As so often in recent years, a VP qualification race was held on the hottest day of the year so far. The ground staff had made a considerable effort to present the course in good condition, but unseasonably hot, dry weather in the week before the race thwarted their efforts. The going was good to firm, and on the ploughed fields only the leaders were not enveloped in dust.

Horseracing is not just a sporting occasion but is traditionally also a social event. Certain dress rules can therefore be announced, and in Melbourne a dress code colour is recommended. Let us try playing with colours here in Pardubice.

The current leader in the Czech jumps jockeys’ championship, prior to the meeting at Pardubice on Saturday, is Marcel Novák. In the Velka Pardubicka qualification race he will ride Kasim, with whom he won last year’s renewal of the race. The horse is trained by Přemek Kejzlar, and he missed last year’s Velka Pardubicka, so there is a big question mark over his current form. However, Marcel Novák takes an optimistic view of his chances.

The second meeting at Pardubice in the 2017 season, on Saturday, May 27^th, features the 25^th running of the Town of Pardubice Grand Prix crosscountry steeplechase, 5 800 metres.

Announcement of the Slu

After a break of eight years, a horse trained in Germany has won one of the Czech classic races. German-bred Fashion Queen, by Santiago (GER) out of Fashion Tycoon (IRE) (Chineur (FR)) won by half a length from Polyanta, bred and owned here by Jiří Travníček. Polyanta is by Soldier of Fortune (IRE) out of Peinture Naïve (FR), which raced in the Czech Republic. As she had when winning the main trial race for the 1 000 Guineas, Polyanta set a good pace and ran on well.

The closing date for the two main races is May 8^th.

Exchange rate: SED 9.63 = EUR 1.00.

This weekend, trainer Radim Bodlák (picture) is running horses at Wroclaw, Poland, and at Lysá nad Labem, near Prague.

April 2017 provided some fine, sunny Sunday afternoons at Prague Velká Chuchle early in the month, but turned mainly wet and chilly later on. In last month’s April newsletter, I called an end to the Czech skiing season prematurely.

Nikas, disqualified for failing a drugs test after being first past the post in the 2015 Velka Pardubicka, has moved to a new trainer.