The 39th meeting of the year, made up of eight races all for trotters, was held at the Marsa Racetrack, yesterday.
Seven of races on the card marked the start of three championships for Silver, Bronze and Copper class horses. These competitions are being organised by the Malta Racing Club in conjunction with Velj Wahslten Oj and Messrs Mario and Peter Farrugia.
Three horses qualified for the final from the Silver Class heats.
A keen duel between two Swedish trotters developed in the final metres of the first heat. It was favourite Royal In (Marco Debono) that managed to outsmart Tricoloren (Julian Farrugia) 100m from the finishing line.
Roc Magister (Kirsten Axisa) and French newcomer Stuart Des Noues (Frencu Cassar) were third and fourth respectively. For Royal In this was its second consecutive win.
In the other Silver heat, Scarface Ringeat (Charles Camilleri) dashed strongly from the outside as the front-runners had turned for the final straight.
Scarface Ringeat grabbed its first win at Marsa some five lengths in front of Suro Du Cornillet (Julian Farrugia). Reveal Champ Blanc (Tony Cauchi) and Peggy Di Azzurra (Silvio Schembri) followed home in that order.
In the opening Bronze Class heat, Dutch horse Dreamed Victory (Jason Zahra) secured its second win in a row after upping its pace in the last 500 metres.
Lord Indika (Clint Vassallo) then led all the way in the second heat from the same category. This Swedish nine-year-old trotter went on to secure its third win at the racetrack.
Voila Dry (Ivan Bilocca) chalked up its sixth win of the season in the third Bronze Class heat and Abso-lutelymeadow (Kurt Saliba) produced a strong burst in the final metres to seal its fifth win of the year from Pericle (Jonathan Farrugia).
The race winners
Race 1: Copper – Tap Tiara (Noel Baldac-chino) – 1.18.6”
Race 2: Bronze – Dreamed Victory (Jason Zahra) – 1.20.1”
Race 3: Silver – Royal In (Marco Debono) – 1.16.6”
Race 4: Bronze – Lord Indika (Clint Vassallo) – 1.18.4”
Race 5: Silver – Scarface Ringeat (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.6”
Race 6: Bronze – Voila Dry (Ivan Bilocca) – 1.18.4”
Race 7: Gold – Starfirefinnfemfel (Dylan Gatt) – 1.17.1”
Race 8: Bronze – Absolutelymeadow (Kurt Saliba) – 1.17.7”