Invite De Star triumphs in San Franġisk Cup Final

Driven by Jason Zahra, Invite De Star won Sunday’s major event at the Marsa Racetrack. This was the San Franġisk Gain Equine Nutrition final for class Copper trotters on a short distance of 2140 metres.

This formed part of the 11th meeting of the season consisting of nine races all for trotters.

Twelve trotters lined up for the class Copper final. Oro Doc (Carl Caruana) was the fastest horse at first, opening a small lead from King Of Terrail (Charles Camilleri) and Invite De Star (Jason Zahra).

With 400 metres to go Oro Doc started to slow down and eventually was overtaken by Invite De Star which sealed its second win of the year and in Malta from favourite Head Over Heels (Fredrick Mallia).  Idoline (Rodney Gatt) and Influx Du Parc (Ramon Briffa) ended respectively in third and fourth place.

At the end of this final, Mr Alessandro Grech, on behalf of the sponsors, presented the winning trophy to Charles and Jason Zahra, the owner and driver respectively of the winning horse.  

Sunday’s card included also the first leg from the Mediterranean Championship during which the drivers took part with class Silver trotters.

It was Satellit L.A. (Rodney Gatt) which was always in front during all the distance and which obtained its first win of the year from Embleme Castelets driven by Serbian Boris Kecenovic and Excellentissime under the guidance of French Jean Charles Feron. Erwinn De Beaum (Paul Galea) followed home in that order.

The first leg from the Islands Championship between Maltese and Sicilian drivers was dominated by the Maltese representatives.

Paul Galea, with French newcomer Hercule Des Pres led all the way and past the finishing post easily by two lengths from Oyess LJ (R. Gatt), Ermes Jet (N. Baldacchino) and Galeo Du Portugal (Kirsten Axisa).

Sunday’s card also included a normal class Premier race on the same distance. French mare Ecume De Furetais (Rodney Gatt) registered its first win in Malta.

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 – 2140m. 1. Kaid Des Landes (Dylan Baldacchino) – 1.17.4”

Race 2. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Indigo De Godrel (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17”

Race 3. Islands Championship Leg. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Hercule Des Pres (Paul Galea) – 1.16”

Race 4. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Alinea (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17”

Race 5. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Nehemiah Boko (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.8”

Race 6. MHU Championship Leg 1. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Satellit L.A. (Rodney Gatt) – 1.17.3”

Race 7. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ecume De Furetais (Rodney Gatt) – 1.15.8”

Race 8. San Franġisk Gain Equine Nutrition Cup final. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Invite De Star (Jason Zahra) – 1.16.6”

Race 9. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Gayle Galbe (Clint Vassallo) – 1.15.4”