The 14th meeting of the year, made up of eight races, was held at the Marsa Racetrack yesterday afternoon.
Seven of the races in programme were reserved for trotters and the major event – open for Premier Class – was won by Pronostic De Neige, driven by Johan Axisa.
Thirteen horses lined up for the Premier race and it was Striking Actions (George Attard) the fastest horse in the initial stages, opening a length’s lead from Printemps De Gaia (Michael Axisa) and Nice Brozo (Brian Zammit).
However, with a lap to go, Pronostic De Neige (Johan Axisa) started to dash strongly from the outside and managed to overtake Austrian Striking Actions midway through the final straight.
Pronostic De Neige went on to secure its second win of the year with Mad Image (Rodney Gatt) and Oltedo De Rieux (Charles Camilleri) coming home third and fourth, respectively.
The meeting included four other heats from the Krafft Championship for Silver Class on a short distance of 2,140m.
Sixteen horses qualified for the semi-final stage.
In the first heat, favourite Udice Boko, under the guidance of Charles Camilleri, gained its third win in a row after storming ahead of the field half-way through the final straight.
Camilleri also triumphed in the next championship heat with Quid De Belle Vue. This French trotter upped its pace some 300m from the post before registering its third win of the year.
Madame Inkato (George Grech) cruised to its first win at Marsa in the next Silver heat.
This Swedish mare led all the way and past the post first ahead of Quokispass (Clint Vassallo).
In the remaining heat, Que Je T’Aime Rush (Julian Farrugia) was unchallenged for most of the distance and triumphed by two lengths from Rollon Charmeur (Wayne Cutajar).
Meanwhile, in the only flat race of the day, Irish Enthrall (Michael Sultana), the fastest horse out of the gates, failed to keep the pace in the last stages.
Irish Enthrall was overtaken by favourite Gold As Good (Demis Zammit) for its first win of the year.
Key Art (Sarah Borg) was third.
Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Sunday. The programme will include the semi-final races from the Tazza l-Kbira championship for Premier Class trotters.
Winning trotters at Marsa
Race 1: Bronze – Quarborandum (Philip Calleja) – 1.17.5”
Race 2: Silver – Udice Boko (Charles Camilleri) – 1.18.5”
Race 3: Flat – Gold As Good (Demis Zammit) – 1.14.5”
Race 4: Silver – Quid De Belle Vue (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.8”
Race 5: Gold – Milord Barbes (Cliferty Calleja) – 1.16”
Race 6: Silver – Madame Inkato (George Grech) – 1.17.3”
Race 7: Premier – Pronostic De Neige (Johan Axisa) – 1.16.5”
Race 8: Silver – Que Je T’Aime Rush (Julian Farrugia) – 1.17.6”