As expected, the most important events in yesterday’s programme were five finals for French trotters, on a long distance of 2,640m.
These finals were organised by the Malta Racing Club with the financial support of the French Association SECF.
The top race, the Prix de Vincennes final for Premier Class trotters, was won by Nabab du Chatelet, driven by Charles Camilleri.
Ten horses took part in the Premier final. Nuage de Bourgogne (Herman McKay) was the fastest horse at first, opening a length lead from Nabab du Chatelet (Camilleri) and Nino de Saintho (Cliferty Calleja).
Having stormed ahead, Nabab du Chatelet lost pace 500m from the post and gave up first place.
It was Nino de Saintho which passed the post first but the former was later disqualified. Nabab du Chatelet was declared winner to register its fifth victory of the year and second in a row from favourite Oltedo de Rieux (Noel Baldacchino), Label Chouan (David Ellul) and Magic de Assigny (Redent Magro).
The winner clocked an average time of 1.15.4” per kilometre.
At the end of the final, Benoit Fabrega, a SECF official, presented the trophy to the owners and driver of the winning horse.
In the Prix d’Enghien final for Gold Class trotters, favourite Night Inlet (Baldacchino) was unchallenged throughout the whole distance.
This 11-year-old trotter obtained its fifth win of the season and fourth in a row from Magnifique Sablais (Julian Farrugia) and Niky de Memartin (Jonathan Zammit).
Quebec (Mark Mifsud) followed in fourth.
Prao de Bussy (Ivan Stivala) ran out of steam around 300m from the finish line in the Prix de Cabourg final for Silver Class trotters. Eventually this horse was overtaken by Korentin (Julian Farrugia) which notched its second win of the year from Orage du Pont (Charles Camilleri) and Narcus du Roc (Rodney Gatt). Prao de Bussy was fourth.
In the Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer final for Bronze Class trotters, Ouragan de Crouay (Larson Mifsud) led all the way to cruise to its fourth win of the year by half-a-length from favourite Polytain (Baldacchino).
Mezio Josselyn (Victor Fenech) and Nereus Galbe (Redent Magro) followed home in that order.
There was a keen tussle between four horses in the final metres of the Prix de Caen final for Copper Class trotters. It was Neron Pierji (Julian Farrugia) which secured its first win in Malta by half-a-length from favourite Nox Blue (Gatt).
Kaolin de Bannes (Emmanuel Fenech) and Loulou de la Rose (Carl Caruana) finished third and fourth respectively.
The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday at the Marsa Racetrack with the first race starting at 1.15pm.
Winners at Marsa
Race 1: Copper, Luriga Liz (Brian Pulis) – 1.19.1”
Race 2: Bronze, Jens (Alex Magro) – 1.17.5”.
Race 3: Silver, Olifant du Puoy (Toni Tanti) – 1.17.8”.
Race 4: Gold, Love Heart (Shaun Portelli) – 1.16.7”.
Race 5: Prix de Caen final, Neron Pierji (Julian Farrugia) - 1.17.8”.
Race 6: Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer, Ouragan de Crouay (Larson Mifsud) – 1.18.8”.
Race 7: Prix de Cabourg final, Korentin (Julian Farrugia) – 1.15.9”.
Race 8: Prix d’Enghien final, Night Inlet (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.2”.
Race 9: Prix de Vincennes final, Nabab du Chatelet (Charles Camilleri) – 1.15.4”
Race 10: Gold, Darco As (Mark Tanti) – 1.16.4”.