The new horse racing season started yesterday at the Marsa racetrack with the first winter meeting. The programme included six qualifying events for the Malta-Sweden Encounter Races 2004, which will be held on Friday, February 20.

A total of 32 trotters, from Classes A1, A, B, C and D, earned a berth in this international event which will see the participation of six top Swedish drivers.

All nine events on the card were scratch on the 2,140m distance. The Class A1 race, the main event, produced an exciting finale with six trotters contending the win along the final straight.

In the end, it was Gatsby De La Motte, driven by Frans Cassar, which took the honours beating Drabant Are into second place. The other two trotters which qualified for the Malta-Sweden Encounter Race were Picabo Joe and Ashley, third and fourth respectively.

Fenris and Lilly Ru were involved in a keen duel in the first of the two Class A races. Lilly Ru took an early lead but Fenris, driven by Joe Debattista, managed to snatch the lead and hold on to its position despite Lilly Ru's late rally.

The other qualifiers were Felicia Hypinge, Niagara Crown, Horsino and Adorator.

Run For Food, driven by Emmanuel Bugeja, grabbed the lead midway through the distance and went on to win the second Class A race notwithstanding the late challenge from second horse in Junior Comet.

Half Back, Gil De Pres, Grog De Pres and Gazar Club were the other trotters which qualified.

Cash Collector, under the guidance of owner Andy Mifsud, won the Class B qualifying race. It finished ahead of Los Mikael, Kung Ludvig and Fou D'Amour.

Charlie Camilleri's Mistys Magic topped the Class C race following a strong dash in the final 150m. The other qualifiers here were Idol Gelj, Junior League, Masterson As, Yakin and Edelweiss Staedly.

Twanny Scicluna's Boff was awarded first place in Class D after the horse that crossed the post first was disqualified. Zoccer Troll, Epilogue, Drole De Bootz, Gaor D'Eniguet and Quattro Laday also qualified in that order.

The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.

Yesterday's winners

Race 1: Class H - Casper VIP (C. Vassallo).
Race 2: Class G - Feodal De Clairgil (J. Farrugia).
Race 3: Class E - Super Chic (D. Mizzi).
Race 4: Class D - Boff (T. Scicluna).
Race 5: Class A - Fenris (J. Debattista).
Race 6: Class A1 - Gatsby De La Motte (F. Cassar).
Race 7: Class B - Cash Collector (A. Mifsud).
Race 8: Class A - Run For Food (E. Bugeja).
Race 9: Class C - Mistys Magic (C. Camilleri).