The 47th meeting of the season made up of nine races all for trotters was held yesterday afternoon at the Marsa Racetrack. Certainly the most important event on the card was the class Premier handicap race on a short distance of 2160m. This race was won by Robis Salvation under the guidance of David Ellul. 

Fourteen horses lined up for the class Premier race. It was Robis Salvation (David Ellul) the fastest horse at first, opening a small lead from Vasterbo Paradise (Charles Farrugia) and Jackhammer (Rodney Gatt). With a lap to go Robis Salvation was still going strong and in the final straight did not find any difficulty to register its third win of the year and in Malta by two length from favourite Overtaker By Sib (Marco Refalo) and Claude Guegan (Carl Caruana). Livi Cantona (Charles Camilleri) finished in fourth place. The winner clocked an average time of 1.16” per kilometre.

The other races in yesterday’s programme were open for class Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper trotters. In the first class Gold race, Vasquez Bob (Jesmar Gafa’) gained its first win on the Maltese islands after leading all the way. Gafa’s trotter past the finishing line first easily with a length and a half lead from Lajos Cella (Rodney Gatt) and Midnight Passion (Eric Bezzina). Oxygen Bi (Ian Galea) ended in fourth place.

Hilda Nalan (Clint Vassallo) dashed strongly from the outside during the last 500 metres of the second class Gold race. This Swedish mare went in front when the front horses turned for their final straight and gained its first win of the season from My Account (Noel Baldacchino). M.T. Gogogirl (Nathaniel Barbara) and Big Ben (Salvu Cutajar) followed behind in that order.

Yesterday’s programme included also two races for class Silver trotters on the same distance. These were won by Danish mare Trytocatchme (Charles Camilleri) which sealed its fourth win of the season after taking the lead midway through the final straight and by Hallas Judex (Charles Magro) which secured its third win of the year after sprinting well midway through the final straight.

Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Friday evening. The first race should start at 6.30pm.

Yesterday’s winners

Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. High Handed (Tony Demanuele) – 1.19”
Race 2. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Oregon Frontline (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.9”
Race 3. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Trtytocatchme (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.7”
Race 4. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Vasquez Bob (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.15.8”
Race 5. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Rusty (Nathaniel Barbara) – 1.18.2”
Race 6. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Hilda Nalan (Clint Vassallo) – 1.15.7”
Race 7. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Dehande (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.9”
Race 8. Class Premier. Dist – 2160m. 1. Robis Salvation (David Ellul) – 1.16”
Race 9. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Hallas Judex (Charles Magro) – 1.16.3”