The highlight of yesterday’s programme at the Marsa Racetrack was the Assikura Open A Championship final for horses that were not bred in France or Sweden, on a short distance of 2,140m.

This final, part of the fifth meeting of the season, was won by American Argus Hanover, driven by Charles Camilleri.

Nine horses started the Assikura showdown. It was Ygor of Pass (Tony Demanuele) which stormed ahead in the initial stages, opening a slight lead from Argus Hanover (Charles Camilleri) and Sultan November (Frank Portelli).

With 400m to go, Ygor of Pass started to slow down and was overtaken by Argus Hanover which claimed its second consecutive win by half-a-length from Mars (Josef Cassar). Reado November (Shawn Portelli) and Pro Shop (Rodney Gatt) claimed the other top-four positions.

Marco Millo, Malta Racing Club official, presented the winning trophy to Camilleri and Messrs Grech, Colombo and Gerada, driver and owners respectively of the winning horse.

The Premier Class race was an exciting affair. French Odedjalo (Noel Baldacchino) had to go all out in the last few metres to stave off the challenge of favourite Oran (Julian Farrugia).

Fire (Marco Refalo) and Nabab du Chatelet (Charles Camilleri) followed home in that order. For Baldacchino this was his second win of the afternoon.

There was a keen tussle in the Gold Class race when three trotters sprinted together in the final metres. It was Swedish mare Keeping Quality (Charles Magro) which gained its second win in a row from Nick de Touchyvon (Charlò Debono), Stefan Sufflor (Anthony Bartolo) and Oolong (Cliferty Calleja).

Yesterday’s card also included three races for Silver Class trotters. In the first, Oscar des Racques (Clint Vassallo) secured its first win of the season after taking the lead midway through the home straight.

Octobre En Fete (Cliferty Calleja) dashed strongly from the outside during the last 300m of the second Silver race to register its first win of the season.

Calleja chalked up his third win of the day in the third and last Silver Class race with Quo Vadis Phedo which won by a length from Landi Breton (David Ellul).

The next meeting at Marsa will be held on Sunday with the first race starting at 1.30pm.

Yesterday’s winners
Race 1: Bronze, Nox Blue (Rodney Gatt).
Race 2: Silver, Oscar des Racques (Clint Vassallo).
Race 3: Bronze, Pittacos (Noel Baldacchino).
Race 4: Gold, Keeping Quality (Charles Magro).
Race 5: Bronze, Lucky d’Hercla (Cliferty Calleja).
Race 6: Assikura Championship Final Open A, Argus Hanover (Charles Camilleri).
Race 7: Silver, Octobre En Fete (Cliferty Calleja).
Race 8: Premier, Odedjalo (Noel Baldacchino).
Race 9: Silver, Quo Vadis Phedo (Cliferty Calleja).

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