Gaspar d’Angis secured his first victory of 2026 with a well-timed late charge in Friday evening’s main event at the Marsa Racetrack.
Driven by Rodney Gatt for the first time, the French trotter prevailed in a CenterParc Championship heat for Premier-class horses over 2,640 metres. Fifteen runners contested the feature race during the 38th meeting of the Maltese season.
Gatt times the challenge
Isabelle Sisu, driven by Nathaniel Barbara, made the quickest start and moved half a length clear of Farmer Keryvon and Fameux Sax during the early stages.
The complexion of the race changed around 400 metres from the finish as the early leader began to lose ground. Several rivals moved into contention, leaving the Premier heat open heading into the final straight.
Gatt then asked Gaspar d’Angis for the decisive effort. The response carried the pair to the front in the closing metres, where they held off DJ Spritz, driven by Daniel Hili, by a narrow margin. Mon’s Tornado, partnered by Paul Galea, finished third, with Fameux Sax next home.
Gaspar d’Angis recorded an average kilometre rate of 1 minute 13.2 seconds. The victory was particularly notable because it came in the horse’s first start with Gatt in the sulky.
Multiple wins for Gatt and Farrugia
The Premier success completed a productive evening for Gatt, who also guided Igorino to victory in the Bronze A heat and Golden Age in Silver B.
It was another notable result in a season that has already seen Gatt drive Hudo du Ruel to victory in the BOV Tazza l-Kbira, one of the major events on Malta’s trotting calendar.
Cherise Farrugia likewise recorded three wins, taking the Silver B race with Kamila Des Monts before closing the programme with Gold-class victories aboard Hibou D’Erpion and Pure Joy.
The ten-race card was made up entirely of trotting events and included championship heats across the Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Premier classes.
For Gaspar d’Angis, however, the headline belonged to the final burst that ended the wait for a first win of the year and delivered an encouraging Premier-class result at Marsa.
