VP qualification race attracts a powerful field
The midsummer part of the Czech racing season has offered limited opportunities for horses to run recently. Trainers and owners have had to look outside the country, or to wait until our main courses begin their autumn season.
The return of racing to Pardubice this weekend has attracted very large fields. 112 horses are declared to run in 8 races on Saturday, and even at Netolice on Sunday there are 93 declared runners for the 9 races.
The field of 20 for the 3rd VP qualification race would be worthy of the Velka itself. The declared runners include well-favoured contenders like Rabbit Well, Zarif, Hegnus, Nikas and Kasim. Last year’s VP winner Ribelino will run – his injuries when he was brought down in the June qualification race must have been less than I had understood. His three runs this year have all ended in a fiasco, and it is high time for him to show some of last year’s form again. Trezor, not entered for the VP, is to run. He seems to be past his best. Cherwick, a good chaser that has repeatedly failed to negotiate the Irish Bank, will be in the field. Al Jaz, a close 2nd to Orphee des Blins in the VP two years ago, has another opportunity to show that he is a potential VP contender. Registana’s son, Reaper, will be there, and he shows some of his dam’s spirit. Charme Look, trained by Martina Růžičková, will be ridden by Barbora Málková, who rode a winner at Kolesa last weekend. Charme Look is good enough to be a real challenger for the VP, and a win for his lady owner, lady trainer and lady rider, this Saturday and in October, would be very popular. Rabbit Hawk Wing and Josef Váňa senior, who are expected to go for the VP, and are already qualified, will run in one of the other races.
Jan Faltejsek, who has been out for months with a broken leg, will be on Cherwick. Jan won a race at Karlovy Vary recently, and it is good to see him back in the saddle again. British jockey Thomas Garner will be on Ribelino.
Several of the other races at Pardubice on Saturday will be very competitive trial races for the side races on Velka Pardubicka day (October 9th). The first race is at 1 pm, and there are 8 races on the card.