The owners of the finalist horses participating in the 2023 edition of the BOV Tazza l-Kbira have drawn the numbers that will determine their horse’s starting place in the final of Malta’s most prestigious honour in the local harness racing calendar.
This was done in a press conference called for the occasion which was addressed by the Head CSR Dept Charles Azzopardi, the vice Chairman of the Malta Racing Club Anthony Demanuele and Malta Equidrome’s CEO Matthew Brincat.
Both Mr Demanuele and Dr Brincat praised and thanked Bank of Valletta for once again extending their collaboration with local horse racing and choosing to brand the Tazza l-Kbira with the BOV name. It is befitting that such an important and prestigious trophy is elevated by being coupled with Malta’s Bank of Valletta. They both also wished a great race to all participants and emphasized that safety must always come first even though sometimes one
tends to get carried away with over excitement.
‘Horse racing in Malta is followed in a genuine and passionate way and forms an integral part of Malta’s rich cultural heritage’, said Charles Azzopardi. ‘We take this opportunity to wish the best of luck to all finalists and look forward to another sporting spectacle as one of the main supporters of sporting initiatives in Malta in line with the Bank of Valletta’s commitment towards the community in which it operates’.
The final of the BOV Tazza l-Kbira will be raced during the meeting of 16th April and promises an entertaining afternoon for all the family which apart from the racing spectacle will include a Harley Davidson Show as well as classic Mercedes Benz car show.
The competition is raced over the 2640m distance and the average time to beat is that registered last year by Charming Soldier – 1’13”5 which is also the national record over this distance. Interesting that Charming Soldier will be trying to defend his title. Also in the field are three other horses that were finalists last year – Doudou de Bouere who finished 3rd as well as Dunbar and Infinite Knight.
The race will be preceeded by a parade during which the finalist horses will be covered by blankets for the occasion which together with the personalised numbers are always a coveted keepsake. This parade will be led by the 2021 winner Antoine du Bourg.
Whilst the winner will be presented with the BOV Tazza l-Kbira he will also be receiving a beautiful hand crafted trophy and a winner’s horse blanket. Trophies will also be awarded to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th finishers. As befitting the top honour this year’s total prize money for the final amounts to €8250.
These are the finalists and their drivers:
1. DOUDOU DE BOUERE (Jean Claude Pace)
2. AROS LINE (Marvic Bugeja)
3. CHARMING SOLDIER (Paul Galea)
4. LIAM DANA (Charles Camilleri)
5. LUCKY GUY BOKO (Ludvic Ghigo)
6. SIR Q.C. (Julian Farrugia)
7. RALLY HANS (Marco Refalo)
8. CRACK MONEY (Michael Ellul)
9. DUNBAR (Redent Magro)
10. INFINITE KNIGHT (Charles Degiorgio)
11. DZAROF DE GUEZ (Claudio Refalo)
12. GLOBAL UNDECIDED (Rodney Gatt)
