Driven by one of its owners, Ronald Cassar, 11-year-old trotter Ohime Mag won yesterday’s major event, the Prix De Vincennes final for French horses in the Premier Class.
This final was part of the 51st meeting of the season consisting of 10 races, five of which were finals for French trotters.
Nine horses lined up for the Premier Class final. It was Pacha De La Frette (Claudio Refalo) which surged ahead, opening a small lead from Orion du Vaumicel (Frenċu Cassar) and Orgueil De Nganda (Noel Baldacchino).
With a lap to go, favourite Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) also started to increase its pace.
Around 400m from the end, Pacha De La Frette ran out of steam, started to slow down and was overtaken by both Okilaibo and Ohime Mag.
In the final straight, Okilaibo couldn’t withstand the challenge of Ohime Mag as the French trotter obtained its fourth win of the year.
Oltedo De Rieux (Charles Camilleri) and Quelino d’Amour (Mario Fenech) followed home in that order.
At the end of the final, Emmanuelle Morvillers, from the Societe du Cheval Francais, presented the trophy to Ronald Cassar and Michel Lautier, the co-owners of the winning horse.
Oolong (Charles Degiorgio) dashed strongly from the outside around 400m from the finish line of the Gold Class final.
This 11-year-old trotter notched its third win of the season after easily beating the challenge of Prince Gaillard (Charles Camilleri) and Onyx Lucernais (Jason Cordina).
Orage Du Pont (Julian Farrugia) finished fourth.
In the Silver final, favourite Quozak Prior (Noel Baldacchino) was outsmarted by Petit Pierricais (Raymond Schembri) midway through the final straight. Petit Pierricais claimed its second win on the trot by three lengths, with Pirate d’Urzy (Eugenio Bondin) and Pittacos (Charles Degiorgio) third and fourth respectively.
Yesterday’s meeting was a memorable one for Noel Baldacchino who won the Bronze and the Copper finals with Polytain and Owens Kin respectively.
Polytain surged ahead around 300m from the end of the Bronze Class final to secure its sixth win of the season and its third in a row by two lengths from Notre Joyeux (Julian Farrugia).
Under the guidance of Baldacchino, Owens Kin led all the way, finishing first by half length from Minou De Perdriat (Charles Camilleri).
During yesterday’s meeting, Baldacchino received an award after being named best driver for November. Last month, Baldacchino managed to win an international race at the Vincennes Racetrack in Paris.
Baldacchino was also presented with a number of horse products produced in Italy by Equine Supreme Company Limited.
Another meeting will be held on Sunday. It will include six finals from the Equestrian Festival. The first race starts at 1.30pm.
Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Equestrian Festival heat (Bronze), Dealer Arriba (Michael Ellul) – 1.15.7”.
Race 2: Equestrian Festival heat (Bronze), Lass John (Darren Grima) – 1.15.7”.
Race 3: Equestrian Festival heat (Gold), Zandina Boshoeve (Rodney Gatt) – 1.13.9”.
Race 4: Equestrian Festival heat (Bronze), Kaki De Peyrahout (Charles Camilleri) – 1.15.2”.
Race 5: Prix De Caen final (Copper), Owens Kin (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.18.5”.
Race 6: Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer final (Bronze), Polytain (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.6”.
Race 7: Prix De Cabourg final (Silver), Petit Pierricais (Raymond Schembri) – 1.16”.
Race 8: Prix d’Enghien final (Gold) Oolong (Charles Degiorgio) – 1.17.4”.
Race 9: Prix De Vincennes final (Premier), Ohime Mag (Ronald Cassar) – 1.14.9”.
Race 10: Equestrian Festival heat (Gold), Charm Hammering (Gilbert Farrugia) – 1.13.4”.