merano: Czech Runners failed to impress

Sharstar won the Gran Premio in Meran By repeating his 2008 win (when he was only 4-y.o.), he has now inscribed his name in the Golden Book of the race as one of the few multiple winners -and with sound expectations to add a third win in close succession of time.

The French challenge to Sharstar's clear role of the favourite materialized exactly as the experts had largely predicted in the vigil: Ocean d'Or took the lead at the start and ran as the front runner for most of the 5,000 m course. A fast pace was clearly regarded as the only practical strategy to adopt in order to force the Italian champion to spend more energies than those strictly necessary -and

Sharstar and jockey Romano are masters in sparingly administering energy, dosing efforts and launch attacks at the very right moment.

That just happened on the 2nd jump home, when Royal Verrie who had emerged as the most serious challenger, found it impossible to follow

Sharstar's pace and was one of the four horses who in the wake of Sharstar challenged for the second to fifth places. Royal Verrie -the best of the French- finished second. Le Bazin third. And Sharstar's stable mate (and V.P. entry) Kandinskiy, ridden by Josef Bartos, fourth.

The best of the Czech runners at the finishing post proved to be Nikodem (jockey Myska) who finished 6th, while Florestano (jockey Vana Jr.) finished 7th. Imbir (trained by Votava, as Florestano) was one of the two horses who fell, while only one was pulled up.