Prieure won the major event on the card at the Marsa Racetrack yesterday as the 11-year-old trotter prevailed in a Premier Class race held over a short distance of 2,140m.
The race formed part of the 23rd meeting of the season and was made up of 11 races all for trotters.
Charles Camilleri was the best driver of the afternoon with three wins.
Fourteen horses raced in the Premier Class.
Lage (Marco Refalo) was the fastest in the early stages, opening a small lead over Isalus (Charles Degiorgio) and Swedish newcomer Yanantin Boko (Darren Mizzi).
Lage, however, ran out of steam and slowed its pace significantly with some 200m from the finish line. It was at this point that favourite Prieure made a strong dash from the outside and beat the challenge of Yanantin Boko in the straight for home.
Prieure obtained its second consecutive win at Marsa as Vanmaker Limburgia (Rodney Gatt) and Zalgado Transs R (Nicholas Bonello) followed Yanantin Boko.
Prieure clocked an impressive average time of 1.14” per kilometre.
The card also included heats from three different championships for French trotters – Prix d’Enghien for Gold Class, Prix de Cabourg for Silver Class and Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer for Bronze Class.
From the three Gold heats, 12 horses qualified for the semi-final stage.
The first Gold race saw Quito Soyer (Noel Baldacchino) securing its first win in Malta ahead of Pepone Du Castelet (Charles Camilleri). Orage Du Pont (Julian Farrugia) and newcomer Quel Imprevu (Carmelo Micallef) followed home in that order.
In the next heat, Quart De Cidre (Rodney Gatt) led almost all the way and went unchallenged to win ahead of Qadjar Turgot (Mark Mifsud), Quel Noir (Charles Degiorgio) and Pissaro (Clint Vassallo).
Nagano Phedo (Mario Fenech) cruised to its first win of the year in the remaining Gold heat.
This 13-year-old trotter won by a length from Qualisman (Charles Camilleri), Oeillet De Phens (Rodney Gatt) and Quattro Du Gite (Noel Baldacchino).
The winners
Race 1: Bronze. Record Du Stade (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.2”
Race 2: Silver. Player Du Mirel (Brian Hili) – 1.16.2”
Race 3: Bronze. November Oaks (Charles Camilleri) – 1.18”
Race 4: Silver. Roi Du Solat (Julian Farrugia) – 1.17.2”
Race 5: Gold. Quito Soyer (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.6”
Race 6: Silver. Reveal Champ Blanc (Tony Cauchi) – 1.16.1”
Race 7: Gold. Quart De Cidre (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.2”
Race 8: Silver. Ravageur De Payre (Julien Ferchaud – France) – 1.16.2”
Race 9: Gold. Nagano Phedo (Mario Fenech) – 1.16.3”
Race 10: Premier. Prieure (Charles Camilleri) – 1.14”
Race 11: Silver. Ravenovillais (Clint Vassallo) – 1.15.9”