The highlights of yesterday’s meeting, the 46th of the season, were three heats from the President’s Cup for Premier Class trotters on a long distance of 2,640m.
From these heats, 12 horses qualified for the final stage.
There was a close tussle between favourite Orcas Bac (Charles Camilleri) and Poppes Fighter (Michael Ellul) in the final straight of the first heat. It was the latter which gained its first win of the season after the photofinish had been consulted by the stewards.
Gently Di Poggio (Brian Zammit) and Arnie Sensation (Carmelo Farrugia) also made it through to the final.
In the second heat, The Bad Rock (Rodney Gatt) seized the lead with a lap to go. This Swedish trotter was unchallenged in the final metres and secured its second win in Malta easily by a length-and-a-half from Cloria Victis (Darren Mizzi).
Shakira Trot (Clifferty Calleja) and Rocky Composite (Julian Farrugia) followed in that order.
Pre-race favourite Midnight Passion (Eric Bezzina) upped its pace from the outside around 600 metres from the finish of the third Premier Class heat.
In the final straight, this trotter managed to hold off Veikko Hornline (Carl Caruana) in order to take its sixth win of the year.
True Q (Shawn Portelli) and German newcomer Zalgado Transs R (Noel Baldacchino) claimed the other top-four positions.
Yesterday’s card also included a flat race on a short distance of 1,250m. Michael Sultana put favourite Kimberley Downs in front when the horses turned for the home stretch.
This American seven-year-old horse secured its fourth win in a row and its fifth of the season by five lengths from Timolin (Charles Pace) and Gold As Good (Eric Zammit).
Diamante Grande (Sarah Borg) was fourth.
Yesterday afternoon, Bezzina was honoured after being named best driver for October. Malta Racing Club chairman Matthew Brincat presented a commemorative plaque to Bezzina, also on behalf of the sponsors, Winner’s Circle Bar and Restaurant of Mġarr.
Another meeting, consisting of eight races, will be held on Friday. The first race starts at 7pm.
Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Copper, Lemon Solo (Etienne Farrugia) – 1.18.4”.
Race 2: Bronze, Natif De Monsures (Jason Cordina) – 1.18.5”.
Race 3: Flat, Kimberley Downs (Michael Sultana) – 1.13.9”.
Race 4: Silver, Command Coger (Carmelo Farrugia) – 1.17.3”.
Race 5: President’s Cup heat, Poppes Fighter (Michael Ellul) – 1.18.4”.
Race 6: President’s Cup heat, The Bad Rock (Rodney Gatt) – 1.15.8”.
Race 7: Silver, Rapnou Des Picanes (Michael Ellul) – 1.16.8”.
Race 8: President’s Cup heat, Midnight Passion (Eric Bezzina) – 1.17.1”.
Race 9: Silver, Partisan De Bouere (Brian Hili) – 1.16.7”.