In 2016, Czech-trained horses had a lot of success on the flat at racecourses abroad, but in 2017 the successes abroad so far have all been over hurdles and fences at Pisa, in Italy. The main raider has been Josef Váňa senior, but Greg Wroblewski also recently picked up a major prize.

Roches Cross, trained by Josef Váňa senior, has won three races this winter over hurdles in Italy, amassing prize money of just over one million Czech crowns. After winning at Grosseto in December and at Pisa in January, he won the Gran Corsa Siepi Nazionale, Graded 1, at Pisa on February 19th. In each of these races, Roches Cross was ridden by Josef Váňa jnr. In 2011, the horse won the Czech Derby and was second in the Czech Two Thousand Guineas. He was 6-y-o before he ran over hurdles. He has won 6 of his last 8 races, and is now established as one of the top hurdlers in central Europe. We may not see him run in the Czech Republic this year, as he has been pronounced a “winter horse”.

Less expectedly, on the same day at Pisa, the Criterium d’Inverno, Graded 2, hurdles, was won by Santo Cerro, trained by Greg Wroblewski and ridden by Jan Faltejsek. Santo Cerro is now being prepared to run his next race at Auteuil, with Jan Faltejsek in the saddle.

In addition, a smaller race race over fences at Pisa on February 18^th was won by Big Mago, trained by Josef Váňa and ridden by Jan Kratochvíl.

On February 9^th, also at Pisa, Deauveline, trained by Váňa senior, ridden by Váňa junior, won a nice race. The same team had won a steeplechase with Secret Sinner at Pisa on January 2th.

Normally I would also note Czech-trained horses that have won prize money for places in good races abroad, but placed horses have been too numerous to mention here, and mainly trained by Josef Váňa senior.

As the winter comes to an end, more and more Czech-trained horses are being entered for races abroad. France and Italy are the favourite destinations.