70 Gran Premio Merano - Sunday 27 September
The declaration to start takes place on Wednesday morning. But some of the sixteen entries left after the second and final forfeit stage of last week, are announced as definite non-runners, while others are doubtful. The most striking news not only for the Czech turfites, but for the Italians, is that neither Vana nor Olelha has a starter this year at Meran. Nothing has been heard from Jaroslav Votava about his two entries - Florestano (EZ Praha a.s) and Imbir (Zamecky vrch). And so, at the moment, the only confirmed Czech starter is Radek Holcak-trained Nikodem, who will have jockey Myska in the saddle. Nikodem ran in this race in 2007 and 2008, finishing seventh both times. Second in importance only to the absence of the two top Czech jump trainers -and almost equally shocking - is the complete absence of contestants from Germany. Poland will be represented by Duero (trained by Greg Wroblewski, rider J. Faltejsek), a chaser good enough to finish a close second to both Sharstar and Kandiskiy earlier this year at Meran. This year's Meran is consequently and basically what the race has been since its foundation in 1935, and for many of the following decades - a French-Italian contest. Italy lines up a total of four - possibly, five - starters. Sharstar, still only 5 years old, will start as the favourite. He is the 2008 Meran winner and comfortably won the Premio Unire three weeks ago. Italian champion jump jockey Raffaele Romano was the obvious choice by Sharstar's trainer Paolo Favero as the rider. Kandinskiy is the second leg of Signor Favero's strategy to capture the Gran Premio for the third year running; and Vana's absence has left his stable jockey Josef Bartos free to ride in Italian colours - those of Kandinskiy's owner. Jiri Kousek could also get a ride, if trainer Paolo Favero also runs his third entry - Herode Quercus (whose owner, Donna Ludovica Albertoni, also owed the 2007 Meran winner, Halling Joy). Romano, Bartos, Kousek - their excellent riding quality combined with a unique knowledge of the Meran jumps, could make this trio riding for the same trainer the winning weapon ensuring Italy one more win in the Meran. Asselin and Fils A Papa are horses that will also be in Italian colours at the start on Sunday. In Spring, Asselin joined the rather exclusive club of those horses that have successfully challenged Sharstar and beated him. Asselin ran in the Gran Premio in 2008, and his rider will be the same as last year - Xavier Hondier. Fils A Papa will be ridden by Pavel Peprna. The French will find it not too easy to capture the race. However, they are sending four of their best chasers -and possibly, a fifth will join them. The uncertain starter is Eric Leray-trained Ocean D'Or, whose 2009 record comprises 6 runs and 5 wins, including the Grand Steeple Chase de Flandres at Waregem on Sept 1st. Royal Verrie, the 2008 winner at Waregem, was favourite for the Grand Steeple Chase again this year, but with no success. Royal Verrie runs at Meran on Sunday. He is trained by Philippe Peltier and ridden by David Berra. Oscar Des Pictons is another French chaser with hopes to win the Gran Premio. As a trial before Meran, his trainer, Yannick Fouin, chose a race for him not at Auteil, but at Clairefontaine (where the course is more similar to that at to Meran), and the horse won the local Grand Steeple Chase in August. Jockey Morgan Regairaz rides him again on Sunday. French trainer Macaire is very familiar with Meran and his choice for the Gran Premio fell on Le Bazin. This chaser fell in his most recent race, but prior to that he amassed an impressive series of first or second places. Macaire is still considering whether Le Bazin will be ridden by Lenie Suzineau or Gregory Adam. St. Petersbourg is also a French starter. His connections are carefully making a choice between two jockeys - Davide Columbu and Christophe Monjon, 70th Gran Premio Merano Forst -Gr. 1 € 380,000 distance 5,000 m for 4-y.o. + List of possible starters ASSELIN 67 Kg X. Hondier Italy FILS A PAPA 67 P. Peprna HERODE QUERCUS 67 J. Kousek KANDINSKIY 68 J. Bartos SHARSTAR 69 R. Romano LE BAZIN 68 L. Suzinau / G. Adam France OCEAN D'OR 69 ? OSCAR DES PICTONS 69 M. Regairaz ROYAL VERRIE 67 D. Berra ST PETERSBOURG 67 Ch. Monjon /D. Columbu NIKODEM 67 J.Myska Czech Rep. DUERO 67 J. Faltejsek Poland Doubtful starters: FLORESTANO (67), IMBIR (67)