Successful EJC day

All of the efforts that went into European Jockeys’ Cup day at Prague Velká Chuchle racecourse on September 22nd were rewarded by a wonderful afternoon of horseracing, certainly the best raceday in the modern era of flat racing in the Czech Republic. Despite the discouraging weather forecast, it was a pleasantly warm, dry afternoon. The complicated arrangements connected with bringing so many jockeys to Prague all worked out fine, as far as I could see.

Jockeys from 15 countries participated, and the EJC Million may well be the first race anywhere in the world to have had jockeys from 15 countries competing in it!

The meeting began with a legends’ race. Josef Váňa had hoped to ride in the race, but had had to give up his attempt to participate due to a painful thigh joint, which will be operated on soon. Martina Růžíčková, on Tropical Bond, went straight to the front and was never headed. This was her second ever win on the flat, and it was a popular result.

Trainer Václav Luka began the afternoon with two second places, including the hot favourite in the EJC Pemat Trading Gerscha Memorial, a major race for 2-y-os. Then he had a golden hour-and-a-half, in which his horses won the three main events for 3-y-os and older! Wireless won the EJC Lokotrans Middle, over 1800 metres; Troizilet won the EJC Leram Million, over 1400 metres; and Rousse (which seems to be pronounced as “Rosie”) won the EJC Baltro Long, over 2400 metres). In between these races, young Matyáš Luka won the pony race, and this brought his father as much joy as the wins in three of the four main races.

The international jockeys played their part fully, and seemed to enjoy the outing to Prague and an opportunity to mix with each other and with Czech racegoers. Some of the jockeys based in western Europe travel to ride abroad quite often. Brett Doyle has ridden in over 20 countries and has spent extended period based in a number of places. The two Czech participants, Václav Janáček and Tomáš Lukášek, have twice gone to ride in the winter months in Dubai, and had met Qatari participant Faleh Nasser Bughenaim during their travels. Legendary Greek jockey Panagiotis Dimitsanis and top Cypriot jockey Konstantinos Kapodistrias, who ride mainly in their home countries, came with their wives. They finished in 9th and 8th places out of 16 in the competition – no doubt Konstatinos was happy to beat Panagiotis!

The EJC competition was won by Kazakh jockey, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. Bauyrzhan won the Czech jockeys’ championship three times before moving over to Germany in 2017. He gets back to the Czech Republic and to Slovakia quite frequently, and his win was very popular. In the main races, the connections were able to choose among the jockeys, and Bauyrzhan was chosen for one of the favoured horses in each of the feature races, again reflecting the respect owners and trainers have for him, for his riding skills, and for his experience of riding at Velká Chuchle.

 The result of the EJC competition was

1. Bauyrzhan Murzabayev (Kazakhstan) 30 points

2. Jean-Bernard Eyquem (France) 18 points

3. Andreas Helfenbein (Germany) 17 points 

For the second time, the national anthem of Kazakhstan was played on EJC day, for a popular winner at the end of a fine afternoon of horseracing at Prague Velká Chuchle.