The 29th meeting of the season, made up of nine races all for trotters, was held at the Marsa racetrack yesterday.
Eight of the events on the card were semi-finals from four championships open for French trotters on a short distance of 2,140m.
Lady de Vindecy and Nevaio des Bordes won the two main races of the afternoon, those reserved from the Prix de Vincennes Championship for Premier Class.
Both winning horses were driven by Gozitan Julian Farrugia.
Ten horses qualified for the final from the Premier semi-finals.
In the first race, Label Chouan (David Ellul) shot ahead, opening a length’s lead from Lady de Vindecy (Julian Farrugia) and Mig of the Wood (Noel Baldacchino).
With 300m to go, Label Chouan started to slow its pace and was eventually overtaken by Lady de Vindecy which secured its first win of the season.
Pre-race favourite Mig of the Wood finished third ahead of Niky du Donjon (Joe Vella) and Onyx Speed (Christian Xerri).
In the other Premier race, Nevaio des Bordes (Julian Farrugia) stormed clear of the field with some 200m left to claim its third win of the season and its second in a row.
Mystere d’Urfist (Rodney Gatt), Mark de Chamant (Michael Seychell), Nasko Pride (Christian Xerri) and Milord Barbes (Frenċu Cassar) completed the top-five order in this race to make sure of a place in the final.
In between these two races, Nuevo Musette (Noel Baldac-chino) upped its pace from the outside around 400m from the finishing line of the first Prix d’Enghien semi-final for Gold Class trotters.
Nuevo Musette went on to chalk up its first win at Marsa, finishing ahead of Marini du Mont (Salvu Vella) and Pirate d’Urzy (Eugenio Bondin).
Le Bolide du Suret (Melvin Farrugia) and Okapi des Dimes (Michael Ellul) also made it to the final.
In the second Gold semi-final, the last race on the card, Oros de Reve (Carl Caruana) had to go all the way in the straight for home to gain its second consecutive win in front of Osiris des Kids (Clint Vassallo).
Oscar Mati (Rodney Gatt), Podium (Julian Farrugia) and Orlando Tejy (Noel Baldacchino) also progressed to the final race from this championship.
The two semi-finals from the Prix de Cabourg for Silver trotters were won by Poete de la Sarthe (Kurt Saliba) and Petrus du Vivier (Mark Desira).
For Saliba this was the first win of his career.
Another programme of races will be held at the racetrack on Thursday.
The card will include the final of the Sette Giugno Championship reserved for Premier trotters.
The first race on Thursday starts at 2.30 p.m.
The winners
Race 1: Copper, Jet Starline (Mario Fenech) – 1.17.9”
Race 2: Bronze, November Oaks (Michael Ellul) – 1.16.5”
Race 3: Bronze, It’s My Way (Emmanuel Fenech) – 1.17.1”
Race 4: Silver, Petrus du Vivier (Mark Desira) – 1.16.6”
Race 5: Silver, Poete de la Sarthe (Kurt Saliba) – 1.16.7”
Race 6: Premier, Lady de Vindecy (Julian Farrugia) – 1.15.7”
Race 7: Gold, Nuevo Musette (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.15.6”
Race 8: Premier, Nevaio des Bordes (Julian Farrugia) – 1.15.2”
Race 9: Gold, Oros de Reve (Carl Caruana) – 1.15.5”