Nico Oland and Ouch triumph in Premier Semifinals

Photofinish of the class Bronze A Condition Race final. A deadheat by Jezira (Rodney Gatt) and Absolutelymeadow (Kurt Saliba).

The 46th meeting of the season made up of eight races all for trotters was held Sunday afternoon at the Marsa Racetrack. Sunday’s card included also five Condition race finals for various classes and two semifinal races from the President’s Cup championship for class Premier trotters. All these races were held on a short distance of 2140m.

From the two class Premier semifinals, ten horses qualified for the final stage. Nico Oland (Julian Farrugia) took the lead after only few metres from the start of the race. Although this Danish eleven year old trotter started to slow down around 100m from the end still managed to withstand the challenge of Uhal Berven (Rodney Gatt) in the final metres. Favourite Midsummer King (Noel Baldacchino), Ramses De Vaudon (Redent Magro) and Royal De Vaiges (David Ellul) progressed also to the final stage. For Nico Oland this was its second win of the season.

In the second class Premier semifinal, favourite Ouch (Noel Baldacchino) led all the way and grabbed its second win in a row and in Malta after holding off the challenge of Vejby Boom (Carl Caruana) during the last 200m. Quo Williams (Charles Camilleri), Ricky Rock (Rodney Gatt), and veteran Livi Cantona (David Ellul) were the last three horses to qualify for the final of this prestigious championship in the Maltese trotting calendar. It should be noted that in 2011, Livi Cantona had also triumphed in the President’s Cup final.

The five Condition Race finals were open for class Silver, Bronze and Copper trotters. In the class Silver A final, the early leader, Cummin, under the guidance of Rodney Gatt, ran out of steam midway through the final straight. This Swedish mare was eventually overtaken by Figaro’s Dream (Chris Grech) which sealed its fourth win of the season and its second in a row easily by a length and a half from Enzo Nova (Noel Baldacchino). Purple Hall (Charles Camilleri) finished fourth.

Clint Vassallo put French Ultime Des Racques infront around a lap to the end of the Silver B final. This French trotter was unchallenged during the last 1000m and registered its second win in Malta from Tagena Run (Jesmar Gafa’) and Vicken Swing (Mark Mifsud). Tricoloren (Julian Farrugia) also obtained a good place when finished in fourth place.

In the class Bronze A final, Jezira (Rodney Gatt) and Absolutely Meadow (Kurt Saliba) sprinted neck and neck midway through the final straight. The win was awarded to both trotters and the race declared as a dead heat after that the photofinish was consulted by the racing stewards. Twostep (Nathaniel Barbara) and Trytocatchme (Charles Camilleri) finished respectively in third and fourth place.

Atout De Carriere (Michael Sultana) upped its pace from the outside during the last 400m of the class Bronze B final. Sultana’s trotter gained its fourth win of the year easily by a length from Rikita Du Moulin (Jeffrey Said) and Runway (Marco Debono). O Jensen (Mario Fenech) completed the top four order.

In the class Copper final, French mare Belina De Fresney (Noel Baldacchino) was unchallenged for most of the distance. It managed to secure its first win in Malta by half length from Seigneur Du Dropt (Michael Sultana) and Frida K. (Mario Farrugia). Freddie Melon (Kurt Saliba) finished fourth.

All the winners of these Condition Races were awarded with a commemorative plaque which was presented to them by the MRC Chairman Edwin Borg.

Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Friday. The first race should start at 7pm.

Yesterday’s winners.

Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 3140m. 1. Bibiche De Brevol (Carmelo Farrugia) – 1.20.6”

Race 2. Condition Race Final. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Belina De Fresney (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17.5”

Race 3. Condition Race Final. Class Bronze B. Dist – 2140m. 1. Atout De Carriere (Michael Sultana) – 1.17.9”

Race 4. Condition Race Final. Class Bronze A. Dist – 2140m. 1. Jezira (Rodney Gatt) – Absolutelymeadow (Kurt Saliba)
– 1.17.3”

Race 5. President’s Cup Championship Semi Final. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Nico Oland (Julian Farrugia) – 1.15.8”

Race 6. Condition Race Final. Class Silver A. Dist – 2140m. 1. Figaro’s Dream (Chris Grech) – 1.15.7”

Race 7. President’s Cup Championship Semi Final. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ouch (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.16.8”

Race 8. Condition Race Final. Class Silver B. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ultime Des Racques (Clint Vassallo) – 1.14.9”

Nico Oland u Ouch jispikkaw fis-semifinali Premier

Is-46 laqgha tas-sena li saret il-bierah wara nofsinhar fil-korsa tal-Marsa se tkun wahda mill-aktar interessanti. Dan minhabba li din il-laqgha mhux biss ikkonsistiet minn tmien tigrijiet kollha tat-trott, izda hamsa minn dawn kienu finali ta’ Condition Races u zewg tigrijiet ohra kienu semifinali mill-kompetizzjoni prestigjuza tat-Tazza tal-President ghal zwiemel tal-klassi Premier. Dawn ingrew kollha fuq distanza qasira ta’ 2140m.

Miz-zewg semifinali tal-aqwa klassi ghaxar zwiemel ikkwalifikaw ghall-finali. Fl-ewwel semifinali, id-Daniz Nico Oland (Julian Farrugia) kien fost l-aktar b’sahhtu wara l-karozza tat-tluq. Dan okkupa l-ewwel post sal-linja finali u ha t-tieni rebha tas-sena wara li fl-ahhar metri xejjen l-isfida ta’ Uhal Berven (Rodney Gatt). Il-favorit Midsummer King (Noel Baldacchino), Ramses De Vaudon (Redent Magro) u Royal De Vaiges (David Ellul) ukoll ghaddew ghall-ahhar fazi.

Fit-tieni semifinali tal-aqwa klassi, kien Ouch (Noel Baldacchino) li okkupa l-ewwel pozizzjoni tul id-distanza kollha. Dan l-Isvediz irnexxilu jiehu t-tieni rebha konsekuttiva u fil-gzejjer Maltin wara li fid-dritta metri gab fix-xejn l-attakk ta’ Vejby Boom (Carl Caruana) u Quo Williams (Charles Camilleri). Ricky Rock (Rodney Gatt) u l-veteran Livi Cantona (David Ellul) kienu l-ahhar zewg zwiemel li ghaddew ghall-finali ta’ din il-kompetizzjoni prestigjuza. Ta’ min wiehed jinnota li fl-2011, Livi Cantona kien ukoll rebah din il-kompetizzjoni.

Il-finali tal-Condition Races kienu riservati ghal zwiemel mill-klassi Silver, Bronze u Copper. Cummin (Rodney Gatt), li mexxiet lill-kumplament tal-partecipanti ghal hafna hin matul il-finali tal-klassi Silver A, cediet ghal kollox f’nofs id-dritta finali. Kien f’dak il-mument li din id-debba nqabzet minn Figaro’s Dream ta’ Chris Grech li ha r-raba’ rebha tal-istagun u t-tieni nfila tieghu facilment b’vantagg ta’ tul u nofs minn Enzo Nova (Noel Baldacchino). Purple Hall (Charles Camilleri) dahal fir-raba’ post.

Clint Vassallo pogga lill-Franciz Ultime Des Racques quddiem madwar dawra mit-tmiem tal-finali Silver B. B’hakk dan, minghajr diffikulta’ qasam il-linja finali l-ewwel b’tul minn Vicken Swing (Mark Mifsud) biex ha t-tieni rebha minn daqstant dehriet f’Malta. Tagena Run (Jesmar Gafa’) u Tricoloren (Julian Farrugia) segwuhom fit-tielet u r-raba’ post rispettivament.

Il-finali Bronze A kienet ikkaratterizzata minn dwell eccitanti f’nofs id-dritta finali bejn Jezira (Rodney Gatt) li kienet ghal hafna hin quddiem u Absolutelymeadow (Kurt Saliba) li kellu sprint tajjeb fl-ahhar metri.

Eventwalment,wara konsultazzjoni mal-photofinish minn naha tal-gurija, ir-rebha inghatat liz-zewg zwiemel flimkien. Filwaqt li ghal Jezira din kienet il-hames rebha stagjonali, ghal Absolutelymeadow dan kien it-tielet success tas-sena. Twostep (Nathaniel Barbara) u Trytocatchme (Charles Camilleri) dahlu fit-tielet u r-raba’ post rispettivament.

Michael Sultana talab lil Atout De Carriere biex izid fil-pass madwar 400m mit-tmiem tal-finali Bronze B. B’hekk dan il-Franciz akkwista r-raba’ rebha tas-sena b’tul minn Rikita Du Moulin (Jeffrey Said) u Runway (Marco Debono). O Jensen (Mario Fenech) kellu wkoll wirja pozittiva meta temm warajhom f’dik l-ordni.

Fil-finali tal-klassi Copper, il-Franciza Belina De Fresney (Noel Baldacchino) kien quddiem ghal parti twila tad-distanza. Hi rnexxilha tiehu l-ewwel rebha f’Malta f’din il-finali b’nofs tul quddiem Seigneur Du Dropt (Michael Sultana) u Frida K. (Mario Farrugia). Freddie Melon (Kurt Saliba) dahal ir-raba’ pozizzjoni.

Il-prezentazzjonijiet lis-sidien u s-sewwieqa tar-rebbieha tal-Condition Races tmexxew minn Edwin Borg, Chairman tal-Malta Racing Club.

Ir-rizultati kollha

I Tigrija. Klassi Copper. Dist – 3140m. 1. Bibiche De Brevol (C. Farrugia) Hin – 4.13” (1.20.6”) 2. Tilt De La Loge (A. Magro) 3. High Handed (T. Demanuele) 4. Jet Starline (M. Fenech)

II Tigrija. Finali Condition Race. Klassi Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Belina De Fresney (N. Baldacchino) Hin – 2.45.9” (1.17.5”) 2. Seigneur Du Dropt (M. Sultana) 3. Frida K. (M. Farrugia) 4. Freddie Melon (K. Saliba)

III Tigrija. Finali Condition Race. Klassi Bronze B. Dist – 2140m. 1. Atout De Carriere (M. Sultana) Hin – 2.46.8” (1.17.9”) 2. Rikita Du Moulin (J. Said) 3. Runway (M. Debono) 4. O Jensen (M. Fenech)

IV Tigrija. Finali Condition Race. Klassi Bronze A. Dist – 2140m. 1. Jezira (R. Gatt) – Absolutelymeadow (K. Saliba) Hin – 2.45.4” (1.17.3”) 3. Twostep (N. Barbara) 4. Trytocatchme (C. Camilleri)

V Tigrija. Semifinali Tazza tal-President. Klassi Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Nico Oland (J. Farrugia) Hin – 2.42.3” (1.15.8”) Uhal Berven (R. Gatt) 3. Midsummer King (N. Baldacchino) 4. Ramses De Vaudon (R. Magro) 5. Royal De Vaiges (D. Ellul)

VI Tigrija. Finali Condition Race. Klassi Silver A. Dist – 2140m. 1. Figaro’s Dream (Ch. Grech) Hin – 2.42.1” (1.15.7”) 2. Enzo Nova (N. Baldacchino) 3. Enzo Nova (N. Baldacchino) 4. Purple Hall (C. Camilleri)

VII Tigrija. Semifinali Tazza tal-President. Klassi Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ouch (N. Baldacchino) Hin – 2.44.3” (1.16.8”) 2. Vejby Boom (C. Caruana) 3. Quo Williams (C. Camilleri) 4. Ricky Rock (R. Gatt) 5. Livi Cantona (D. Ellul)

VIII Tigrija. Finali Condition Race. Klassi Silver B. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ultime Des Racques (C. Vassallo) Hin – 2.40.4” (1.14.9”) 2. Vicken Swing (M. Mifsud) 3. Tagena Run (J. Gafa’) 4. Tricoloren (J. Farrugia)