper, Royal Qui (I. Bilocca) – 1.19.7”
Race 2: Class Bronze, Roger Qui (M. Refalo) – 1.18.5”
Race 3: Class Bronze, Mezio Josselyn (V. Fenech) – 1.18.2”
Race 4: Class Silver, Ouragan de Valsoiz (E. Garzia) – 1.18.4”
Race 5: Sette Giugno Championship heat, Skip Dimanche (Julian Farrugia) – 1.16.1”
Race 6: Class Gold, Delvin Brodde (Julian Farrugia) - 1.17”
Race 7: Sette Giugno Championship heat, 1. Nabab du Chatelet (Redent Magro) – 1.17”
Race 8: Class Silver, 1. Enjoy Kronos (Rodney Gatt) – 1.17.8”
Race 9: Sette Giugno Championship, Zilver Boko (Tony Demanuele) – 1.15.6”
Race 10: Class Silver, Jill Vox (David Ellul) – 1.17.6”