Yesterday's horse racing meeting at the Marsa racetrack was once again a blend of higher and lower class events, also on the 1,640m distance with no handicaps awarded. The card included a flat race run on the 1,740 metres.
The Class A1 event produced quite a close and exciting finish involving four trotters. Newcomer to Maltese trotting Feeling Way led from start up to the very last metres where it was overtaken by eventual winner Espoir Du Terme, driven by Charles J. Clifton, and by second horse in Rosalinds AX.
The winner clocked a good average per kilometre - 1.14.9. For the record, four of the nine horses that took part in this race were running for the first time in Malta.
In winning Class A, Djinn Marcos Milo, under the guidance of David Ellul, managed to clock a better time than the winner of the top class, covering the 1,640m distance at an average of 1.14.5 per kilometre.
Djinn Marcos Milo led all the way but at the end had to go all out to withstand the stiff challenge coming from Lagant Haleryd that had to be content with second place.
The Class B event provided another close finish when no fewer than six horses sprinted the last metres together. The photo finish had to determine the first four placings. Julian Farrugia's Don Boy was deemed to have just edged out Tender Times for first place.
Demis Zammit managed to keep Wayyak always in the lead in the only flat race on the card. Half of the eight runners were newcomers.
Next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, starting at 1.15 p.m.
Results at the Marsa racetrack
Race 1, Class H, 1,640m - 1. Imperial Express (R. Schembri); 2. Reel Crown (D. Ellul); 3. Europeen Du But (J. Farrugia).
Race 2, Class F, 1,640m - 1. Comte De La Brosse (N. Baldacchino); 2. Inside Hornline (G. Attard); 3. Cashman (A. Abela).
Race 3, Class E, 1,640m - 1. Edonis (F. Cassar); 2. Eric De La Noemie (J. C. Clifton); 3. Three Steps (J. Farrugia).
Race 4, Class C, 1, 640m - 1. Gary Simb (G. Abdilla); 2. Dust 'n Bones (E. Bondin); 3. Lyon Sund (C. Farrugia).
Race 5, Class A1, 1,640m - 1. Espoir Du Terme (C. J. Clifton); 2. Rosalinds AX (C. Degiorgio); 3. Feeling Way (D. Ellul).
Race 6, Class A, 1,640m - 1. Djinn Marcos Milo (D. Ellul); 2. Lagant Haleryd (F. Cassar); 3. Altid Cowboyland (J. Farrugia).
Race 7, Flat, 1,740m - 1. Wayyak (D. Zammit); 2. Suberto (E. Zammit); 3. River Garnock (P. Abela).
Race 8, Class B, 1,640m - 1. Don Boy (J. Farrugia); 2. Tender Times (C. Degiorgio); 3. Gorby (N. Baldacchino).
Race 9, Class D, 1,640m - 1. Golden Pitchfork (G. Schembri); 2. Marys Magic Wand (M. Bugeja); 3. Incredible Brew (D. Ellul).