Driven by Gozitan Salvu Vella, Troy Boshoeve won yesterday’s main event, the Premier Class race on a short distance of 2,140m.
This race formed part of the 48th meeting of the season. Vella was the best driver of the afternoon with two wins.
It was French Nino de Saintho (Twanny Debono) that surged ahead of the field in the initial stages of the Premier race. This horse opened a slight lead from favourite Troy Boshoeve and Nitesco d’Antony (David Ellul).
Some 800 metres from the end, Nino de Saintho slowed down and surrendered the lead to Troy Boshoeve.
In the final straight, Troy Boshoeve and Nitesco d’Antony sprinted neck and neck with the former having to go all out in order to clinch a second win in a row after its success in the Cassar Petroleum Championship.
Magic de Assigny (Julian Farrugia) and Skip Dimanche (Charlò Debono) followed home in that order.
The only flat race on the card was run on 1,750m.
Seven horses took part and it was Italian Marivan (Ramon Grima) first out of the blocks, establishing an early lead over Privilidged Boy (Michael Sultana) and Royal Fleece (Oliver Briffa).
However, 600m from the finish, Marivan was overtaken by favourite Timolin (Ramon Grima) which triumphed easily by six lengths from Four Richer (Demis Zammit) and Privilidged Boy.
Cheeky Jack (Charles Vella) finished fourth.
Yesterday’s card also included two Silver Class races.
Cross Country FC (Salvu Vella) upped its pace with a lap to go in the first race.
This Swedish seven-year-old went in front in the final metres and secured its first win of the year by a length from Lotus du Goth (Andrew Spiteri).
In the other Silver race, Finnish Rich Kemp (Noel Baldac-chino) nosed ahead 400m from home and chalked up its first win of the season by a length from Lacoste IT (Eric Bezzina).
The next programme of races at Marsa will be held on Friday.
Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Copper, Jet Starline (Mario Fenech) – 1.18.3”
Race 2: Silver, Cross Country FC (Salvu Vella) – 1.17.1”
Race 3: Bronze, Noe de Loudat (Kevin Sciberras) – 1.17.3”
Race 4: Silver, Rich Kemp (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17.6”
Race 5: Flat, Timolin (Ramon Grima) – 1.47.2”
Race 6: Bronze, Hawkear (Rodney Gatt) – 1.19”
Race 7: Premier, Troy Boshoeve (Salvu Vella) – 1.17.4”
Race 8: Bronze, Dandy (Robert Polidano) – 1.18.6”