They really take an interest in the work that they are training for. They regularly appear in races for apprentices, and then, quite often, they attract the attention of other trainers and owners than those they do internships with. Some apprentices from the Middle School for Horseracing and Riding offer their tips for this year’s Derby.

Simona Laubeová, sister of Martin Laube, the youngest-ever apprentice to get his jockey title for winning 50 races, is a talented first-year student of the School for Apprentices at Prague Velká Chuchle. She had her first ever ride on August 14, 2016, at Karlovy Vary, on Black Bent. She has now ridden in 12 races, and had her first win less than two weeks ago at the PMU meeting at Prague Velká Chuchle. In a race in which three riders, including her big brother, ended up on the ground, she steered War Horse safely to victory

“I don’t have a big tip for the winner. The Derby winner needs plenty of luck. My tip is that the race won’t be slowly run, and there won’t be a red hot pace, either. I’ll be rooting for my brother, on Palazzo Corsini, and for Aeneas and Tomáš Lukášek. I think Aeneas is a horse that could spring a surprise.”

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This interview by Jana Šejnohová first appeared on the Czech-language pages of Dostihový svět. Translated by Robin Healey