Betting on VP day opens
Betting on the VP Betino, the monopoly bookmaker in Czech racing, has opened its betting for Velka Pardubicka day. As is the nature of the beast, the bookmaker makes full use of the lack of any competition. At least he is offering longish odds against some, but not all of the no-hopers. Sixteen is the even money favourite, and there are five 9 to 1 second favourites: Lucky Nellerie, Mr Big, Tiumen, Mandarino and Del Sole. For the latest odds, see http://www.velka-chuchle.cz/index.php
Vana Jr. and Bartos wins again at Meran The list of the top jump jockeys riding in Italy includes three Czech names - Bartos, Vana Jr. and Kousek - and only an Italian one -champion jockey R. Romano. Their riding really makes the difference, particularly when the quality of the horse is not outstanding and the races are routine ones. In the Meran meeting of Saturday October 3rd, Vana Jr. won the first of the jump races in the card, riding Luka-trained Latibela (GM Electronic). Kousek, who rode in Italian colours, finished second; and Bartos in the saddle of Vana-trained Perdono (Vasulry Kolesa) third. The following race was a steeple chase cross country, where Bartos rode the winner and R. Romano the second finished. In the feature race, a Gr. 2 steeple chase, Vana Jr. replaced jockey D. Fuhrmann injured while riding in the previous race. He expertly rode Sharpmon in Italian colours and won. R. Romano in the saddle of Luxury Baby finished second. Bartos on Gilmour (trainer Luka, owner Conseq) finished third. What will be the Italian jump racing without the Czech jockeys -without the Bartoses, the Vanas and the Kouseks ? Longchamp raid: Tullamore is not last Owner YOKO, trainer Zdeno Koplik, and jockey Vaclav Janacek made a bold raid on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp last weekend. While Sharpour and Another True Story both finished in last place in their races, Tullamore did very well to finish 16th out of 20 in the Arc itself. Shamalgan is the Winter Favourite The Winter Favourite Prize, 1600 metres, sponsored by Expo-Nails, run at Velka Chuchle on October 4th, is the top race of the season for 2-y-os, especially in terms of prize money - one million Czech crowns, an amount exceeded here only for our classic races. The race was won in an excellent record time by Shamalgan, by Footstepsinthesand out of an Unfawain mare. Shamalgan is owened by Staj Turan, trained by Arslangirej Savujev, and was ridden by Milan Zatloukal. Shamalgan was bought as a yearling at Deauville. Second place, two lengths behind, went to Ramble On, which had beaten Shamalgan at Karlovy Vary in August, over 1200 metres. However, Ramble On has shown in his last two races that he does not stay.