February 2010 Newsletter
The 15th Czech Turf Gala Evening was held on January 23rd, in Prostejov, which is not far south of Olomouc. If January 23rd is anything to go by, it is a freezing place, but my memory of Czech Turf Gala evenings is that the coldest night of the winter is normally chosen for them. This time it was held in the attractive but slightly underheated Narodni Dum in Prostejov. That is to say that it was just warm enough for me in my suit and tie, but the young ladies in their decollete dresses, if that is the word I am looking for, had to suffer a little to be beautiful.
Before the party began, there was an award ceremony, hosted by Marek Svacina, racing commentator and racing enthusiast.
The awards went as follows:
Flat racing
Top apprentice: Jan Verner
Top amateur: Linda Fedorowiczová
Top jockey: Václav Janáček
Top trainer: Filip Neuberg
Jan Verner gets a lot of rides. He is not only able to do low weights, but is also clearly well regarded by our trainers. In his acceptance speech, he said that his aim is to get his jockey title in 2010 by reaching 50 winners. He intends to stay in the Czech Republic after finishing his apprenticeship this summer. He will be based at Benesov with trainer Jiri Hurt. Linda Fedorowiczová was also there in person to collect her prize. Champion jockey Václav Janáček was riding the next day at Arosa. He is spending his second winter in Switzerland, and has had a winner over hurdles there.
Top 2-y-o colt: Shamalgan - stáj Turan
Top 2-y-o filly: Linda - Agrolipt ČR
Shamalgan is rated by our handicapper as our best-ever 2-y-o. We will see how he trains on. Linda's trainer Václav Luka jnr thinks the filly may stay and do well as a 3-y-o.
Top 3-y-o colt: Age of Jape - Bača Palkovice
Top 3-y-o filly: Rabbit Zamindar - Rabbit Trhový Štěpánov
Age of Jape’s owner Radim Bača said the triple-crown winning horse will continue to run on the flat, but that he and trainer František Holčák have not yet discussed plans for the coming season.
Top sprinter: Ediggio - Chovsport Zdelov.
Trainer Zdeněk Mimra said that Ediggio is wintering well, and that he will again be aimed at our top sprints in 2010.
Top miler: Blue Coral - Dr. Charvát
No reperersentative of the owner or trainer Tomas Satra was present. Blue Coral’s best performances were in Italy last year, and he is expected to run mainly abroad in 2010 too.
Top stayer: Age of Jape - Bača Palkovice
In the Top 3-y-o category, Age of Jape won 100% of the votes, but in this category it was closer. He won only 52 %. As his owner Radim Bača, mayor of the small Moravian town of Palkovice, put it, "If I were to get that percentage of the votes in the autumn election, I would be satisfied, but I had expected a bit more for Age of Jape."
Top older horse: Blue Coral - Dr. Charvát
Jumps racing
Top apprentice: Josef Váňa jnr
Top amateur rider: Lenka Syslová
Top jockey: Josef Váňa jnr
Top trainer: Josef Váňa snr
Josef Váňa jnr said that he has more or less given up riding on the flat – unless, that is, people offer him a ride at 65 kg. He really is rather tall and strongly built for a jockey, even over fences. His target for 2010 is to pass his school leaving exams and to ride Tiumen in the Velka Pardubicka. He says that his father can ride Welldancer, which he had planned to ride in 2009. Josef snr said that Welldancer has been blistered and will soon be back in training. Josef snr himself is due for some surgery himself on January 26th. Lenka Syslova rode and trained two winners at her local race day at Albertovec, and these were the only jumps races won by an amateur rider all season.
Top hurdler: Royal Mougins - Dr. Charvát
Trainer František Holčák said that they want to try Royal Mougins over tougher fences next year, and maybe aim him at the Gran Premio Merano, adding that he is a golden horse, in every sense: good health, good temperament, good ability to keep winning races.
Top chaser: Sixteen - Buc Film
It was a surprise that this award did not go to Tiumen or Royal Mougins. Owner Jaroslav Bouček joked that it was a nice consolation for being beaten in the Velka Pardubicka. His good mare Ready for Life should be back for the 2010 season, and Jaroslav Bouček thinks she can beat Sixteen at Pardubice in October.
Top breeder: Napajedla Stud
Best Czech-bred horse: Ediggio - Chovsport Zdelov
Top owner: Wrbna Racing
Wrbna narrowly won this prize. Trainer Čestmír Olehla accepted the prize. He hopes to make his mark on the flat in 2010, but says that it takes time to train up a Velka Pardubicka winner.
Award for lifetime contribution to horse racing: Zdeněk Hlačík, long-time chief of the Napjedla Stud, now in retirement
Award for popularizing Czech racing: Josef Váňa
Josef Váňa received a lengthy standing ovation for the award of this new prize. He said "I hope that my popularity will bring to Czech racing managers who will obtain the necessary funding for racing. I think that is what is most needed. Perhaps we can do it. I think the Velka Pardubicka should have more prize money, to reflect its status in Europe." He also added his regret that all the publicity over his win on Tiumen had distracted attention from two other outstanding performances in the 2009 season – Vaclav Janacek’s achievements as a flat jockey, and Age of Jape’s five classic wins, in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Horse of the Year 2009: Age of Jape - Bača Palkovice
According to his connections, Age of Jape may well run abroad in the second half of the 2010 season, but good races in France may be beyond him. He will be ridden again by Jean Pierre Lopez, who is undefeated on Age of Jape. Age of Jape got 92% of the votes, 5% went to Shamalgani and 2% to Blue Coral.
To round off the ceremony, Radek Vraj and Josef Váňa went to the podium. Radek had promised Josef 10 litres of plum brandy if he finished first or second in the national Sportsman of the Year Award. In fact, he took third place, behind Martina Sablikova (speedskating) and Barbora Spotakova (javelin). As a consolation, Radek Vraj, who I understand runs a wineshop in Slusovice, offered Josef Váňa a mere 5-litre demijohn of brandy, which he accepted very graciously.
After the awards, the evening was divided into about three more parts. There was some food, then a lot of drinking and dancing, and then, back at the hotel, what sounded like an all-night party. Or maybe there it was a game of musical chairs, only with beds instead of chairs. It sounded like good fun.
Let me recommend the hotel, by the way. If ever you are in Prostejov, stay at the three-star Tennis Club Hotel, which is attached to the tennis club where Martina Hingis played a lot before and after she went to Switzerland. The hotel may not have passed the supreme test of soundproofing to which it was submitted, but it offered a good welcome to our happy group, none happier than the group of steeplechase jockeys led, I should say, by Jaroslav Myska.
The organiser of the Gala Evening in Prostejov was Zdenek Karlach who, together with Radek Vraj, has led the revival of racing at Slusovice. They deserve many thanks for their successful efforts at Slusovice and in organising a gala evening which everyone set out to enjoy.