Much-awaited Emirates-Tazza l-Kbira final on Sunday

The much-awaited final of the Emirates Airlines-it-Tazza l-Kbira will be run on Sunday at the Marsa racetrack.

Over the past weeks, trotters from various classes have been taking part in this competition, held over a long distance of 2,640m.

Details about Sunday's final were given by Malta Racing Club (MRC) chairman Matthew Brincat and Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates Airlines manager for Malta and Cyprus, during a news conference at the MRC offices yesterday.

While thanking Emirates Airlines for sponsoring this competition for the second year in a row, Dr Brincat described it-Tazza l-Kbira as one of the major competitions on the MRC calendar, which is hugely popular among the hundreds of racing enthusiasts who flock to the Marsa racetrack week in week out.

Fleri Soler said his company is always ready to support the various sporting initiatives taken by different associations, adding that he was aware that horse racing is one of the most popular sports in Malta.

Emirates Airlines has close links with horse racing as highlighted by its backing of worldwide events like the Dubai World Cup, held recently at the new Meydan racetrack, and the Melbourne Cup which is run every year in November at the Flemington racetrack.

Finally, Fleri Soler confirmed that Emirates Airlines have signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the MRC.

The draw for next Sunday's final, made prior to yesterday's media briefing, resulted as follows: 1. In Vitro du Bourg; 2. Aces Americ; 3. Lys de l'Oasis; 4. Kakisis; 5. Le Bon Mayennais; 6. Loulou du Lamee; 7. Isolated; 8. L'Ideal de Fersan; 9. James de l'Iton; 10. Lover Boy Index.

French trotter James de l'Iton, driven by established driver Noel Baldacchino, won the competition in the last two years.

The Tazza l-Kbira final will be the seventh race on Sunday's card, starting at 4.30 p.m. The total prize fund is €3,900 with the owners of the winning horse receiving €2,500.

Owners of the 10 finalists will be presented with a horse blanket before the start of the race while the owners of the winning horse will be given another Emirates Airlines horse blanket.