Goscater wins the 4th VP qualification race

All of the VP qualification races this year, with the exception of the first, were run on very hot afternoons. The temperature in the shade was in the low 30s, but there was not a lot of shade out there on the course last Saturday. Although the official going was good (3,2), it was firmer than that in many places where measurements presumably were not made.
In spite of the tough conditions, none of the 11 entered horses, including 4 late entries, was withdrawn from the race. However, the task for most of those that were already safely qualified for the VP was to get round safely, avoid lameness, and do a bit of preparation for October 9th.
Goscater, not entered for the VP, won the race very easily. It seems that half of his prize money for winning this race will now be reinvested in supplementing him for the Velka, provided he is OK after his efforts. He is owned by Staj Jeso, is trained by Štěpánka Myšková, and was ridden by her husband, Jaroslav Myška. Myška said after the race that this was the yard’s last chance of having a horse in this year’s Velka, and he was cautiously optimistic about the horse’s chances of running and doing well on October 9th.
Nikas was well beaten into 2nd place, Al Jaz came 3rd, Broker was 4th, Universe of Gracie 5th and Peer Cooper was 6th. With the exception of Broker, these were all already qualified. They picked up some reasonable prize money without competing too fiercely. Status Quo failed to qualify. Early in the race, Josef Váňa snr. was unseated by Rabbit Hawk Wing, which was already qualified.  Váňa walked away unhurt.
As a 6-y-o, in 2014, Goscater finished 2nd in the Labe Stakes on Velka Pardubicka day. In 2015, he ran only in two of the VP qualification races, but without distinction, and he did not run in the VP. He has only had this one race this year. He seems to be one of a number of horses that we do not have a lot of information about, but that could come good on October 9th.
We need a lot of rain in the next four weeks, and it is by no means certain to come. By October 9th, however, the heat of the summer will be gone, and lightly-raced autumn horses might come into their own. I would like to be given a list of “autumn horses” that are entered for the VP and have not yet been put through their paces this year. I would happily communicate it to you. However, I am afraid that this key information will not be available until the evening of October 9th.  

Written by Robin Healey