In recent years, the Velka Pardubicka qualification races have been run mainly on very hot, often extremely hot, days and on hard ground, with dust clouds rising off the ploughed fields. It was therefore comparatively pleasing that there was some rain on the day before this year’s May qualification race, and the temperature in the shade on Saturday, May 26^th was below 30 degrees. Not that there is much shade out on the racecourse, to tell the truth. I noted that the photographers returned very wearily to the press box between races and needed plenty of water.

Thirteen horses entered for the Velka went to the starting line for the May qualification race. Four of the major contenders were trained by Josef Váňa, who had had trouble finding riders. Josef Váňa junior suffered an injury at Merano on Monday. Jan Kratochvíl chose to ride No Time To Lose, on which he had won the VP in 2017. Jaroslav Myška was available to ride Ange Guardian, and Marek Stromský rode Theophilos. The ride on less-fancied Power Zar went to Patrick Boekhout, who works for Váňa. Patrick Boekhout has been given some quite good riding opportunities, but is still awaiting a breakthough moment. He has been given a couple of chances to ride for Váňa in Italy this year, at Pisa and, recently, at Merano. Not many years ago, Josef Váňa senior would have jumped into the saddle himself, or would have publicly suggested he might ride, in a situation where a rider was needed, but I have not seen this option discussed this year.

13-year-old warrior Universe of Gracie went straight to the front. Sisi Merble unseated her rider at the second, and Ribelino lost his rider at the Irish Bank. Sertash Ferhanov appeared to have been catapulted out of the saddle when he led on Universe of Gracie at the Irish Bank, but this Czech-based Bulgarian rider further enhanced his reputation for getting back into the saddle when all is apparently lost. He defied gravity and wrestled his way back into the seat, without even losing first place. Templař took over from Universe of Gracie before they went behind the trees for the second time. Theophilos was in front when they entered the last 600 metres, which are run on the grass track, and at the 2nd last he looked the probable winner. However, he then weakened, and suspicions that he does not stay seem to have been confirmed. Ange Guardian led into the last fence, and in the run in there was a battle involving Talent, Ange Guardian and No Time to Lose. Talent was the unexpected winner, by half a length from Ange Guardian, with No Time to Lose a head behind in 3rd place. Theophilos was three and a half lengths further back in 4th place.

Ten of the thirteen runners got round, and qualified for the VP, which will be run on Sunday, October 14th.

Czech-bred 7-y-o Talent, by Egerton,. is owned by DS Kabelkovi, is trained by Hana Kabelková (photo), and was ridden by Jiří Kousek. He deadheated for first place in a Graded 3 steeplechase at Merano last year, and won three races at Pardubice in 2016. On the basis of his performance in the qualification race, he must now be considered a contender for the VP in years to come, and perhaps as soon as this October.

No Time To Lose and Ange Guardian also had very satisfactory outings, and Theophilos added to his reputation as a good chaser. However, he may now be aimed at big races abroad, rather than at the VP. All other horses that got round safely have achieved their primary task, which was to qualify for the big race on October 14th.

16:32 5^th race

Velká cena města Pardubic - XXVI. ročník - I. kvalifikace na 128. Velkou pardubickou s Českou pojišťovnou
Steeplechase crosscountry, kategorie: NL, 5800m ,400 000.00 Kč

Photo of Hana Kabelková, by Petr Guth