Watch: Valentino Strix and Balthazar Maza steal the limelight at Marsa Racetrack

Valentino Strix and Balthazar Maza won Sunday’s major events at the Marsa Racetrack.

These were races open for class Premier trotters on a short distance of 2140m and formed part of the 42nd meeting of the season made up of ten races all for trotters on a short distance.

Fourteen trotters lined up for the first class Premier race.

As expected it was Swedish newcomer Zack’s Zoomer (Clint Vassallo) the fastest horse at forst, opening a small lead from Jefferson Dotcom (Michael Ellul) and Valentino Strix (Ludvic Ghigo). However 400m from the end, Zack’s Zoomer started to slow down. It was eventually overtaken by Valentino Strix (Ludvic Ghigo) which gained its first win in Malta by half length from Baxter Du Klau (Kurt Saliba) and Ulysse Du Bouchet (Paul Galea). Avrik De Guez (Jean Pierre Farrugia) ended in fourth place.

In the second class Premier race, Balthazar Maza (Caillin Borg) dashed strongly from the outside during the last 600m and managed to gain its third win of the year easily by three lengths from Vasco De Viette (Paul Galea) and Vencedor (Mario Fenech). The early leader, Tack Wee (Jonathan Farrugia) had to settle for fourth place.

Another meeting at the Marsa Racetrack will be held on Sunday. The first race should start at 1pm.

Sunday’s winners

Race 1. Class Copper. Dist – 2140m. 1. Drakkar Cleville (Kurt Saliba) – 1.19.1”

Race 2. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Diego JYL (Jason Zahra) – 1.18.2”

Race 3. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Fine Delo (Jesmar Gafa’) – 1.19”

Race 4. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Fazio Josselyn (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.17.8”

Race 5. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Ami De Clerlande (Noel Baldacchino) – 1.15.8”

Race 6. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1. Bijou D’Aure (Charles Camilleri) – 1.17.4”

Race 7. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Valentino Strix (Ludvic Ghigo) – 1.16.1”

Race 8. Class Gold. Dist – 2140m. 1.  Carabin d’Urzy (Omar Cauchi) – 1.17.6”

Race 9. Class Premier. Dist – 2140m. 1. Balthazar Maza (Caillin Borg) – 1.15.2”

Race 10. Class Bronze. Dist – 2140m. 1. Fan De L’Iton (Jurgen Attard) – 1.18”