Emirates announced that for the third consecutive year it will be the official sponsor of Malta’s most prestigious trotting trophy, It-Tazza l-Kbira. The prized Cup, It-Tazza l-Kbira, will be awarded to the winner of this year’s championship Final, to be held on Sunday 10th April 2011. The early qualifying heats will be held over this weekend with four Heats to be held on Saturday and another four Heats on Sunday at the Malta Racing Club (MRC) race track in Marsa. The first race starts at 13:30hrs.

MRC Chairman Dr Matthew Brincat said, “Emirates have once again confirmed the sponsorship of It-Tazza l-Kbira, which is the most prestigious Trotting Racing Cup in Malta, that goes back to its origins, way back in 1934. Some of the most popular horses ever seen on the island have carved their names on this coveted Cup over the years, as this award brings up a mix of tradition and pride into one winning formula.”

The Quarter Finals will be held on Friday 11th and Sunday 13th March, followed by the Semi-Finals scheduled for Sunday 27th March. Contrary to other tournaments, It-Tazza l-Kbira Championship is open to the top trotters and classes, hence the winner of the final showdown on Sunday on 10th April, is considered as the best trotting horse in Malta.

Mr Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates Manager for Malta and Cyprus, said: “The confirmation of this year’s sponsorship after the success we had in the last years with the Malta Racing Club underlines Emirates’ commitment to horseracing enthusiasts in Malta. We believe our association with MRC will help bring Emirates closer to the horseracing community in Malta."

“Emirates sponsors two of the world’s most prestigious horse racing events: the Dubai World Cup and the Emirates Melbourne Cup. The Dubai World Cup, which will be held on 26 March 2011, brings together the best horses from around the world to compete in the sport’s richest race with US$6 million in prize money. The Emirates Melbourne Cup is the zenith of Australian horse-racing, which is billed as ‘the race that stops a nation’ due to its popularity with the Australian population and racing enthusiasts around the world,” added Mr Fleri Soler.

A total of 84 horses have registered for It-Tazza l-Kbira and the winner will be awarded the coveted It-Tazza l-Kbira for a year. The total prize money for the Final is €4,100, consisting of a first prize of €2,500, €1,000 for the runner-up; €400 for the third place and €200 for the fourth place. The first four places will all get a trophy. All finalists will be awarded a horse blanket (ghata) and a special Emirates horse blanket (għata) will be presented to the winner of It-Tazza l-Kbira.

On behalf of MRC, the drivers and supporters of the sport, Dr Brincat thanked Emirates for providing the necessary financial support. “Supporting It-Tazza l-Kbira also confirms Emirates’ commitment to back up initiatives and traditions that are meaningful to the Maltese and live up to our aims to generate strong competitions at Marsa and continue to compete successfully on some of the most renowned racing tracks in Europe,” he said.