Fourth win in a row and in Malta for Balzac De L’Iton in Premier heat

The 40th meeting of the year which was held Sunday afternoon at the Marsa Racetrack heralded the start of the Prix De Vincennes championship for French trotters registered in class Premier. These heats were held on a long distance of 2640m. Sunday’s card consisted of ten races, all for trotters, which were all heats from various championships for French trotters.

In the first class Premier heat, the early leader of the race, Balzac De L’Iton driven by Gozitan Marco Refalo led all the way during the 2640m distance. This French trotter sealed its fourth win in a row and in Malta easily by two lengths from Verso De Vrennes (Clint Vassallo), Alf De Melandre (Rodney Gatt), and Chaud Devant (Noel Baldacchino). Baxter Du Klau (Kurt Saliba) and Valseme (Jason Zahra) also made it to the semifinal stage. Here, the biggest surprise was the elimination of favourite Antoine Du Bourg which recently won the Tazza l-Kbira final. Driven by Redent Magro, Antoine Du Bourg upped its pace with a lap to go but slowed down in the final straight.

Aster Des Caillons (Charles Degiorgio) was also unchallenged during the 2640m distance of the second class Premier heat. Degiorgio’s trotter took the lead from the start and registered its third win of the year by a length from Andante (Cherise Farrugia) and Crack Du Tillet driven by Cherise’s grandfather, Andrew Farrugia. Vanderlov (Melvin Farrugia) finished fourth from Bastingage (Omar Cauchi) and Avrik De Guez (Carmelo Farrugia).

Andrew Farrugia put Capital Majyc in front midway through the final straight of the third class Premier heat. Capital Majyc sealed its first win in Malta without any difficulty from Big Kaiser (Ludvic Ghigo), Barrio Josselyn (Anton Cassar), and Capitaine France (Johann Axisa). Amigo Turgot (Salvu Vella) followed home in that order.

In the fourth class Premier heat, Brut De La Cote (Ludvic Ghigo) led all the way and past the finishing post first by a length from Vangiskan Scott (Chantel Azzopardi), Abercrombis (Noel Baldacchino), and Vertige De Chenu (Charles Camilleri). Up And Go (Rodney Gatt) and Casting De Chenu (Ivan Bilocca) also obtained a good place.   

Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Sunday. The first race should start at 1.30pm.

Yesterday’s winners

Race 1. Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2640m. 1. Atoll Du Sud Ouest (Nathaniel Barbara) – 1.16.7”

Race 2. Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2640m. 1. Galaxie d’Azur (Paul Galea) – 1.18.1”

Race 3. Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2640m. 1. Diam Orange (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.17.4”

Race 4. Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2640m. 1. French Arctic (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17.4”

Race 5. Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2640m. 1. Baron De Neuilliac (Dolan Casha) – 1.17.1”

Race 6. Prix de Vincennes Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2640m. 1. Balzac De L’Iton (Marco Refalo) – 1.15.4”

Race 7. Prix de Vincennes Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2640m. 1. Aster Des Caillons (Charles Degiorgio) – 1.18”

Race 8. Prix de Vincennes Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2640m. 1. Capital Majyc (Andrew Farrugia) – 1.16.2”

Race 9. Prix de Vincennes Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2640m. 1. Brut De La Cote (Ludvic Ghigo) – 1.15.5”

Race 10. Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2640m. 1. Vaillant Marceaux (Rodney Gatt) – 1.17.9”