The 33rd meeting of the year at the Marsa Racetrack, heralded the start of the new Johnnie Walker Championship for class Gold trotters on a short distance of 2,140m, on Sunday.
The programme also included a normal class Premier race on the same distance and which was won by French Ulysse Du Bouchet under the charge of Paul Galea.
Thirteen trotters lined up for the class Premier race.
It was Axel Tilly (Marco Debono) the fastest trotter at first, opening a small lead from Lincoln Lawyer (Caillin Borg) and Vasterbo Paymyday (Mark Bonnici).
However, with 300m to go, Axel Tilly started to slow down and was overtaken by Ulysse Du Bouchet (Paul Galea) which registered its first win of the season easily by two lengths from Elliot Coger (Marco Refalo) and Lincoln Lawyer (Caillin Borg).
Vasterbo Paymyday ended in fourth place.
The opening two of the seven heats from the class Gold championship were won by French newcomer Bonjour (Salvu Vella) and Judge Reo (Kerstin Galea), which both led all the way.
The other heat winners were Neverendingdream (Herman McKay) and Foxy Brown (Rodney Gatt) which sealed their third win of the year, Frankie Brodde (Noel Baldacchino), which upped its pace in the final 300 metres, Chemsak Vedaquais (Jeffrey Said) which sealed its first win in Malta after sprinting during the last 500 metres and Cobby’s Celeb (Kevin Azzopardi).
Sunday’s winners
Race 1. Krafft Championship Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Dio Doti (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.3”
