French 11-year-old trotter Okilaibo won the main event during Friday’s meeting at the Marsa Racetrack. This was the VOB Grand Final reserved for Premier Class trotters on a short distance of 2,140m.

The race was contested by the horses that finished in the first five places in the Prix de Vincennes final for French trotters and the top four in the Sette Giugno Championship final.

It was Orne Des Olivettes (Christian Xerri) who made the fastest start, opening a half-length lead from Mark De Chamant (Michael Seychell) and Sultan November (Shawn Portelli).

With a lap to go, Orne Des Olivettes was overtaken by German entry Sultan November who shot into the lead. But, with 300m remaining, Sultan November ran out of steam as favourite Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) pulled clear to chalk up its third win of the year and second in a row.

Okilaibo won easily by two lengths from Orne Des Olivettes and Mark De Chamant. Sultan November claimed the other top-four position.

At the end of the final, Patrick Cachia, on behalf of the racetrack bookmakers, presented the winning trophy to Joseph Seychell and Julian Farrugia, owner and driver respectively of Okilaibo who completed a double after its success in the Prix de Vincennes final.

In the first Gold Class race, Nophenio de Lune (Charles Farrugia) dashed strongly from the outside 300m from the end to register its second win of the season by half-length from Oscar Mati (Brian Hili) and XRay Hornline (Rodney Gatt).

Oolong (Jesmar Gafa) was fourth.

Chippen Bob (Clint Vassallo) had to go all out in the last few metres of the second Gold race in order to secure its first win in Malta from Pic Soyer (Tony Tanti).

Podium (Julian Farrugia) and Count Wiesnievski (Rodney Gatt) finished third and fourth respectively.

Friday’s card included also four races for Silver Class trotters.

In the first, Command Coger (Carmelo Farrugia) profited from the disqualification of Querido Censerie (Frenċu Cassar) to obtain its first win of the year.

Paolin De Bannes (Noel Baldacchino) and Pile Ou Face (Joe Schembri) led all the way in the following Silver Class races while in the fourth, it was Side Spin (Julian Farrugia) who gained its first win of the year after taking the lead with a lap to go.

Also on Friday night, Patrick Spiteri was presented with a memento after being voted as the best driver for May.

Winners at Marsa

Race 1: Bronze, Zeta Jones A (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.4”.
Race 2: Silver, Command Coger (Carmelo Farrugia) – 1.16.4”.
Race 3: Bronze, Magnific As (David Ellul) – 1.17”.
Race 4: Silver, Paolin De Bannes (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.1”.
Race 5: Bronze, Polytain (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17”.
Race 6: Silver, Pile Ou Face (Joe Schembri) – 1.17.7”.
Race 7: Gold, Nophenio De Lune (Charles Farrugia) – 1.15.7”.
Race 8: VOB Grand Final, Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) – 1.14.5”.
Race 9: Silver, Side Spin (Julian Farrugia) – 1.15.6”.
Race 10: Gold, Chippen Bob (Clint Vassallo) – 1.17.6”.

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