The highlights of yesterday’s programme at Marsa were two heats from the Tazza l-Kbira on a long distance of 2,640m.

France’s Papy De La Potel cruised to a debut win at the racetrack in the first championship heat.

Driven by one of its owners, Brian Hili, Papy De La Potel dashed strongly from the outside midway through the straight and won the race, half-a-length ahead of Oltedo De Rieux (Charles Camilleri) and Quirio Charm (Tony Tanti).

Vanmaker Limburgia (Rodney Gatt), Ego Sanna (David Ellul) and Totti T Dream (Charles Degiorgio) also made it to the semi-finals.

There was a close tussle between four horses in the final metres of the second Tazza l-Kbira heat.

At the post, it was Swedish trotter Vejby Boom (Charles Camilleri) that managed to beat the challenge of Made In Hof (Jesmar Gafa).

Sultan November (Shawn Portelli), Absolut Spender (Mark Desira), Nabab du Chatelet (Michael Ellul) and Original Blue (Chris Cassar) followed home in that order.

For Vejby Boom, this was its third win at Marsa and the second in a row.

In the first of two Gold races yesterday, early leader Quazoumax (Andrew Farrugia) slowed down near the latter stages of the straight and was overtaken by Cowboy Party (Chris Cassar).

Quiz Du Lys (Rodney Gatt) notched its second consecutive win in the other Gold Class race.

This French trotter upped its pace from the outside with 500m to go before winning the race.

The winners

Race 1. Copper. Loulou De La Rose (Ake Lindblom) – 1.18.3”
Race 2. Gold. Cowboy Party (Chris Cassar) – 1.16.3”
Race 3. Flat. Kimberley Downs (Michael Sultana) – 2.21.5”
Race 4. Bronze. Navaho Simoni (Charles Degiorgio) – 1.17.1”
Race 5. Open. Papy De La Potel (Brian Hili) – 1.16.7”
Race 6. Gold. Quiz Du Lys (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.4”
Race 7. Open. Vejby Boom (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17”
Race 8. Silver. Ouest Du Vivier (Cliferty Calleja) – 1.17”