Town of Pardubice Stakes – 2nd qualification race for the 132nd Velka Pardubicka with Slavia Insurance – Major M. Svoboda Memorial

Crosscountry steeplechase, category: National Listed, 5800 metres, CZK 400 000
Going: 3.4 (good)

Non-runner: ZATARO
Time: 7 min. 5.16 sec.
owner: DS Kabelkovi, Trainer: Hana Kabelková (TALENT)

The second of the four qualification races for the 132^nd running of the Velka Pardubicka was run on June 18^th. It was a hot day, but the race was run after 6 pm, after the heat of the day, as the eighth race of the afternoon. The course was in good order, and the going was good. However, the ploughed fields were distinctly dusty. There was a disappointingly small field for the race – there were just six runners. Zataro was withdrawn because his intended jockey, Jaroslav Myška, was injured in the seventh race, and no suitable replacement rider was available. (There was a race meeting on the same day at Merano, where, for example, Pavel Složil was engaged to ride for the Váňas. This was an unfortunate clash, meaning that last year’s VP winner, Talent, was ridden in the qualification race by Marcel Novák.  In addition, Josef Bartoš was unable to ride Theophilos, due to a back injury, and he was replaced by Marek Stromský).

The six runners constituted an interesting field. Talent is last year’s winner of the VP. Theophilos is a past  winner of the VP, and he was very narrowly beaten into 2^nd place in the May qualification race. 10-y-o Northerly Wind, owned by Dr. Jiří Charvát and trained by Pavel Tůma, has won and been placed in a number of top steeplechases at Milano and at Merano.  

Beau Rochelais, a complete outsider, stole a few lengths at the start, and led into the first three obstacles, after which Theophilos took over. The field formed a compact group, though Northerly Wind did not seem comfortable with the open ditches. At the Hangar Fence, seven from home, Northerly Wind again jumped awkwardly, and then he ran out or was pulled up by Jan Faltejsek. In the closing stages, Talent led the field, and he did enough to win the race. Sacamiro and Dajuka finished 2^nd and 3^rd, just ahead of Theophilos. Less than three lengths separated the first four horses. Beau Rochelais trailed in a long way behind, but he qualified for the Velka Pardubicka and even won some prizemoney for finishing in 5^th place.

Talent’s win was of course very pleasing for trainer Hana Kabelková – especially as she and her husband own the horse. Talent was ridden by Marcel Novák. On a long hot afternoon, he rode in all eight races. Marcel Novák keeps himself very fit, and he was able to ride a strong finish on Talent and then, shortly after the race, to be scarcely breathing heavily when interviewed on the CT Sport television channel. Sacamiro and Dajuka showed that they both deserve a place in the VP. Theophilos is trained by Josef Váňa, senior, whose runners in the VP are always expertly prepared.

The two remaining qualification races for the VP will be run on Saturday, August 6^th and on Saturday, September 3^rd. Velka Pardubicka day is Sunday, October 9^th.