First win of the year for Valentino Strix in Premier race at Marsa Racetrack

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

Five of these races were heats from the Assikura Championship for class Bronze trotters on a short distance of 2,140m.

Sunday’s card also included a normal class Premier race on a long distance of 2,640m and which was won by Valentino Strix and Ludvic Ghigo.  

Fifteen trotters lined up for the class Premier race.

Crusoe d’Anama (Charles Camilleri) was the fastest horse at first, opening a small lead from Casanova Du Corta (Cliferty Calleja) and Abercrombis (Paul Galea).

However with 400m to go, Crusoe d’Anama started to slow down and was overtaken by Valentino Strix (Ludvic Ghigo) which took its first win of the season after sustaining the challenge of Crack Du Tillet (Andrew Farrugia) and Viking’s Topline (Eugenio Bondin).

Alf De Melandre (Rodney Gatt) ended in fourth place.

From the five class Bronze heats, 20 horses made it to the semi-final stage. Felin De Christal (Silvio Schembri) led all the way during the 2140m distance of the first heat and sealed its second win in Malta.

Similar was the second class Bronze heat with Gosse Fredano (Nathaniel Barbara) registering its second win in a row and in Malta after being unchallenged during the distance.

In the third heat from the same competition, French mare Gallita (Charlton Gauci) gained its second win in Malta after increasing its speed in the final 400 metres.

There was a keen duel in the final straight of the fourth heat. It was Fangio De Bailly (Kurt Saliba) which took its first win of the season from Cooper Club (Silvio Schembri).

In the fifth and last heat Flash Du Rabutin (Charles Camilleri) passed the finishing post easily by seven lengths from Amenophis Du Lilas (Cliferty Calleja).

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

Sunday’s winners

Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2640m. 1. Gaia Lucaxelo (Paul Galea) – 1.18.3”

Race 2. Class Copper Dist – 2640m. 1. Gabin De See (Paul Galea) – 1.17.1”

Race 3. Class Silver. Dist – 2640m. 1. Decoster Vallee (Rodney Gatt) – 1.17.7”

Race 4. Assikura Championship Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Felin De Christal (Silio Schembri) – 1.17.7”

Race 5. Assikura Championship Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Gosse Fredano (Nathaniel Barbara) – 1.16.6”

Race 6. Assikura Championship Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Gallita (Charlton Gauci) – 1.16.6”

Race 7. Class Premier. Dist – 2640m. 1. Valentino Strix (Ludvic Ghigo) – 1.15.5”

Race 8. Assikura Championship Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Fangio De Bailly (Kurt Saliba) – 1.17.1”

Race 9. Assikura Championship Heat. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Flash Du Rabutin (Charles Camilleri) – 1.15.8”