The 17th meeting of the year, consisting of eight races, was held yesterday afternoon, Easter Sunday, at the Marsa Racetrack.

Certainly, the most important races were those for Premier Class trotters on a long distance of 2,640m and a flat race on a short distance of 1,250m.

These were won by Zalgado Transs R and favourite Pearl Storm respectively.

Five horses took part in the only flat race on the card. Favourite Pearl Storm (Michael Sultana) was fastest out of the blocks, opening a length lead from Irish newcomer Key Art (Sarah Borg) and Safari Storm (Charles Vella).

Pearl Storm was unchallenged over the 1,250m distance, finishing first from Safari Storm and Timolin (Demis Zammit). Key Art followed home in that order.

In the Premier race, Zalgado Transs R, under the guidance of young driver Nicholas Bonello, secured its second win of the season. This German eight-year-old trotter had to go all the way in the last few metres to stave off the challenge of Opal Hall (Charles Camilleri).

Utah Hornline (Julian Farrugia) and True Q (Shawn Portelli) claimed the other top-four positions.

Yesterday’s card also included two races for Gold Class trotters.

In the first, Quid d’Aliermont (Camilleri) took the lead midway through the final straight and went to pass the post first ahead of Happiness Photo (Mario Fenech).

However, Quid d’Aliermont was later disqualified by the racing stewards and the win was awarded to Happiness Photo. New Star DK (Noel Baldacchino), Veikko Hornline (Julian Farrugia) and Presidential (Brian Hili) claim the other top-four places.

Italian trotter Lost Photo gained its first win in Malta in the second Gold race. Driven by Herman McKay, Lost Photo was unchallenged over the 2,640m distance,triumphing by more than two lengths from Quio De Nappes (Julian Farrugia).

Count Of Life (Claudio Refalo) and L’Ideal De Fersan (Ian Galea) finished third and fourth respectively.

Yesterday afternoon, 26-year-old Michael Sultana was presented with a memento after being named as the best driver-jockey for the month of March.

Sultana, a renowned flat racing jockey, has also obtained his harness driver licence this season.

Last month, Sultana competed in seven trotting races and three flat ones, winning two races in each discipline and placing third once in trot and once in flat.

Meanwhile, another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Sunday.

The programme will also include the final of the prestigious Tazza l-Kbira competition on a long distance of 2,640 metres.

The first race starts at 1.45pm.

Winners at Marsa

Race 1: Silver, Ackaturbo (Christopher Grech) – 1.17.7”.
Race 2: Bronze, Obscur De Busset (Shawn Portelli) – 1.17.8”.
Race 3: Silver, Rubis d’Olivier (Chris Vassallo) – 1.16.7”.
Race 4: Silver, Neo De Mira (George Muscat) – 1.17.7”.
Race 5: Flat, Pearl Storm (Michael Sultana) – 1.12.4”.
Race 6: Gold, Happiness Photo (Mario Fenech) – 1.17.6”.
Race 7: Premier, Zalgado Transs R (Nicholas Bonello) – 1.15.7”.
Race 8: Gold, Lost Photo (Herman McKay) – 1.17”.

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