French trotters Normand d’Oger and Nino de Saintho won yesterday’s major events, two races open for Premier Class trotters on a long distance of 2,640m. Both horses were driven by young driver Cliferty Calleja.
The races formed part of the fourth meeting of the year.
Thirteen horses lined up for the first Premier race.
Orion du Vaumicel (Frenċu Cassar) was the fastest horse in the early stages, opening a length lead from Poppes Fighter (Charles Camilleri) and Ouf Boy (Eugenio Bondin).
With 400m to go, Orion du Vaumicel started to slow down and was overtaken by Normand d’Oger (Cliferty Calleja) which went on to cruise to its second win in a row by half-a-length from Noble d’Ete (Raymond Clifton) and Ouf Boy. Orion du Vaumicel trailed in fourth.
Normand d’Oger clocked an average time of 1.16.7” per kilometre.
Calleja also managed to win the second Premier Class race with Nino de Saintho which, like Normand d’Oger, is owned by Michael Zammit.
In this race, Nino de Saintho had to go all out in the final metres to prevail by half-a-length from French debutant Ourasi Diams (Emmanuel Fenech) and Olympien Major (Brian Hili).
Give To Get (Ludvic Ghigo) finished fourth.
Nino de Saintho had an average time of 1.16.6” per kilometre.
In the first Gold Class race of the day, Swedish mare Rika Rico (Rodney Gatt) increased its speed during the last 400 metres and registered its first win in Malta by half-a-length from French newcomer Phenix De La Roque (Noel Baldacchino).
Markus Klipp (Darren Mizzi) and Janitor (Marvin Cauchi) followed home in that order.
Simb Mark (Charles Camilleri) dashed strongly from the outside 450m from the finish line of the second Gold race. This Swedish trotter won by a length from Niky de Memartin (Jonathan Zammit), Jerry Eme (Noel Baldacchino) and Naja In Blue (Mario Falzon).
Yesterday’s card also included a race for flat horses on 1,250m. Irish Little Anthony (Demis Zammit) led all the way to secure its first win of the year by half-a-length from Maltese Bon Santos (Charles Pace). Maya Queen (Eric Zammit) finished in third place.
The next meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Sunday, starting at 1.30pm.
Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Copper, Andri Boko (Tony Demanuele) – 1.19.2”.
Race 2: Bronze, Quingen de Bussy (Andrew Farrugia) – 1.19.7”.
Race 3: Silver, Snowman (Rodney Gatt) – 1.18.2”.
Race 4: Flat, Little Anthony (Demis Zammit) – 1.14.8”.
Race 5: Gold, Rika Rico (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.5”.
Race 6: Premier, Normand d’Oger (Cliferty Calleja) – 1.16.7”.
Race 7: Gold, Simb Mark (Charles Camilleri) – 1.15.7”.
Race 8: Premier, Nino de Saintho (Cliferty Calleja) – 1.16.6”.
Race 9: Silver, Novak (Tony Demanuele) – 1.18”.