Twenty trotters qualify for the class Premier semifinals

The 47th meeting of the season which was held on Sunday afternoon at the Marsa Racetrack heralded the start of the EquestriMalta President’s Cup for class Premier trotters.

The five heats from this championship were held on a short distance of 2140m. Sunday’s programme also included the two semifinal races from the Krafft Championship for class Silver trotters also on a short distance.

From the class Premier heats, twenty horses made it to the semifinal stage. In the first heat, the early leader and favourite Sir QC (Paul Galea) was outsmarted by French newcomer Dream Cash (Noel Baldacchino) midway through the final straight. As expected, Eadshot Josselyn (Rodney Gatt) sealed its second win in a row and in Malta in the second-class Premier heat after taking the lead with a lap to go. 

There was a close finish between Aster des Caillons (Noel Baldacchino) and Ellington Dream (Charles Camilleri) in the third-class Premier heat. It was the latter that took its second win in a row and in Malta. In the fourth heat from the same category, Diablo d’Herfraie (Rodney Gatt) dashed strongly from the outside during the last 300m and gained its first win in Malta from the early leader Dandy De Godrel (Noel Baldacchino).

In the fifth and last heat, favourite Antoine Du Bourg (Redent Magro) was overtaken by Charming Soldier (Paul Galea) exactly on the finishing line. For Charming Soldier this was its fifth win of the season. Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Friday. The first race should start at 7pm.

Sunday’s winners

Race 1. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Darling Atout (Paul Galea) – 1.14”

Race 2. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Epopee Du Douet (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.16.9”

Race 3. Krafft Championship Semifinal. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Gigaro AM (Anthony Bartolo) – 1.14.2”

Race 4. Krafft Championship Semifinal. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Cobbys Celeb (Kevin Azzopardi) – 1.15”

Race 5. EquestriMalta President’s Cup Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Dream Cash (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.14.2”

Race 6. EquestriMalta President’s Cup Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Eadshot Josselyn (Rodney Gatt) – 1.13.8”

Race 7. EquestriMalta President’s Cup Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ellington Dream (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.8”

Race 8. EquestriMalta President’s Cup Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Diablo d’Herfraie (Rodney Gatt) – 1.13.9”

Race 9. EquestriMalta President’s Cup Heat. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Charming Soldier (Paul Galea) – 1.14.6”

Race 10. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Drop De Corday (Jean Claude Pace) – 1.15.6”