The 24th and 25th racing meetings of the season took place over the weekend at the Marsa Racetrack, featuring a full card of eighteen trotting events.
The highlight of the weekend was the semi-final rounds of the Prix De Vincennes championship, contested by French trotters from the Premier class over a short distance of 2140 metres. Victories in these prestigious races went to Follow Me Flash and Galago Du Cadran.
A total of twelve horses advanced to the championship final from these two Premier class semi-finals.
In the first semi-final, veteran French trotter Crack Money (driven by Charles Camilleri) led early on but was overtaken in the home stretch by Follow Me Flash (Rodney Gatt), who claimed his first victory on Maltese soil. Other strong finishers included Extra Du Chatelet (Ludvic Ghigo), Eldorado De Ver (Noel Baldacchino), Fee Lucernaise (Salvu Vella), and Floralyse D’Authou (Paul Galea).
In the second semi-final, Galago Du Cadran (Paul Galea) delivered a dominant performance, leading unchallenged for the entire 2140-metre distance. This marked his fourth win in Malta, finishing two and a half lengths ahead of El Presidente (Redent Magro), with Diablo D’Herfraie (Rodney Gatt) and Eden De L’Iton (Dylan Baldacchino) following. Caprice De Cosse (Carl Caruana) and Fitzy De Vive (Laura Frendo) also secured qualification for the final.
Friday’s Winners
- Race 1 – Class Copper (2640m): Goldwyn Du Bocage (Cliferty Calleja) – 1:19.1
- Race 2 – Class Copper (2640m): Gamine D’Hawai (Cherise Farrugia) – 1:17.9
- Race 3 – Class Bronze (2640m): Falkanor (Cherise Farrugia) – 1:17.5
- Race 4 – Class Gold (2640m): Diamant Du Ruel (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1:16.0
- Race 5 – Prix D’Enghien Semi-final, Class Gold (2140m): Etna Du Lupin (Redent Magro) – 1:16.1
- Race 6 – Prix D’Enghien Semi-final, Class Gold (2140m): Emile Du Var (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1:14.6
- Race 7 – Class Premier (2640m): Ecume De Furetais (Rodney Gatt) – 1:15.2
- Race 8 – Class Bronze (2640m): Embrace IT (Rodney Gatt) – 1:17.7
Sunday’s Winners
- Race 1 – Class Bronze (2640m): Idillico Sarr (George Gatt) – 1:18.4
- Race 2 – Class Silver (2640m): Ianthin G.C. (Rodney Gatt) – 1:17.6
- Race 3 – Class Silver (2640m): Dencos Miss Caruso (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1:17.8
- Race 4 – Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Semi-final, Class Bronze (2140m): Hercule Des Pres (Charles Camilleri) – 1:15.5
- Race 5 – Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Semi-final, Class Bronze (2140m): Ikko Des Racques (Ivan Bilocca) – 1:15.3
- Race 6 – Prix De Cagnes Sur Mer Semi-final, Class Bronze (2140m): Gypsa Bella (Charles Camilleri) – 1:16.4
- Race 7 – Class Gold (2640m): Lee Harvey Bros (Paul Galea) – 1:16.5
- Race 8 – Prix De Vincennes Semi-final, Class Premier (2140m): Follow Me Flash (Rodney Gatt) – 1:11.9
- Race 9 – Prix De Vincennes Semi-final, Class Premier (2140m): Galago Du Cadran (Paul Galea) – 1:13.1
- Race 10 – Class Silver (2640m): Eclair Des Vaux (Daniel Debono) – 1:16.6
