The VOB Grand Final on Friday evening brought to a close the opening half of the 2014 season at Marsa with races now scheduled to resume in September.
As expected, the championship final for Premier Class trotters, held over a short distance of 2,140m, was the main attraction on the card.
Nine horses lined up for the race and it was Yanantin Boko (Darren Mizzi) which set the early pace with Zalgado Transs R (Nicholas Bonello) and Pat De Fontaine (Noel Baldacchino) in hot pursuit.
Yanantin Boko held on but with 300 metres to go the leader lost pace and was unable to sustain the challenge as Pat De Fontaine stormed ahead to win the race, its third at the racetrack.
Yanantin Boko had to settle for the runner-up spot in front of Oran (Julian Farrugia) and Cloria Victis (Charles Degiorgio).
Patrick Cachia and David Scicluna, on behalf of the racetrack bookmakers, presented the winning trophy to Baldacchino and owner Lorry Gatt. Pat De Fontaine clocked an average time of 1.15.7” per kilometre.
Friday’s programme also included two races from the Gold Class.
Early pace-setter Carnegie Hall (Darren Mizzi) ran out of steam midway through the straight for home of the first Gold race and was overtaken by eventual winner, Italian trotter Laval (Charles Camilleri).
Quel Imprevu (Tony Demanuele) was less than a length behind in second place with Versace Boko (Warren Spiteri) third and Carnegie Hall slipping down to fourth.
In the other Gold race of the evening, favourite Quel Homme (Noel Baldacchino) started to increase its pace with a lap to go.
The French ten-year-old trotter took the lead around 400m from the post before registering its second win in a row.
Nitesco d’Antony (David Ellul) was second ahead of Quicker Magoda (Brian Hili) and Olry Meslois (Emmanuel Fenech).
The race winners
Race 1: Copper Class – Uranium Des Arkads (Kurt Saliba) – 1.18.6”
Race 2: Silver Class – Winner Farming (Anton Pace) – 1.17.3”
Race 3: Bronze Class – Paco (Christian Xerri) – 1.17.6”
Race 4: Silver Class – Joss QC (Chris Grech) – 1.16.7”
Race 5: Gold Class – Laval (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.8”
Race 6: Gold Class – Quel Homme (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.8”
Race 7: Bronze Class – Andri Boko (Tony Demanuele) – 1.16.8”
Race 8: Premier Class (final) – Pat De Fontaine (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.15.7”
Race 9: Silver Class – Rocking Gwen (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.2”