Two attractive meetings will be held at the Marsa racetrack today and on Sunday. Friday’s meeting starts at 6.30pm and includes 11 races, whilst Sunday’s is a 12 race card (including a Class A flat race) commencing at 2pm.

Probably the most awaited event this weekend will be Friday’s Skyparks championship final for Swedish Premier class trotters on a 2,140m distance. This race features eight of our best trotters battling for the crown of Malta’s best Swedish trotter this year.

The field includes Think Yatzee, winner of the past three editions, Livi Cantona winner of nine races and three championships last year, True Q already winner of four races this year, Utah Hornline winner of its semi-final in a very good time, as well as Belafonte, Bello Fratello, Skip Dimanche and Wiss Night Hawk, all quality trotters.

Then we have 21 heats from the championships reserved for French trotters sponsored by the SECF, the French trotting association. A championship per class will be held also on a 2,140m distance, with four horses qualifying straight to the Copper class final, four making it to the Bronze class and Gold class semi-finals, whilst the first five horses qualify for the Silver and Premier class semi-finals.

Naturally, the most awaited are the four semi-finals from the Prix de Vincennes (Premier class).

These feature some of Malta’s best trotters, including Tazza l-Kbira winners Mig of the Wood (also winner of the last Prix de Vincennes) and Kakisis, various French Tazza l-Kbira finalists, past Prix de Vincennes winners, other excellent performers this year and some newcomers.

No doubt two exciting meetings that should keep all spectators on tiptoes throughout ...

Finally, we heartily congratulate young driver Shaun Portelli for representing Malta in the second leg of the Mediterranean Horse Racing Union’s drivers’ championship in Agnano, Italy, and finishing an optimal runner-up among eight countries.