Ohime Mag took the honours in the top race during yesterday’s eighth meeting of the season at the Marsa racetrack.
Seven of the eight races organised yesterday were open for trotters and held on a short distance of 2,140m while the other was a flat race, run on a long distance of 1,750m. During yesteday’s programme a number of trotters qualified for a series of Condition race finals which will be held in the coming weeks.
Fifteen horses lined up for the class Premier race. It was French debutante Oleron Senonchois (Eugenio Bondin) which set the early pace, opening a small lead from Ourasi Diams (Emmanuel Fenech) and Mont Cenis Honey (Noel Baldacchino). With a lap to go, it was Ourasi Diams that raced to the front of the pack.
But this French trotter started to slow down around 500m from the end and was overtaken by Ohime Mag (Ronald Cassar) which dashed home first, five lengths ahead of Mars (Rodney Gatt) and Ouarsi Diams. Utah Hornline (Julian Farrugia) finished fourth.
Ohime Mag clocked an average time of 1.14.4” per kilometre.
Six horses participated in the only flat race on the card. Here, three horses qualified for the Chukkas Cup final.
In this race, Irish newcomer Rosso Med, mounted by Michael Sultana, led all the way and easily secured its first win in Malta by around seven lengths from Royal Fleece (Oliver Briffa) and Four Richer (Eric Zammit).
In the only class Gold race of the card, Skars Hanna (Jeffrey Said) dashed strongly from the outside midway through the final straight and registered its first win in Malta by half a length from Natif de Fontaine (Kurt Saliba).
Keeping Quality (Charles Magro) and Natif de Salvi (Redent Magro) claimed the other top four positions.
Yesterday afternoon young driver Cliferty Calleja was awarded the best driver of January and February. During these two months Calleja won seven major races and obtained good placings in five other events.
Patrick Cachia, on behalf of the sponsors, presented a memento to Calleja.
Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held tomorrow, public holiday.
The programme will consist of eight races, with the first race reserved for class Copper trotters, starting at 1.30pm.
Yesterday’s winners at Marsa
Race 1: Class Copper – Royal Qui (Ivan Bilocca) 1.18.3”.
Race 2: Class Bronze – Niko de Chamant (Victor Fenech) 1.18.3”.
Race 3: Class Bronze – Pittacos (Noel Baldacchino) 1.17.3”.
Race 4: Class Flat – Rosso Med (Michael Sultana) 1.49.2”.
Race 5: Class Silver – Mint Condition (Jason Vassallo) 1.16.7”.
Race 6: Class Gold – Skars Hanna (Jeffrey Said) 1.16.9”.
Race 7: Class Premier – Ohime Mag (Ronald Cassar) 1.14.4”.
Race 8: Class Silver – Wonderofyou (Julian Farrugia) 1.16.6”