Okilaibo and Odedjalo won yesterday’s two main events, the Prix de Vincennes heats for French trotters from the Premier category, on a short distance of 2,140m.
These heats formed part of the 21st meeting of the season which was comprised 10 races.
From the two Premier heats, 12 horses moved into the semi-finals.
In the first, Mont Cenis Honey (Clint Vassallo) and Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) sprinted neck-and-neck midway through the home straight.
It was Okilaibo which chalked up its first win in Malta with popular Nabab du Chatelet (Charles Camilleri), Ohime Mag (Ronald Cassar), Orly Meslois (Emmanuel Fenech) and debutant Quelino d’Amour (Mario Fenech) also going through.
Odedjalo (Noel Baldacchino) had to go all out in the last few metres of the second Premier heat in order to secure its third win of the season from Mark De Chamant (Michael Seychell).
Orne des Olivettes (Christian Xerri) finished third in front of Olympien Major (Anthony Spagnol). Label Chouan (David Ellul) and debutant Orly Montaval (Michael Axisa) also made it through to the next stage.
In the first Gold Class race of the day, Orcas Bac (Charles Camilleri) obtained its first win in Malta after sprinting ahead with 500m to go.
Blizzard Ad (Frenċu Cassar), Love Heart (Shawn Portelli) and Super Qui (Matthew Sammut) claimed the other top-four positions.
Hulot (Jason Vassallo) dashed strongly from the outside around 300m from the end of the second Gold race. This ten-year-old trotter cruised to its second win of the year by a length from Swedish newcomer Chippen Bob (Clint Vassallo) and XRay Hornline (Rodney Gatt).
Another Swedish newcomer, Mind Your Head (Noel Baldacchino), was fourth.
Yesterday’s card also included a flat race on a long distance of 1,750m.
Darielli (Oliver Briffa) was the fastest horse out of the gates but started to slow down around 400m from the end as favourite Timolin (Ramon Grima) surged clear from the inside.
This German six-year-old gained its third win in a row by six lengths from Buttermilk (Matthew Mallia). Diamante Grande, ridden by Italian Antonio Pappalardo, was fourth.
Charles Camilleri was presented with a memento yesterday after finishing as the best driver last month.
On Friday evening, another eight-race programme was held at the Marsa Racetrack.
The most important race was the first heat from the Prix de Vincennes championship where Oran upped its speed 300m from the finish line for its second win in Malta.
Oran won easily by half-length from Ourasi Diams (Emmanuel Fenech), Of Course Ramble (Eric Bezzina) and Mig Of The Wood (Noel Baldacchino). Phenix De Milo (Jeffrey Xerri), making its debut, and Magic De Assigny (David Ellul) also progressed to the semi-final stage.
The next meeting at Marsa is scheduled for Sunday with the first race starting at 2pm.
The winners at Marsa
Race 1: Copper, Ideal de Suce (Jesmar Gafa) – 1.20.3”.
Race 2: Copper, Andri Boko (Tony Demanuele) – 1.18.2”.
Race 3: Bronze, Verdi Du Bosquet (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17.2”.
Race 4: Flat, Timolin (Ramon Grima) – 1.50.5”.
Race 5: Gold, Orcas Bac (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.1”.
Race 6: Silver, Cal Win (Shawn Portelli) – 1.18.1”.
Race 7: Prix de Vincennes heat, Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) – 1.16.3”.
Race 8: Gold, Hulot (Jason Vassallo) – 1.17”.
Race 9: Prix de Vincennes heat, Odedjalo (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.15.6”.
Race 10: Silver, Obi Wan Kenobi (George Attard) – 1.18.1”.