Okilaibo triumphs in VOB Grand Final

Okiliabo (Julian Farrugia) winning the VOB Grand Final for class Premier trotters at the Marsa Race Track.

French eleven year old, Okilaibo won Friday’s evening major event at the Marsa Race Track. This was the VOB Grand Final reserved for class Premier trotters on a short distance of 2140m. This final formed part of the 28th meeting of the season made up ten races all for trotters.

The VOB Grand Final was contested between the horses that finished in the first five places during the Prix de Vincennes final for French trotters and the first four horses that claimed the top places in the Sette Giugno Championship final. Both finals were held recently at the Marsa Race Track. It was Orne Des Olivettes (Christian Xerri) which made the fastest start, opening a half length lead from Mark De Chamant (Michael Seychell) and Sultan November (Shawn Portelli). With a lap to go Orne des Olivettes was overtaken by Sultan November and this German trotter shot into the lead. But with 300m to go, Sultan November also ran out of steam and got outsmarted by favourite Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) which lived up to expectations and chalked up to its third win of the year and its second in a row easily by two lenghts from Orne Des Olivettes and Mark De Chamant. Sultan November claimed the other top four positions.

The winner clocked an impressive average time of 1.14.5” per kilometer. At the end of this final, Mr Patrick Cachia, on behalf of the racetrack bookmakers presented the winning trophy to Joseph Seychell and Julian Farrugia, owner and driver respectively of the winning horse. It should be noted that before winning this Grand Final, Okilaibo had also triumphed in the Prix de Vincennes final.

In the first class Gold race on the card, Nophenio de Lune (Charles Farrugia) dashed strongly from the outside 300m from the end and registered its second win of the season by half length from Oscar Mati (Brian Hili) and XRay Hornline (Rodney Gatt). Oolong (Jesmar Gafa’) ended fourth.

Chippen Bob (Clint Vassallo) had to go all out in the last few metres of the second class Gold race in order to secure its first win in Malta from Pic Soyer (Tony Tanti). Podium (Julian Farrugia) and Count Wiesnievski (Rodney Gatt) finished respectively in third and fourth place.

Friday’s card included also four races for class Silver trotters. In the first Silver race, Command Coger (Carmelo Farrugia) profited from the disqualification of Querido Censerie (Frencu Cassar) and secured its first win of the year. Paolin De Bannes (Noel Baldacchino) and Pile Ou Face (Joe Schembri) led all the way in the following class Silver races while in the fourth race it was Side Spin (Julian Farrugia) which obtained its first win of the year after taking the lead with a lap to go.

Friday night, young driver Patrick Spiteri was also presented with a memento after being voted as the best driver for the month of May. Another meeting at the Marsa Race Track will be held next Thursday. The first race should start at 6.30pm.

Friday’s winners

Race 1. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Zeta Jones A (Charles Camilleri) – 1.16.4”

Race 2. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Command Coger (Carmelo Farrugia) – 1.16.4”

Race 3. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Magnific As (David Ellul) – 1.17”

Race 4. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Paolin De Bannes (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.1”

Race 5. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Polytain (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17”

Race 6. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Pile Ou Face (Joe Schembri) – 1.17.7”

Race 7. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Nophenio De Lune (Charles Farrugia) – 1.15.7”

Race 8. VOB Grand Final. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Okilaibo (Julian Farrugia) – 1.14.5”

Race 9. Class Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Side Spin (Julian Farrugia) – 1.15.6”

Race 10. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Chippen Bob (Clint Vassallo) – 1.17.6”

Rebha ohra ta’ finali ghal Okilaibo

Misjuq minn Julian Farrugia, Okilaibo rebah l-aktar tigrija mistennija li saret il-Gimgha fil-ghaxija fil-korsa tal-Marsa. Din kienet il-Gran Finali VOB ghal zwiemel tal-klassi Premier fuq distanza qasira ta’ 2140m u laqqghet flimkien l-ewwel hames zwiemel Francizi li spiccaw fil-finali tal-Prix de Vincennes u zwiemel ohrajn li spiccaw fl-ewwel postijiet fil-finali tal-kampjonat tas-Sette Giugno. Din il-gran finali kienet taghmel parti mit-28 laqgha tal-istagun fuq ghaxar tigrijiet tat-trott.

Disgha kienu l-partecipanti fil-gran finali u wara li matul l-ewwel metri l-kmand alterna bejn numru ta’ zwiemel kien Sultan November (Shawn Portelli) li mar quddiem ftit aktar minn dawra mit-tmiem. Izda madwar 300m mill-linja finali dan iz-ziemel beda’ jnaqqas xi ftit mill-giri tieghu u fl-istess waqt beda’ l-assalt tieghu l-favorit Okilaibo li fid-dritta finali mar quddiem u ha t-tieni rebha konsekuttiva u t-tielet wahda tas-sena facilment b’vantagg ta’ aktar minn zewg tulijiet minn Orne des Olivettes (Christian Xerri) u Mark De Chamant (Michael Seychell). Sultan November kellu jikkuntenta bir-raba’ pozizzjoni.

B’hekk wara li rebah il-kampjonat Prix de Vincennes, Okilaibo rnexxilu jirbah ukoll din il-gran finali f’medja impressjonanti ta’ 1.14.5” fil-kilometru. Fi tmiem it-tigrija, Patrick Cachia, f’isem il-bookmakers tal-korsa, ippremja lil Joseph Seychell u Julian Farrugia, sid u sewwieq rispettivament taz-ziemel rebbieh.

Fl-ewwel minn zewg tigrijiet tal-klassi Gold, Nophenio De Lune (Charles Farrugia) zied fil-giri meta z-zwiemel qabdu d-dritta finali taghhom. Dan il-Franciz ha t-tieni rebha tas-sena minn Oscar Mati (Brian Hili), XRay Hornline (Rodney Gatt) u Oolong (Jesmar Gafa’).

L-ahhar 400m tat-tieni tigrija Gold kienu determinanti biex Chippen Bob (Clint Vassallo) jiehu l-ewwel rebha fi xtutna fit-tieni tigrija Gold. Dan b’tul u nofs quddiem Pic Soyer (Toni Tanti), Podium (Julian Farrugia) u Count Wiesnievski (Rodney Gatt).

Saret ukoll tigrija ta’ trott fuq distanza ta’ mil ghal zwiemel li twieldu Malta. Din intrebhet mid-debba Shanti Ferr misjuqa minn Raymond Micallef. Fl-istess serata, Patrick Spiteri gie premjat bhala l-ahjar sewwieq ghax-xahar ta’ Mejju.

Ir-rizultati kollha.

I Tigrija. Klassi Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Zeta Jones A (C. Camilleri) Hin – 2.43.4” (1.16.4”) 2. Gin T Dalimo (M. Mifsud) 3. Rally Simb (J. Briffa) 4. Petchora (N. Baldacchino)

II Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Command Coger (C. Farrugia) Hin – 2.43.5” (1.16.4”) 2. Vasterbo Diego (C. Camilleri) 3. Really Good (R. Gatt) 4. Lutan Villetot (E. Attard)

III Tigrija. Klassi Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Magnific As (D. Ellul) Hin – 2.44.8” (1.17”) 2. Obelix Blue (S. Vella) 3. Poete De La Sarthe (K. Saliba) 4. Quintin Malin (E. Attard)

IV Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Paolin De Bannes (N. Baldacchino) Hin – 2.43” (1.16.1”) 2. Nasdaq du Closet (E. Zerafa) 3. Dacoit (C. Vassallo) 4. Korentin (J. Farrugia)

V Tigrija. Klassi Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Polytain (N. Baldacchino) Hin – 2.44.8” (1.17”) 2. Quadrige de Mai (L. Ghigo) 3. Law Suit (C. Camilleri) 4. Kosai LJ (A. Cassar)

VI Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Pile Ou Face (J. Schembri) Hin – 2.46.3” (1.17.7”) 2. Umbra Hornline (C. Camilleri) 3. Notre Joyeux (N. Baldacchino) 4. Orio De Marancourt (F. Cassar)

VII Tigrija. Klassi Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Nophenio De Lune (C. Farrugia) Hin – 2.42” (1.15.7”) 2. Oscar Mati (B. Hili) 3. Xray Hornline (R. Gatt) 4. Oolong (J. Gafa’)

VIII Tigrija. Gran Final VOB. Klassi Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Okilaibo (J. Farrugia) Hin – 2.39.4” (1.14.5”) 2. Orne des Olivettes (C. Xerri) 3. Mark de Chamant (M. Seychell) 4. Sultan November (S. Portelli)

IX Tigrija. Klassi Silver. Dist – 2140m. 1. Side Spin (J. Farrugia) Hin – 2.41.8” (1.15.6”) 2. Manuel Jet (C. Caruana) 3. Petrus du Vivier (M. Desira) 4. Anguz RC (T. Demanuele)

X Tigrija. Klassi Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Chippen Bob (C. Vassallo) Hin – 2.46” (1.17.6”) 2. Pic Soyer (T. Tanti) 3. Podium (J. Farrugia) 4. Count Wiesnievski (R. Gatt)