Diamant Du Ruel wins major event

The first and the second meeting of the 2026 season were held during the weekend at the Marsa Racetrack.

These included 18 races all for trotters, with two of them being the EquestriMalta Grand Finals on a short distance of 2,160 metres.

The main event, the final for class Premier and Gold trotters was won by Diamant Du Ruel driven by Jesmar Gafa’.

Only ten trotters lined up for the main final, which had its start on a handicap format.

This race lost some of its importance after that two of the most popular horses of last season, Gaspar d’Angis and Galago du Cadran, were scratched a few hours before the start of the event.

Diamant Du Ruel (Jesmar Gafa’) was the fastest horse at first opening a small lead from Awesome Kronos (Noel Baldacchino) and Lee Harvey Bros (Paul Galea).

Diamant Du Ruel went strong till the end and managed to win in front of French veteran Crack Money (Charles Camilleri), who started the race with a 40 metres handicap.

Ecrin Du Layon (Dylan Baldacchino) and Follow Me Flash (Rodney Gatt) followed home in that order with Awesome Kronos settling in for fifth place.

In the class Silver, Bronze and Copper final, Gayle Galbe (Clint Vassallo), which started the race with a 40 metres handicap, dashed strongly from the outside midway through the final straight and triumphed easily by a length from the early leader Java D’Urzy (Paul Galea), Defi Nay (Rodney Gatt), Bys Googo Star (Charles Camilleri) and Head Over Heels (Frederick Mallia).  

At the end of the main final, Prime Minister Robert Abela presented the trophies to the winners in the presence of the officials responsible for the organisation of the races.

Saturday’s winners

Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Kivabien D’Arnhem (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.3”

Race 2. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Eindhoven DL (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.4”

Race 3. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Golden Age (Rodney Gatt) – 1.15.6”

Race 4. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Keenness Eagle (Cherise Farrugia) – 1.16.3”

Race 5. Apprenticed Drivers Race. Dist – 2140m. 1. Hamilton Atout (Kyron Farrugia) – 1.15”

Race 6. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Cinik D’Aghi (Miguel Mc Kay) – 1.15.5”

Race 7. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Rally Inge (Jonathan J Farrugia) – 1.15.5”

Race 8. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Diablo d’Herfraie (Rodney Gatt) – 1.14.2”

Race 9. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Harcange (Paul Galea) – 1.16.3”

Sunday’s winners

Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Jaguar Des Caux (Jean Claude Pace) – 1.17.8”

Race 2. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Imperial Du Stade (Rodney Gatt) – 1.17.1”

Race 3. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Heathrow (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.3”

Race 4. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Instant De Beaum (Paul Galea) – 1.17.6”

Race 5. EquestriMalta Grand Final. Class Silver-Bronze-Copper. Dist – 2160m. 1. Gayle Galbe (Clint Vassallo) – 1.14.5”

Race 6. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Hana AM (Justin Attard) – 1.15.1”

Race 7. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Emile Du Var (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.16”

Race 8. EquestriMalta Grand Final. Class Premier-Gold. Dist – 2160m. 1. Diamant Du Ruel (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.15.3”

Race 9. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Hoquey Demarlotte (Rodney Gatt) – 1.16.8”