The 49th meeting of the year, consisting of eleven races all for trotters was held on Sunday afternoon at the Marsa Racetrack.
These races were all semi-finals from various championships for French trotters on a long distance of 2640m. Certainly the two most important races were the semifinals from the Prix De Vincennes championship for class Premier trotters.
These were won by Vasco De Viette and Vanderlov.
From the two class Premier semi-finals, twelve horses made it to the final stage.
In the first semi-final, Vasco De Viette (Clifferty Calleja) was unchallenged during the 2640m distance and past the finishing post easily by a length and a half from Vichenko Chef (Noel Baldacchino) and Ultra De Vindecy (Paul Galea).
Theo D’Erah (Charles Degiorgio), Banco De L’Iton (Rodney Gatt) and Andante (Clint Vassallo) also made it to the final stage. For Vasco De Viette this was its first win in Malta in an average time of 1.16.2” per kilometer.
As expected, favourite Vanderlov (Melvin Farrugia) took the lead after few metres from the official start of the second class Premier semifinal.
This French trotter led till the end and sealed its fifth win of the year and its second in a row by two lengths from Up And Go (George Attard) and Bijou De Carsi (Noel Baldacchino).
Alcibiade (Patrick Spiteri), Avrik De Guez (Carmelo Farrugia) and Alf De Melandre (Rodney Gatt) ended respectively in fourth, fifth and sixth place.
The next meeting will be held on Saturday.
The first race should start at 1pm.
Sunday’s winners
Race 1. Prix De Caen Semifinal. Class Copper. Dist – 2640m. 1. Firstly Light (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.18”
Race 2. Prix De Caen Semifinal. Class Copper. Dist – 2640m. 1. Querby Du Gite (Nathaniel Barbara) – 1.17.5”
Race 3. Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Semifinal. Class Bronze. Dist – 2640m. 1. Caline De Mai Capo (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.6”
Race 4. Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Semifinal. Class Bronze. Dist – 2640m. 1. Fazio Josselyn (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16”
Race 5. Prix De Cabourg Semifinal. Class Silver. Dist – 2640m. 1. Aster Des Caillons (Charles Degiorgio) – 1.17”
Race 6. Prix De Cabourg Semifinal. Class Silver. Dist – 2640m. 1. Bolide Atout (Nathaniel Barbara) – 1.16.9”
Race 7. Prix De Vincennes Semifinal. Class Premier. Dist – 2640m. 1. Vasco De Viette (Clifferty Calleja) – 1.16.2”
Race 8. Prix d’Enghien Semifinal. Class Gold. Dist – 2640m. 1. Chemsak Vedaquais (Jeffrey Said) – 1.16.8”
Race 9. Prix De Vincennes Semifinal. Class Premier. Dist – 2640m. 1. Vanderlov (Melvin Farrugia) – 1.15.8”
Race 10. Prix d’Enghien Semifinal. Class Gold. Dist – 2640m. 1. Vangiskan Scott (Anton Cassar) – 1.17.1”
Race 11. Prix De Cabourg Semifinal. Class Silver. Dist – 2640m. 1. Cet Atout Maitre (Clint Vassallo) – 1.18.1”
