Strange Outcome to Final Derby Trial

The last of the year's Derby trials was run at Velka Chuchle last Sunday. It was a slowly run race, over 2400 metres, and in the final sprint Czech Two Thousand Guineas winner Age of Jape came out best, beating Dekolt into second place. It was by all accounts (I was not there) a poor trial, but there was some shock at the official handicapper's decision to give an adequate rating for a place in the Derby field only to Age of Jape. Dekolt's trainer Tomas Hurt sounded off to the Czech language Paddock Revue web site. However unsatisfactory the two main Derby Trials at Velka Chuchle were, both being slowly run on soft ground, it seems strange that a sufficient rating for the Derby has this year - some would say yet again - only been given on the strength form over 1600 metres and less.

Age of Jape has now won his last 6 races, and will presumably be the hot favourite for the big race on Sunday June 21st, though he might easily run out of stamina quite early in the straight, if the race is run at a proper pace.

Some expensive purchases now seem likely not to get into the Czech Derby. It is Velka Chuchle's loss, as they can head instead for the Slovak, Polish, Hungarian or Swiss Derby.

Racing at Pardubice on Saturday

The main race at Pardubice on Saturday is the Paramo Grand Prix, 5800 m., crosscountry, the 2nd qualifying race for the 119th Ceska Pojistovna Velka Pardubicka. It has attracted a field of 18, including Sixteen, Juventus (who failed to qualify in the first QR), and a couple of very interesting Van'a trained younger horses, Del Sole and Welldancer. Add in last year's VP runner up Hirsch, last year's 4th finisher Numero Due (who also failed in the first QR), German Malt, and last year's VP runners Mr Land, Marath, Profil and Jung. And a name from the past, Red Dancer.

Josef Van'a has offered two good rides to Raffaelle Romano, top Italian jumps jockey, who is first rider for Paolo Favero. He will ride Welldancer in the Qualifying Race, and also Magic Blade in the 2nd of the nine races in the afternoon. Clearly Raffaelle is in serious training for the Velka Pardubicka.

Other interesting runners in the afternoon are Novolari and Playleta, who will be cheered on as "our horses". I hope to see owners Marco and Julie, and Giancarlo, at Pardubice on Saturday. The first race is a 1 pm, and there will be nice races. This will be the first ever Polish Day at Pardubice.