Third win in a row for Espoir D’Amour in Tazza San Frangisk final, Camilleri first in Mediterranean Championship heat

The most important race during Sunday’s meeting was the San Franġisk Cup Final for class Copper trotters on a short distance of 2,140 metres.

This final, organised with the support of Gain Equine Nutrition, was won by French Espoir D’Amour driven by Paul Galea and formed part of the 20th meeting of the season, consisting of eight races all for trotters.

Twelve trotters lined up for the class Copper final.

As expected Espoir D’Amour (Paul Galea) was the fastest horse at first, opening a small lead from Eald Breed (Noel Baldacchino) and Rose Lloyd (Dwayne Farrugia).

Galea’s trotter was unchallenged during the 2140m metres distance and past the finishing post easily by four lenghts from Eald Breed, Ice Dream Keruzoc (Mauro Attard) and Gringo Marancourt (Kirsten Axisa).

For Espoir d’Amour this was its third win in a row in an average time of 1.14.7” per kilometer.

At the end of this final, George Grech, on behalf of the sponsors, presented the winning trophy and shield to, Shazeah Schembri and Paul Galea the owner and driver respectively of the winning horse.

Sunday’s card included also two semifinals from the Bavaria Championship for class Gold trotters on a long distance of 2640 metres.

From these races, twelve trotters made it to the final stage.

In the first semi-final, Clint Vassallo put Hamlet Du Vivier in front with a lap to go.

This French trotter took its second win in a row and of the season by a length and a half from Gangster D’Urfist (Cliferty Calleja), Hampton Du Vivier (Nathaniel Barbara) and Emile Du Var (Jesmar Gafa’).
Hope (Redent Magro) and Feux Verts (Dylan Baldacchino) also made it to the final stage. 

Formi (Joe Schembri), which was the early leader of the second class Gold semi-final, ran out of steam midway through the final straight and was overtaken by The Lion (Rodney Gatt), which registered also its second consecutive win from El Maco Khalifa (Cliferty Calleja).

Formi had to settle for third place from Genialissime (Jason Vassallo), Vincent As (Oliver Briffa) and Cinik D’Aghi (Miguel McKay).

The third race on the programme was also the first leg from the Mediterranean Championship for drivers.

The seven drivers from Slovenia, Serbia, Romania, Italy, Portugal, Malta and Ireland participated with Silver trotters.

Malta was represented by Charles Camilleri. The latter took the maximum points from this first heat after finishing in second place after Ex Aequo De Cosse (Carl Caruana). Fast (Ksenia Morozova) ended third from Impact Sur Laterre (Michael Grech).

Sunday’s winners

Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Sebastian’s Angel (Jonathan J Farrugia) – 1.16.8”

Race 2. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Typhoeus Face (Denilson Cortis) – 1.15.7”

Race 3. Mediterranean Championship Leg. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ex Aequo De Cosse (Carl Caruana) – 1.13.5”

Race 4. Bavaria Championship Semifinal. Class Gold. Dist – 2640m. 1. Hamlet Du Vivier (Clint Vassallo) – 1.13.8”

Race 5. Bavaria Championship Semifinal. Class Gold. Dist – 2640m. 1. The Lion (Rodney Gatt) – 1.13.9”

Race 6. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Java De Beauvron (Michael Grech) – 1.14.9”

Race 7. San Franġisk Cup Gain Equine Nutrition. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Espoir D’Amour (Paul Galea) – 1.14.7”

Race 8. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m 1. Onas Sabina (Marco Debono) – 1.13.8”