Ten o’clock today is the deadline for declaration to run in the races on Czech Derby day (Sunday June 25^th). The declarations will be followed with particular interest by trainer Greg Wroblewski. There are only 16 places in the boxes for the Derby, and 18 horses are still entered. In the event that there are more than 16 declared runners, the horses with the lowest handicap rating will be eliminated. Greg’s Kerabush is 18^th in the ratings, and would therefore need two scratchings to get into the race. Greg also trains Palazzo Corsini, which is rated level with Landaron, and lots will be drawn between these two horses if there are no withdrawals from the race.

Palazzo Corsini was unraced as a 2-y-o, but won his first two races earlier this year. He won quite impressively, but these were only Category III races, and were both over 1600 metres, and he was even installed as the early favourite for the Derby on the basis of these races. However, when Palazzo Corsini ran for the first time in earnest, in the Mironet Grand Prix derby trial, over 2400 metres at Prague Velká Chuchle at the beginning of June, he had a fitness problem, ran listlessly, and finished 8th. Landaron finished in 7^th place in this race. Our handicappers wisely decided that Palazzo Corsini’s second Category III win over 1600 metres was equal in value to Landaron’s 7^th place in the Derby trial over 2400 metres, so they both have the same rating.

I complain repeatedly on these pages that the top races in our calendar on the flat are the traditional classic races for 3-y-os, and that these are run while many of the horses are still immature and inexperienced. In addition, the field for the Derby, in particular, always contains a majority of horses that will turn out not to stay the distance. Nothing against the classics, which are very fine and popular races, but we need championship races for mature and experienced older horses that are more prestigious than the old classics.

It will be a pity if Palazzo Corsini is not allowed to run in the Derby, but there will be other races for him. For example, he is entered for the Slovak Derby, which will be run at Bratislava on July 16^th. Of course, he might not get into the field there, either!

In any case, Greg Wroblewski has a third entry for the Czech Derby, Nagano Gold, which could have a reasonable chance in the race. His 15-length win in his most recent race looked impressive, but the opposition will be of a different class on Sunday.

Declaration of riders closes at 3 p.m. today. Greg Wroblewski negotiated with Frankie Dettori to ride Nagano Gold, and says that Frankie was interested, but unfortunately has a prior engagement, his daughter’s birthday. A number of international jockeys, including leading Czech jockeys who work abroad, will be riding in Sunday, and their presence in Prague will add to the attractiveness of Czech Derby day.

The impressive winner of Mironet Grand Prix derby trial, Black Canyon (Manduro), has won all his four races so far, and he will be a hot favourite to win again on Sunday.