Okilaibo and Ohime Mag won the two major events on the card yesterday – the Prix De Vincennes semi-finals for Premier Class trotters contested over a long distance of 2,640m.
These events formed part of the 48th meeting of the season, consisting of 14 races all for trotters.
Ten of the races were semi-finals for French trotters. From the two Premier races, ten horses moved to the final stage of the championship.
Ten horses lined up for the first Premier semi-final race.
Nelson du Val (David Ellul) had the fastest start, opening a length’s lead from newcomer Pacha De La Frette (Claudio Refalo) and Orgueil De Nganda (Noel Baldacchino).
With 700m to go, Nelson du Val started to slow down the pace and lost its lead. Midway through the straight, Julian Farrugia put Okilaibo in front and this horse went on to secure its fifth win of the year, some five lengths ahead of Orgueil De Nganda and Pacha De La Frette.
Original Blue (Chris Cassar) and Nevaio Des Bordes (Marco Refalo) completed the top five in that order.
Ohime Mag (Ronald Cassar) took the lead after few metres from the official start in the other semi-final for Premier trotters.
This French horse was impressive and never relinquished its position, going on to record its third win of the season, some two lengths ahead of Quelino d’Amour (Mario Fenech) and Ourasi Diams (Emmanuel Fenech).
Orion du Vaumicel (Frenċu Cassar) and Oltedo De Rieux (Charles Camilleri) also qualified for the final.
The card yesterday also in-cluded two semi-finals from the Prix d’Enghien Championship for Gold Class trotters.
In the first semi-final, Pepito Flash (Michael Ellul) registered its first win at Marsa after leading from start to finish.
Prince Gaillard, which was driven by Ellul’s brother David, was second ahead of Onyx Lucernais (Jason Cordina) and Orion du Vaumicel (Chris Vassallo).
Nitesco d’Antony (David Ellul) ran untroubled in the other Gold semi-final.
This 12-year-old trotter cruised to its second win of the year and finished in front of Rapide Du Matin (Charles Camilleri).
The winners
Race 1. Silver class – Bugatti Wulvennest (Julian Farrugia) – 1.16.7”
Race 2. Gold class – Made In Hof (Jesmar Gafa) – 1.15.6”
Race 3. Bronze class – Max Advice (Frenċu Cassar) – 1.17.5”
Race 4. Gold class – Premier Avril (Darren Mizzi) – 1.15.1”
Race 5. Copper class – Nylan De Mouloire (Rodney Gatt) – 1.17.7”
Race 6. Copper class – Minou De Perdriat (Charles Farrugia) – 1.18.8”
Race 7. Bronze class – Oscar Des Racques (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.5”
Race 8. Silver class – Quio De Nappes (Julian Farrugia) – 1.15.7”
Race 9. Gold class – Pepito Flash (Michael Ellul) – 1.16.6”
Race 10. Bronze class – Polytain (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17.4”
Race 11. Premier class – Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) – 1.14.6”
Race 12. Silver class – Quipson (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.2”
Race 13. Premier class – Ohime Mag (Ronald Cassar) – 1.14.8”
Race 14. Gold class – Nitesco d’Antony (David Ellul) – 1.16.2”