Driven by Noel Baldacchino, Italian Akela Play won Sunday’s major event at the Marsa Racetrack.
This was the Southern Region Local Council Championship final for class Premier trotters on a short distance of 2140m.
This final formed part of the 10th meeting of the season. It should be noted that 18 races for trotters were held during the weekend.
Apart from this final, Saturday’s and Sunday’s race cards included nine heats which heralded the start of the Executive Security Championship for class Silver trotters and the two semi-final races from the San Franġisk Cup for class Copper trotters.
Twelve trotters lined up for the class Premier final. Diza Du Courtille (Ivan Stivala) was the fastest horse at first, opening a small lead from Dragster De Bomo (Rodney Gatt) and Elixir Du Bocage (Charles Camilleri).
However with 500 metres to go Stivala’s trotter started to slow down and was eventually overtaken by Akela Play (Noel Baldacchino) which sealed its first win of the season after sustaining the challenge in the final metres of favourite Laradja Vrijthout (Marco Refalo). Elixir Du Bocage (Charles Camilleri) and Rampant (Charles Degiorgio) followed home in that order.
At the end of this final, Jesmond Aquilina, the president of the Southern Region, presented the winning trophy to Alessio and Jean Paul Vella as well as to Noel Baldacchino, the owners and driver respectively of the winning horse.
The winner clocked a good average time of 1.13.8” per kilometre. It should be noted that Akela Play and Noel Baldacchino were representing the Żejtun Local Council.
In a normal race for class Premier trotters which was held on Saturday, French newcomer Django Du Bocage (Ludvic Ghigo) increased its speed on the outside during the last 400 metres and gained its first win in Malta by half length from Espoir D’Elphigny (Rodney Gatt) and Eldorado De Ver (Noel Baldacchino).
Carnaval Du Vivier (Caillin Borg) ended in fourth place. The winner clocked an average time of 1.14.7” per kilometre.
Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Sunday. The first race starts at 1.30pm.
SATURDAY’S WINNERS
Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Fleur De Blay (Paul Galea) – 1.16.5”
Race 2. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Good Buz (Kerstin Galea) – 1.15.2”
Race 3. Executive Security Championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Louisiana River (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.15.3”
Race 4. Executive Security Championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Equateur Mauzun (Cherise Farrugia) – 1.14.4”
Race 5. Executive Security Championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Gosse Fredano (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.1”
Race 6. Executive Security Championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ex Aequo De Cosse (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.15.1”
Race 7. Executive Security championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Embleme Castelets (Johann Axisa) – 1.16.6”
Race 8. Phone Refix Race Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Django Du Bocage (Ludvic Ghigo) – 1.14.7”
Race 9. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Erromanga (Cherise Farrugia) – 1.15.7”
SUNDAY’S WINNERS
Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Extreme Erca (Alex Magro) – 1.16.5”
Race 2. Tazza San Franġisk SF. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Deal Des Marceaux (Nolan Azzopardi) – 1.17.5”
Race 3. Tazza San Franġisk sf. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Oyess LJ (Paul Galea) – 1.16.5”
Race 4. Executive Security Championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Billie Holliday (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.2”
Race 5. Executive Security Championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Conungen T.T. (Rodney Gatt) – 1.14.2”
Race 6. Executive Security Championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Dream Maker (Paul Galea) – 1.16.5”
Race 7. Executive Security Championship Heat. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Cekito De Jupilles (Redent Magro) – 1.15.4”
Race 8. Southern Region Local Council Championship Final. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Akela Play (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.13.8”
Race 9. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Miracle Of Heaven (Herman Mc Kay) – 1.16.5”
