Orcas Bac steals limelight

Orcas Bac (Rodney Gatt) winning the Sette Giugno Championship Final (Photo In-Nazzjon – Media.Link Communication)

Driven by Rodney Gatt, Swedish Orcas Bac won Friday’s major event at the Marsa Race Track. This was the Sette Giugno Championship final for class Premier trotters on a short distance of 2140. This final formed part of the 25th meeting of the year made up of nine races all for trotters.

Nine horses lined up for the class Premier final. It was Argus Hanover (Charles Camilleri) who made the fastest start, opening a half length lead from Simb Mark (Noel Baldacchino) and Lage (Marco Refalo). But with a lap to go Orcas Bac (Rodney Gatt) shot into the lead and continued to run untroubled until the end. Orcas Bac claimed its second win in Malta in an impressive average time of 1.14.7” per kilometer. Orcas Bac triumphed in front of Nino de Saintho (Cliferty Calleja). Sultan November (Shawn Portelli) and Argus Hanover finished respectively in third and fourth place.

At the end of this race, MRC Chairman Dr Matthew Brincat, presented the Sette Giugno trophy to Messrs Angelo Cassar and Rodney Gatt, owner and driver respectively of the winning horse.

A keen tussle between four horses developed in the only class Gold race of the day. It was Onyx Lucernais (Jason Cordina) which chalked to its second win in a row from Hulot (Jason Vassallo) and Skip Dimanche (Charlo’ Debono). Nophenio De Lune (Charles Farrugia) completed the top four order.

Friday’s card included also four races for class Silver trotters. Favourite Lucas Ness (Mario Farrugia) started to slow down midway through the final straight of the first class Silver race. This Swedish trotter was overtaken by Target Player (Carmelo Farrugia) which secured its second win in a row easily by three lenghts. Udice Boko (Tony Cauchi) and Prince November (Carmel Cauchi) ended respectively in third and fourth place.

In the second Silver race, Belgian Verdi Du Bosquet (Noel Baldacchino) dashed strongly from the outside 700m to the finishing line and claimed its third consecutive win and in Malta from Zandina Boshoeve (David Ellul) and Ouragan de Crouay (Larson Mifsud). Quaid Tejy (Mario Falzon) finished fourth.

Picabia Des Audins (Redent Magro) increased its pace, 1000m to the end of the third Silver race. This French trotter managed to register its first win in Malta from Pilote de Nganda (James Carabott), Pactolgo (Andrew Farrugia) and Odelvio (Rodney Gatt).

The fourth class Silver race will remain a special one for young driver Anton Cassar and his father Frencu. With Ogor, Anton Cassar led all the way and prevailed by half length from his father Frencu with Orio De Marancourt. Peasant Gallant (Shawn Portelli) and Ouraki du Drochon (Frans Farrugia) followed home in that order.

The next programme at the Marsa Race Track will be held Sunday afternoon. This card will include five finals for French trotters. The first race of the day, reserved for class Bronze horses, will start at 1.30pm.

Friday’s winners.

Race 1. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Zeta Jones A (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.8”

Race 2. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Obelix Blue (Salvu Vella) – 1.18.2”

Race 3. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Target Player (Carmelo Farrugia) – 1.16.2”

Race 4. Class Bronze. Maiden Race. Dist – 2140m. 1. Quid De Belle Vue (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.4”

Race 5. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Verdi Du Bosquet (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.9”

Race 6. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Onyx Lucernais (Jason Cordina) – 1.18.1”

Race 7. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Picabia Des Audins (Redent Magro) – 1.16.7”

Race 8. Sette Giugno Championship Final. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Orcas Bac (Rodney Gatt) – 1.14.7”

Race 9. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ogor (Anton Cassar) – 1.17.8”

Orcas Bac jirbah il-finali tas-Sette Giugno

L-aktar tigrija importanti li saret il-Gimgha fil-korsa tal-Marsa, festa pubblika, kienet il-finali tal-kampjonat tas-Sette Giugno ghal zwiemel tal-klassi Premier fuq distanza qasira ta’ 2140m. Din ghamlet parti mill-25 programm tas-sena fuq disa’ tigrijiet u ntrebhet minn Orcas Bac misjuq minn Rodney Gatt.

Disgha kienu z-zwiemel li hadu sehem fil-finali Premier u kien Argus Hanover (Charles Camilleri) l-aktar b’sahhtu wara l-karozza tat-tluq. Fl-ewwel metri, dan fetah vantagg zghir minn Simb Mark (Noel Baldacchino) u Lage (Marco Refalo). Izda t-tigrija hadet svolta ohra madwar dawra mit-tmiem meta Rodney Gatt pogga lil Orcas Bac quddiem u dan zamm il-kmand sal-linja finali. Orcas Bac ha t-tieni rebha tas-sena u f’Malta minn Nino de Saintho (Cliferty Calleja) u Sultan November (Shawn Portelli). Argus Hanover kellu jikkuntenta bir-raba’ post.

Orcas Bac kellu medja tajba ferm ta’ 1.14.7” fil-kilometru u fi tmiem il-finali Dr Matthew Brincat, Chairman tal-MRC ippremja lil Angelo Cassar u Rodney Gatt, sid u sewwieq rispettivament taz-ziemel rebbieh.

L-uniku tigrija tal-klassi Gold kienet ikkaratterizzata minn taqtiegha missielta bejn erba’ zwiemel fl-ahhar metri. Kien Onyx Lucernais (Jason Cordina) li bi ftit akkwista t-tieni rebha stagonali minn Hulot (Jason Vassallo). Skip Dimanche (Charlo’ Debono) u Nophenio de Lune (Charles Farrugia) kellhom ukoll pjazzament pozittiv.

Fl-ewwel minn erba’ tigrijiet tal-klassi Silver, il-favorit Lucas Ness (Mario Farrugia) ma seta’ jaghmel xejn fid-dritta finali quddiem il-qawwa tal-kwotat Target Player (Carmelo Farrugia) li rregistra t-tieni rebha konsekuttiva. Udice Boko (Marvin Cauchi) u Prince November (Carmel Cauchi) dahlu fit-tielet u r-raba’ post rispettivament.

Il-Belgjan Verdi du Bosquet (Noel Baldacchino) ikkonferma li hu fost l-aqwa zwiemel li gew importati dan l-ahhar f’pajjizna. Fit-tieni tigrija Silver ma naqasx milli jirregistra t-tielet rebha minn daqstant hargiet f’Malta, wara avvanz fl-ahhar 700m u quddiem Zandina Boshoeve (David Ellul), Ouragan de Crouay (Larson Mifsud) u Quaid Tejy (Mario Falzon).

It-tielet tigrija Silver zviluppat f’taqtiegha nteressanti bejn erba’ zwiemel fl-ahhar metri taghha. Kien Picabia Des Audins (Redent Magro) li akkwista l-ewwel rebha f’Malta bi ftit minn Pilote de Nganda (James Carabott). Pactolgo (Andrew Farrugia) u Odelvio (Rodney Gatt) kellhom ukoll prestazzjoni tajba.

Ir-raba’ tigrija Silver zgur li se tibqa wahda memorabbli ghas-sewwieq zghazugh Anton Cassar u missieru, is-sewwieq veteran Frencu Cassar. Dan minhabba li wara li Anton kien il-hin kollu quddiem b’Ogor, irnexxilu jirbah bi ftit minn Frencu b’Orio De Marancourt. Peasant Gallant (Shawn Portelli) u Ouraki du Drochon (Frans Farrugia) kellhom ukoll wirja tajba.

Il-programm inkluda wkoll zewg tigrijiet regolari tal-klassi Bronze. Fl-ewwel wahda, Charles Camilleri pogga lil Zeta Jones A quddiem f’nofs id-dritta finali biex din l-Olandiza hadet it-tieni rebha f’Malta b’tul minn Loulou de la Rose (Carl Caruana) u Vera LH (Wayne Farrugia). Jet Starline (Herman Mc Kay) dahal warajhom f’dik l-ordni.

Obelix Blue (Salvu Vella) zied fil-giri matul l-ahhar 600m tat-tieni tigrija Bronze biex fetah vantagg ta’ zewg tulijiet mill-kumplament taz-zwiemel. Obelix Blue qasam il-linja finali l-ewwel minn Magnific As (David Ellul), Major Mitri (Andrew Farrugia) u Rally Simb (James Briffa).

Il-laqgha nkludiet ukoll tigrija specjali maghrufa bhala maiden race li laqqghet flimkien zwiemel ukoll mill-klassi Bronze u li kienu ghadhom qatt ma hargu rebbieha f’pajjizna. Din intrebhet minn Quid de Belle Vue (Charles Camilleri) li kellu sprint qawwi matul l-ahhar 500m u temm l-ewwel minn Kobber Dust (Jeffrey Said), My Gentleman (Toni Tanti) u Phoenix Des Baux (Brian Hili).

Ir-Rizultati kollha.

I Tigrija. Klassi Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Zeta Jones A (C. Camilleri) Hin – 2.46.5” (1.17.8”) 2. Loulou de la Rose (C. Caruana) 3. Vera LH (W. Farrugia) 4. Jet Starline (H. Mc Kay)

II Tigrija. Klassi Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Obelix Blue (S. Vella) Hin – 2.47.5” (1.18.2”) 2. Magnific As (D. Ellul) 3. Major Mitri (A. Farrugia) 4. Rally Simb (J. Briffa)

III Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Target Player (C. Farrugia) Hin – 2.43” (1.16.2”) 2. Lucas Ness (M. Farrugia) 3. Udice Boko (T. Cauchi) 4. Prince November (C. Cauchi)

IV Tigrija. Klassi Bronze. Maiden Race. Dist – 2140m. 1. Quid De Belle Vue (C. Camilleri) Hin – 2.45.6” (1.17.4”) 2. Kobber Dust (J. Said) 3. My Gentleman (T. Tanti) 4. Phoenix Des Baux (B. Hili)

V Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Verdi du Bosquet (N. Baldacchino) Hin – 2.44.5” (1.16.9”) 2. Zandina Boshoeve (D. Ellul) 3. Ouragan de Crouay (L. Mifsud) 4. Quaid Tejy (M. Falzon)

VI Tigrija. Klassi Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Onyx Lucernais (J. Cordina) Hin – 2.47.2” (1.18.1”) 2. Hulot (J. Vassallo) 3. Skip Dimanche (C. Debono) 4. Nophenio De Lune (C. Farrugia)

VII Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Picabia Des Audins (R. Magro) Hin – 2.44.1” (1.16.7”) 2. Pilote de Nganda (J. Carabott) 3. Pactolgo (A. Farrugia) 4. Odelvio (R. Gatt)

VIII Tigrija. Finali Kampjonat Sette Giugno. Klassi Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Orcas Bac (R. Gatt) Hin – 2.43.9” (1.14.7”) 2. Nino de Saintho (C. Calleja) 3. Sultan November (S. Portelli) 4. Argus Hanover (C. Camilleri)

IX Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ogor (A. Cassar) Hin – 2.46.5” (1.17.8”) 2. Orio de Marancourt (F. Cassar) 3. Peasant Gallant (S. Portelli) 4. Ouraki du Drochon (F. Farrugia)