Crack Du Tillet and Romanesque win Premier races

The 33th meeting of the season, consisting of eleven races all for trotters was held on Sunday afternoon at the Marsa Racetrack.

Three of these races were semi-finals from the Johnnie Walker Cup Championship for class Gold trotters on a short distance of 2,140m. Sunday’s card included also tro class Premier races on a long distance of 2,640m and which were won by Crack Du Tillet and Romanesque.

Thirteen trotters lined up for the first class Premier race.

Here, Rodney Gatt put Capitole Meslois in front after the official start of the race. During the first metres this French trotter opened a small lead from Faust Boko (Jesmar Gafa’) and Crack Du Tillet (Andrew Farrugia).

With 600m to go, Capitole Meslois started to slow down and was overtaken by a number of horses. Eventually it was Crack Du Tillet which took the lead midway through the final straight in order to seal its first win in Malta easily by two lengths from Capitaine France (Michael Axisa) and Onceforall Face (Michael Ellul). Faust Boko ended in fourth place.

In the second class Premier race, Jesmar Gafa’ started to increase the speed with Romaneqsue with a lap to go. This French trotter gained its second win in Malta by half length from Vertige De Chenu (Charles Camilleri) and Alf De Melandre (Rodney Gatt). Andante (Cherise Farrugia) ended behind in fourth place.

From the three class Gold semifinals, twelve trotters made it to the final stage. In the first semifinal, Alixan (Cliferty Calleja) registered it second win in Malta after outsmarting Vangiskan Scott (Brian Zammit) and the early leader, Appreciated (Charles Magro) in the final metres. Janske (Charles Camilleri) also made it to the final stage.

There was a keen tussle between three trotters in the final straight of the second class Gold semi-final. It was Xceed G.T. (Redent Magro) which past the finishing post first from Global Oracle (Paul Galea) and Cazaubon Dairpet (Noel Baldacchino). For Xceed G.T. this was its second win in a row and in Malta. Bajazet (Marius Mizzi) followed home in that order.

There was a close finish between Avenir d’Or (Cherise Farrugia) and Charming Soldier (Noel Baldacchino) in the third and last semifinal, It was the former which took its fourth win of the year after that the photofinish was consulted. Abricot Du Bugey (Chris Vassallo) and Brin De Noblesse (Tony Tanti) followed behind in that order.  

Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held next Sunday.

This programme will also include the 2021 edition of the Tazza l-Kbira Championship final. The first race should start at 1.30pm.

Sunday’s winners

Race 1. Class Bronze – Optimus M.M. (Justin Attard) – 1.15.5”

Race 2. Class Bronze – Elvis Des Pignes (Anton Cassar) – 1.15.9”

Race 3. Class Bronze – Rose Lloyd (Dwayne Farrugia) – 1.16.2”

Race 4. Class Bronze – Global Taxevation (Paul Galea) – 1.17.4”

Race 5. Class Gold – Cathy De La Rouvre (Redent Magro) – 1.16.4”

Race 6. Class Premier – Crack Du Tillet (Andrew Farrugia) – 1.17”

Race 7. Johnnie Walker Cup Championship SF, Class Gold – Alixan (Cliferty Calleja) – 1.14.4”

Race 8. Johnnie Walker Cup Championship SF, Class Gold – Xceed G.T. (Redent Magro) – 1.15.9”

Race 9. Johnnie Walker Cup Championship SF, Class Gold –Avenir d’Or (Cherise Farrugia) – 1.16”

Race 10. Class Premier – Romanesque (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.15.7”

Race 11. Class Gold – Connecticut (Jean Claude Pace) – 1.16.5”