Except for the Class A1 race on the rather long 2,640-metre distance, the remainder of the eight-race card in yesterday's eighth Spring Meeting at Marsa were all scratch events on the shorter 1,640 metre-distance.

Current champion driver Charles Degiorgio was the meeting's best driver with two wins.

It seems that no one can stop Huit Mars from winning these days. Yesterday, this popular nine-year-old French trotter, belonging to the Ke Peper Stables and driven by Michael Seychell, registered its fifth win on the trot.

Huit Mars led from start to finish in Class A1, clocking a good average of 1'15.8'' per kilometre for the distance.

Outsider Tribbe Gral and Florissant passed the post second and third in that order.

Carmelo Farrugia's Joker Smabo also led all the way to secure an emphatic victory in the second most important race yesterday from Class A.

Mack Hycklinge, coming from a win, was a strong second. Third place was clinched by newcomer J.S. Sveno.

Joker Smabo clocked an average of 1'16.5'' per kilometre on its way to victory.

A tussle along the final straight of the Class B race, between Absolut Cashflow and Niagara Crown, ended in a close win for the former driven by veteran George Schembri.

Sandy Phala looked all set to win the first Class C race in the programme but was overtaken by Joe Bartolo's Fabulous Boy near the finish line. In the other Class C race, Allegori had to go all out to win when challenged by Lurifax Sund.

Yesterday's winners

Race 1: Class G - Buckingham I.T. (C. Degiorgio).
Race 2: Class F - Feodal De Clairgil (J. Farrugia).
Race 3: Class D - Conifere Du Vivrot (M. Seguna).
Race 4: Class C - Fabulous Boy (J. Bartolo).
Race 5: Class A1 - Huit Mars (M. Seychell).
Race 6: Class A - Joker Smabo (C. Farrugia).
Race 7: Class B - Absolut Cashflow (G. Schembri).
Race 8: Class C - Allegori (C. Degiorgio).