Racing returns to headquarters

After two summer months of out-of-town racing, we return on Saturday, August 28th to Pardubice and on Sunday August 29th to Prague Velka Chuchle (aka Auto Hase Park).

The meeting at Pardubice offers 9 competitive races, with large fields, thanks in part to the anticipated good ground. Although Czech-trained horses have the option of qualifying for the Velka Pardubicka in many races abroad, this option has only been taken in a few cases (Juventus and Wavelight Laser qualified at Merano). Several serious contenders will be using the main race at Pardubice on Saturday either to qualify or to warm up for the big race, which is run on October 10th. The field contains major contenders Amant Gris, Sixteen, Mandarino and Welldancer (presumably to be ridden on Saturday by Josef Vana snr), and a number of high-quality younger horses - Aspirant, Baggio, Nikodem and Partoutatou. Bejrut, Jung, Profil and Tomis all have a chance of a place. Marath, owned by Swiss Fans, sprung a surprise by taking second place in this race two years ago, but this opposition is probably too hot for him. In the Category II race, VP 2009 winner Tiumen takes on June VP qualification race winner Bremen Plan, and there are several other strong entries for this race - Isar, Ignacio, Mastman, Teresina and Teviot. The first race is at 1 pm.

On Sunday at Prague Velka Chuchle, the main race is the Czech St Leger. Czech Derby winner Talgado is not entered. the favourite will probably be Ulan, which stayed on well to finish 2nd in the Czech Derby. Slovak-trained Bribon won the Slovak Two Thousand Guineas, and then finished 5th in the Czech Derby and also in the Slovak Derby. The extra distance of the St Leger seems more likely to favour Ulan than Bribon. The first race on Sunday is at 2 pm, and there are 8 races on the card. There will be racing at Velka Chuchle every Sunday afternoon until October 31st. The regular time for the first race is at 2 pm (earlier in October).