Our One Thousand Guineas and Two Thousand Guineas races are traditionally run on the first two Sundays in May The dates are far too early, and it is often the most mature milers, rather than the best milers, that come out on top. However, these races have to be run very early in the season so that the Czech Derby can also be run far too early in the season.

The fillies’ classic, run at Prague Velká Chuchle on May 6th, was won by Irish-bred Lady Westminster, by Rip Van Winkle, out of a Bertolini mare. She had had the benefit of running twice in France at the end of last year, but this was her first run as a 3-y-o. She is owned by Westminster Race Horses, is trained by Václav Luka, junior, and was ridden by leading Swedish jockey Per Anders Gråberg. This was Per Anders Gråberg’s seventh raceday at Prague Velká Chuchle, where he represented Sweden in the European Jockeys Cup meeting in 2016 and 2017.

The colts’ classic, run at Prague Velká Chuchle on May 13th, was won by red-hot favourite Sagar, in a close finish with Forrest Gump and Mon Cheri. Sagar is also Irish-bred, by Excelebration, out of a High Chaparral mare. He is owned by DS Pegas, is trained by Dalibor Török (picture), and was ridden by British jockey Jack Mitchell. Sagar was our top 2-y-o in 2017, and won the main Guineas trial in May. He is clearly quite a good horse, and it will be interesting to follow his future career.  

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Photo by Petr Guth.