Emirates Airline, renowned as an avid sports sponsor, is back on the Marsa race track and for the second 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 11th April 2010. The early qualifying heats will start on Sunday 28th February at the Malta Racing Club race track in Marsa.

Emirates Manager for Malta and Cyprus Mr Paul Fleri Soler and Malta Racing Club (MRC) Chairman Dr Matthew Brincat made the announcement today (Tuesday, 16th February) at a media conference held at Malta Racing Club.

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

More than 90 horses have registered for It-Tazza l-Kbira, which is open to all horses registered with the Club.

Audiences will be enjoying a great treat as the top trotters will be competing again this year. Last year’s winner was James De L’Iton, who was driven by Noel Baldacchino and co-owned by Anthony Bajada and Kevin Falzon. This was the second win for James De L-Iton.

The Quarter Finals and the Semi-Finals will be held on Sunday 14th and Sunday 28th March respectively. Contrary to other tournaments, it-Tazza l-Kbira Championship is open to all trotters and classes, hence the winner of the final showdown a week on Easter Sunday, that is on 11 April, is considered as the best trotting horse in Malta.

Mr Fleri Soler said: “The confirmation of this year’s sponsorship after the success we had last year 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 horseracing enthusiasts 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 brings together the best horses from around the world to compete in the sport’s richest race with US$6 million in prize money, at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, Dubai. 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. Emirates is also involved in a huge variety of sports including football, sailing, golf, tennis, cricket and rugby.

The winner will be awarded the coveted It-Tazza l-Kbira for a year. The total prize money for the Final is €3,900, consisting of a first prize of €2,500, €800 for the runner-up; €400 for the third place and €200 for the fourth place. The first four places will all get a trophy. An 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 once again the necessary financial support. “Supporting It-Tazza l-Kbira also confirms Emirates’ commitment to sustain initiatives and traditions that are meaningful to the Maltese. This is also in line with our objective, that is, to generate strong and attractive competitions at Marsa that will provide us with high calibre jockeys that continue to compete successfully on some of the most renowned racing tracks in Europe,” said Dr Brincat.

Emirates operates flights from Dubai to Malta on a daily schedule with a stopover in Larnaca, Cyprus. This service also offers Emirates passengers the added option of flying between Malta and Larnaca.