The Premier Class race was the main event on the card at the Marsa Racetrack yesterday. The programme was made up of seven races, all on the 2,140m distance. Gozitan driver Julian Farrugia left his mark by winning four races.
No fewer than five trotters battled it out along the final straight in the Premier Class race. At the post, it was the experience of veteran driver George Schembri that stood out with Kintaro clinching the honours for the day. Pilot Kloster was second and Hawkeye de Marco and Bello Fratello had to settle for third and fourth places respectively.
Poker Noon, one of the horses directed by Farrugia, won the Gold 2 race by a clear two lengths after leading from start to finish. Excelsior DK, Sheriff As and Sakura Victory passed the post in that order.
Farrugia then kept Super Sensation in the lead all the way in the Gold 5 race for the trotter to chalk up its second successive win. Super Sensation had to go all out along the last 100m to see off the frantic efforts of second horse in Jarnac Du Moulin. Kismo De Begadan was third.
Royal Pointer, in its second race in Malta, registered a huge ten-length victory in the Silver 1 race.
Guided by Farrugia, this horse surged into the lead very early in the race and never gave up its position.
Leo De Gratens, controlled by George Attard, was first in the Silver 4 race after going into the lead midway through the distance.
The mare Lilly Ru looked set to win the Bronze 3 race but at the very end it was overtaken by veteran trotter Drabant Are, under the control of Charles Camilleri.
Farrugia's Juaben came strongly on the inside of the track in the final metres to win the Bronze 5 race.
The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.
Yesterday's winners
Race 1: Bronze 5, 2,140m Juaben (J. Farrugia).
Race 2: Bronze 3, 2,140m Drabant Are (C. Camilleri).
Race 3: Gold 5, 2,140m Super Sensation (J. Farrugia).
Race 4: Gold 2, 2,140m Poker Noon (J. Farrugia).
Race 5: Premier, 2,140m Kintaro (G. Schembri).
Race 6: Silver 1, 2,140m Royal Pointer (J. Farrugia).
Race 7: Silver 4, 2,140m Leo De Gratens (G. Attard).
International races
Three Maltese drivers, Claudio Drago, Eugenio Bondin and Jason Vassallo, took part in two amateur international events during the weekend at the prestigious Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden.
Drago won one of his races when at the helm of East Meralda. Bondin also won a race with Formentera.