Martin Liška, trainer and planned jockey of Argano in the Velka Pardubicka, was injured in an unfortunate accident on Thursday. A deer ran across in front of Serena Chope, one of his other horses, which he was preparing to run in the Gold Brooch Stakes for 3-y-o hurdlers at Pardubice this Saturday. Martin ended up underneath the spooked horse, and was taken to hospital with a bruised kidney. The filly also had to be withdrawn from her race.

Argano will now be ridden in the Velka by Adam Čmiel, who on September 7^th rode his 50^th winner over fences. This means that he has earned the title of ‘jockey’. I apologize for not commemorating this at the time. Adam works for trainer Radek Holčák, who does not have a runner in this year’s Velka. This is a good and well-deserved opportunity for Adam - and really bad luck for Martin.

Argano finished 5^th in the Velka two years ago, but fell in the general confusion at the Taxis last year.