Yesterday’s meeting at the Marsa Racetrack marked the start of three championships for French trotters with eight heats on a short distance of 2,140m.

These championships are held every year thanks to the financial support of the French association Societè du Cheval Francais. The card also included a normal Premier Class race on a long distance of 2,640m. Victory went to TX Zoogood, driven by Clint Vassallo.

Fifteen horses lined up for the Premier race. Arnie Sensation (Carmelo Farrugia) stormed ahead of the field with a lap to go but around 300m from the finish line, this Swedish trotter ran out of steam.

TX Zoogood dashed from the outside and cruised to its first win in Malta from Sultan November (Shawn Portelli) and Poppes Fighter (Noel Baldacchino). Pro Shop (Rodney Gatt) was fourth.

In the first heat from the Prix d’Enghien for Gold Class trotters, favourite Pepone du Castelet (Charles Camilleri) increased its pace with a lap to go and chalked up its third win of the season by three lengths from Phenix De La Roque (Noel Baldacchino).

Noble d’Ete (Raymond Clifton), Niky du Donjon (Joe Vella) and Natif De Salvi (Kurt Saliba) also qualified for the semi-finals.

There was a keen tussle between four horses in the final metres of the second Gold Class heat. It was Nitesco d’Antony (David Ellul) which went all the way to register its first win of the year from debutant Prince Gaillard (Charles Camilleri).

Podium (Julian Farrugia), L’As De Seuilly (Frans Tanti) and Paradis Du Lupin (Ramon Briffa) also progressed.

French horses in the Silver Class figured in the three heats from the Prix de Cabourg. In the first, Quingen de Bussy confirmed its status as one of the most consistent horses of the season. Driven by Charles Camilleri, this trotter led all the way to secure its fourth win from Panda Des Fleches (Chris Cassar), Ogor (Frenċu Cassar) and Orgeat (Noel Baldacchino).

Onwards Star (Redent Magro) began to slow down as the field approached the final straight in the second Silver heat. Onwards Star was overtaken by newcomer Quozak Prior (Emmanuel Buhagiar) which gained its first win at Marsa from Ouraki du Drochon (Frans Tanti), Oscar des Racques (Clint Vassallo) and Man Quick (Jason Cordina).

In the third Silver heat, Obiscus Del Fa (Julian Farrugia) led all the way to make it two wins on the trot from Que Je T’Aime Rush (Herman McKay) and Partisan De Bouere (Brian Hili) and Quick Et Rare (Jeffrey Pace).

Yesterday afternoon, the Malta Racing Club remembered driver Michael Zammit who passed away last week after suffering critical injuries during a horse racing event organised recently at Ħal-Far.

The next meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Friday, starting at 7pm.

Yesterday’s winners

Race 1: Bronze, Roger Qui (Marco Refalo) – 1.20.2”.
Race 2: Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer Heat, Marchallach (Rodney Gatt) – 1.18.8”.
Race 3: Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer Heat, Mezio Josselyn (Victor Fenech) – 1.19.5”.
Race 4: Prix de Cabourg Heat, Quingen de Bussy (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.4”.
Race 5: Prix de Cabourg Heat, Quozak Prior (Emmanuel Buhagiar) – 1.18.4”.
Race 6: Prix de Cagnes Sur Mer Heat, Quindici (Patrick Spiteri) – 1.18.7”.
Race 7: Prix d’Enghien, Pepone du Castelet (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.1”.
Race 8: Premier, TX Zoogood (Clint Vassallo) – 1.16.9”.
Race 9: Prix d’Enghien Heat, Nitesco d’Antony (David Ellul) – 1.17.1”.
Race 10: Prix de Cabourg Heat, Obiscus Del Fa (Julian Farrugia) – 1.16.9”.

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