The fifth meeting of the year, made up 11 races, was held at the Marsa racetrack yesterday.
Six of the races were valid for the new Assikura Championship for Gold Class trotters. The card also included a Premier Class race and a flat race over a long distance of 2,250m.
It was PA Surprise (Mario Farrugia) which stormed ahead after the official start of the Premier Class race.
This Swedish nine-year-old trotter opened a half-length’s lead from Zandina Boshoeve (Rodney Gatt) and Zalgado Transs R (Nicholas Bonello). However, with a lap to go, it was Absolut Spender (Mark Desira) which started to increase its speed and challenge for the top places.
When the horses appeared for the home stretch, Absolut Spender shot in front and went on to win the race by a length from Vejby Boom (Charles Camilleri) and Zalgado Transs R.
Oltedo De Rieux (Noel Baldac-chino) was fourth.
Absolut Spender clocked an impressive average time of 1.14.8” per kilometre.
From the Gold Class heats, 24 horses qualified for the semi-final stage of the championship yester-day.
Quintet (Brian Zammit) secured its first win at Marsa after increasing its speed midway through the final straight to win the first heat as Happiness Photo (Julian Farrugia) won the next championship race, easily three lengths ahead of its nearest rival.
In the final metres of the third heat, Charm Hammering (Gilbert Farrugia) and Player du Mirel (Biran Hili) sprinted neck and neck. It was the former which cruised to its first win of the year as Player Du Mirel was later disqualified by the stewards.
Pissaro (Clint Vassallo) led all the way in the next Gold Class race but there was a close finish between Wies Buitenzorg (Eric Bezzina) and Quid d’Aliermont (Charles Camilleri) in the fifth heat.
The win was eventually awarded to Wies Buitenzorg after that the photo-finish was consulted by the stewards.
In the remaining heat, Oolong (Charles Degiorgio) had to go all the way in the final metres to obtain its first win of the year.
Meanwhile, Ollie Fliptrik (Sarah Borg) was the fastest horse out of the blocks in the flat race as the American nine-year-old opened a length’s lead from favourite Pearl Storm (Michael Sultana) and Timolin (Jean Paul Caruana).
However, with 500m to go Ollie Fliptrik ran out of steam and was overtaken by Pearl Storm which took its second win in a row, finishing ahead of Timolin. Ollie Fiptrik was a distant third.
The next meeting at Marsa will be held on Sunday afternoon.
The winners
Race 1. Silver. Ouest Du Vivier (Cliferty Calleja) – 1.16.1”
Race 2. Gold. Quintet (Brian Zammit) – 1.15.3”
Race 3. Gold. Happiness Photo (Julian Farrugia) – 1.15.1”
Race 4. Flat. Pearl Storm (Michael Sultana) – 2.19.4”
Race 5. Silver. Octobre En Fete (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.4”
Race 6. Gold. Charm Hammering (Gilbert Farrugia) – 1.16.1”
Race 7. Gold. Pissaro (Clint Vassallo) – 1.16.1”
Race 8. Silver. Pile Ou Face (Joe Schembri) – 1.17.4”
Race 9. Premier. Absolut Spender (Mark Desira) – 1.14.8”
Race 10. Gold. Wies Buitenzorg (Eric Bezzina) – 1.16.6”
Race 11. Gold. Oolong (Charles Degiorgio) – 1.14.4”