Orcas Bac, driven by Rodney Gatt, won the major event on the card at the Marsa Racetrack yesterday – the Cassar Petroleum Championship final for Premier Class trotters on 2,140m.

The final formed part of the third autumn meeting of the season, made up of 11 races all for trotters.

Nine horses lined up for the Premier race. Ygor Of Pass (Tony Demanuele) made the fastest start, opening a length’s lead from Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) and Absolut Spender (Mark Desira).

With a lap to go, favourite Okilaibo shot into the lead from Mark de Chamant (Noel Baldacchino). However, around 200m from the post, Okilaibo ran out of steam and it was overtaken by Orcas Bac (Rodney Gatt) which registered its fourth win of the year and the second in successive outings.

Ohime Mag (Ronald Cassar) was the runner-up ahead of Okilaibo and Vanmaker Limburgia (Charles Camilleri).

Orcas Bac, a Swedish nine-year-old trotter, clocked a new national record average time of 1.13.4” per kilometre over the distance.

At the end of the race, Darren Marmara, on behalf of the sponsors, presented the winning trophy to Orcas Bac owner Angelo Cassar and Gatt.

The card also included three races for Gold class trotters, yesterday.

In the first of the three, Keith Grima put favourite Pitchpin Des Bois in front with a lap to go.

This French ten-year -old trotter succeeded in securing its second consecutive win of the season, a length and a half ahead of Premier Avril (Herman McKay).

Charm Hammering (Gilbert Farrugia) upped its pace from the outside in the next Gold Class race to chalk up its third win of the year while favourite Midnight Passion (Eric Bezzina) nosed ahead 400m from the end to finish some five lengths ahead of Nacarat Campbell (Rodney Gatt) in the other event from the Gold category.

Another meeting at Marsa will be held on Sunday.

Racetrack winners
Race 1: Copper. Royal Qui (Ivan Bilocca) – 1.17.1”
Race 2: Silver. Quioco Dry (Joseph Galea) – 1.15.6”
Race 3: Bronze. Meadow Dancer (Ludvic Ghigo) – 1.17.4”
Race 4: Silver. Quel Gibus (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.7”
Race 5: Gold. Pitchpin Des Bois (Keith Grima) – 1.15.1”
Race 6: Silver. Swahili de Nacre (Patrick Spiteri) – 1.17.2”
Race 7: Gold. Charm Hammering (Gilbert Farrugia) – 1.18.4”
Race 8: Premier class, championship final. Orcas Bac (Rodney Gatt) – 1.13.4”
Race 9: Silver. Prince Lu (Shawn Portelli) – 1.14.9”
Race 10: Bronze. Pema (Charles Farrugia) – 1.16”
Race 11: Gold. Midnight Passion (Eric Bezzina) – 1.15.3”

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