Horse racing fever was pitch-high at the Marsa race-track last Sunday afternoon when the largest crowd of the season attended for the much anticipated grand finale of the “Tazza l-Kbira”, the most prestigious trophy in the local horse racing scene.

The atmosphere on the day was captivating as the owners of all the finalists were paraded on track in vintage Jaguar cars, the drivers sat at the back of a nice selection of Harley bikes, while the Marsa Scouts group Band entertained everyone with their cheerful music.

Before the start of the final, all horses dressed in red were paraded in front of the crowd present at the track, led by two former winners, 26-year old UQUITO D’ORPHEE (1999) and 15-year old JAMES DE L’ITON (2008, 2009).

The much anticipated race in itself was a classic. Pre race favourite NUAGE DE BOURGOGNE (C Camilleri) had a very good start taking the lead as the trotters after the first half lap, ahead of MIG OF THE WOOD (N Baldacchino). NABAB DU CHATELET soon forced 2 wide to join MIG OF THE WOOD in second place, as the race approached the 1000m mark.

With 500 metres to go, second favourite TRUE Q (S Portelli), sprinted on the outside lanes from the back, to take third position, as leader NUAGE DE BOURGOGNE increased the pace considerably. MIG OF THE WOOD, still in second place, answered in kind by also upping its pace.

As the horses turned the last bend into the final straight, twelve year old MIG OF THE WOOD took the lead from NUAGE DE BOURGOGNE and never looked back. Confident of the win, Baldacchino waved to the crowd with some 50m to go, ecstatic at this special win (the driver’s third in this competition). The winner registered a very good time of 1’15’4 per kilometre on a 2,640m distance.After the race, Dr Clyde Puli, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Sports, presented the legendary trophy to the winning owners, Messrs Micallef and Grixti, while Ms Svetlana Buckova, representing the sponsors, Dragonara Casino Lounge and Bistro, presented the memento trophy to

The other winners on the day were Rybo Patzie (Copper class), Owens Kin and Obelix Blue in the Bronze class, Orlando Dix and Lord of Rush in the Silver class races and Gold class trotters Quid de la Muette and Orlando Tejy.