Slavia Insurance, now in their fifth year as the main sponsor of the Velka Pardubicka, put up special sponsorship for this year’s second VP qualification race on June 24^th at Pardubice racecourse. Prizemoney of one million Czech crowns (more than EUR 40 000) was a very large amount for a race over obstacles in the Czech Republic, though the Velka Pardubicka carries prizemoney of CZK 5 million this year.

The aim was to stimulate interest in the Velka in western Europe by attracting some horses trained in France or Italy, or even in England or Ireland, to run at Pardubice. This did not happen, but at least Josef Aichner, the leading Italian owner of steeplechasers, ran three of his horses at the meeting, including Santa Klara, which started as favourite for the Slavia Insurance Cup and ran a good race to finish a close 3^rd.

Josef Aichner’s horses have been trained in the Czech Republic for several years now, and it seems that he is becoming more receptive to running his horses at Pardubice. (He has a declared runner at Lysá on July 6^th). At first, Josef Váňa senior trained the Aichner horses, but about 4 years ago Josef Váňa junior took over responsibility. Both father and son have had fabulous success, mainly in Italy, for Josef Aichner. 70-year-old Josef Váňa senior is still the top personality in Czech racing. Indeed, his horses picked up the prizemoney for 1^st place and for 4^th place in the Slavia Insurance Cup.

Twelve horses lined up for the race, including two that are trained in Slovakia, Kaiserwalzer and Royal Gino. Two French jockeys, Benoit Claudic and Ludovic Solignac, rode Barython de Vaige and Player, respectively. Player’s regular rider, Marcel Novák, had been injured in a fall earlier in the afternoon.

The race itself was undramatic. After the third obstacle, the Small Water Jump, Lodgian Whistle was sent to the front, with Aeneas in second place. These two horses are both trained by Josef Váňa senior. As it turned out, Lodgian Whistle was never headed after this point, and for most of the race Aeneas was second place. The main incident was unnoticed by the crowd and, to be honest, is invisible on the video. Ondřej Velek, on Lodgian Whistle, started heading for the wrong section of the Extended Taxis Fence (No. 4), but his fellow jockeys called out a warning and he managed to get back on course. Royal Gino hit No. 7 pretty hard, and Jan Odložil made a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful effort to remain on board. At the Snake Ditch, half way round the course, Player landed right in the water, and Ludovic Solignac had no chance of remaining in the saddle. Player had also failed to get round in the May qualification race, and he will have to try again to qualify in August or in September (or in a Crystal Cup race, or in a race over at least 4 800 metres in France, Italy, Ireland or the United Kingdom).

In the last kilometre, Santa Klara looked dangerous, and Sacamiro moved up, while Lodgian Whistle held on and Aeneas kept going without seriously challenging the leader. Talent, winner of the VP two years ago, got round safely in 6^th place, without putting in a challenge. Whether he is past his best at the age of 12, or whether he is saving his best for October 8^th remains to be seen. Imphal, which finished 5^th, Kaiserwalzer and Barython de Vaige got round unnoticed. The grey mare, Dajuka, was visible, but at the rear of the field, where New Finch was too, until he was pulled up.

After the last fence, Lodgian Whistle still had three challengers to beat off. Aeneas soon started dropping back, but Santa Clara looked threatening. Sacamiro also moved up threateningly. Lodgian Whistle held on resolutely to win by a length from Sacamiro. Santa Clara finished a further length behind in third place. Each of the first three look like contenders for the VP.

The two remaining qualification races at Pardubice are on Saturday, August 5^th and on Saturday, September 2^nd. Velka Pardubicka Day is Sunday, October 8^th, and there is an ambitious programme of major races at Pardubice on Saturday, October 7^th over hurdles and on the classical steeplechase course, as well as the Winter Queen Stakes, the top race of the season for two-year-old fillies. This will be the first major flat race at Pardubice almost 10 years, though before that major races for 2-y-o colts and fillies were a regular feature on the day before the VP.