|
|
Velka Pardubicka Steeplechase
|
14th October 1984
|
|
|
|
| Sadly Sagar was absent from this and all future Velkas , suffering a serious injury to his foreleg in a race at Pardubice in August. Sagar was therefore retired at the comparitively young age of eight to his owners stud. Rider Pavel Leibich , perhaps knowing that he would never again ride such a great horse hung up his boots as well. Sagar was to lead the parade in 1986, 1988 and 1990 before suffering a heart attack in 1993. Eight of the sixteen strong field had lined up in 1983 including JAWAN and EROT second and third behind Sagar twelve months before. The Soviet FUTBOL, VALENCIO and EROT disputed the lead during the usual break-neck pace to the Taxis. EROT was lucky to survive as both VALENCIO and FUTBOL came down heavily either side of him and immediately behind there were several nasty looking falls. It was the worst pile up since 1979 and only EROT, BLISTR, JAWAN , FESTIVAL and GABR had survived . Such was the carnage only two horses, VALENCIO and KAPPELLAN were able to remount and continue although neither got very much further. With JAWAN taking an uncharacteristic tumble at Fence 10A the race was left between EROT, FESTIVAL and BLISTR who raced together in front of the stunned stands. With BLISTR departing at the final water the race became a match between the Soviet and the local hope running in the colours made famous by Sagar. FESTIVAL had had a difficult Velka on his debut in 1983 but was now jumping with far more confidence yet he was never able to get on terms with EROT who perhaps deserved his moment of glory. No one could have known it at the time but EROT proved to be the last ever Soviet trained winner of the race. With the collapse of communism in 1989 and serious financial problems jump racing in Russia was severely curtailed in the nineties and whilst racing remains popular jumping has now all but disappeared.
VELKA PARDUBICKA STEEPLECHASE 220,000KC (1st 110,000kc, 2nd 51,000kc, 3rd 33,000kc, 4th 15,00kc, 5th 11,000kc) 16 runners (41 entries)
1st EROT - N.Chludejev 10, 71.5
2nd FESTIVAL - Petr Vozab 10, 68
3rd JAWAN - Jaromir Stohanzl 11, 79.5 (fell 10A remounted)
4th GABR - N.Amelcenko 7, 70.5 (fell 17th remounted fell 18th remounted)
Also Ran : BLISTR - V.Juhas (fell 18th), VALENCIO - J.Vasut (fell 4th remounted fell 8th), KAPELLAN - A.Zazin 7 (fell 4th remounted refused 5th continued fell 8th), URSUS - J Sajicek 8 (fell 4th), DUKAT - Karel Kuchovsky 7 (fell 4th), BOLID - P.Valkony 8 (fell 4th), POLLY EXPRES - Josef Bartos 8 (brought down 4th), FUTBOL - Ch Kasajev 6 (fell 4th), BORG - Karel Zajko 7 (unseated rider 4th), LYSANDER - Jan Havlicek 9 (fell 4th), LINGUA - M.Kantek 9 (unseated rider 4th), EMANUEL - J.Olejnicki 10 (fell 4th),
Non Runners : Azat, Dokker, Vat
Trainer : G.Chajanin in Soviet Union. Distances : 10 - distance - 20 . Time : 10 minutes 48.9 seconds |
|
|
|
6th October 1985
|
|
|
|
|
After the carnage of 1984 entry conditions were tightened for the 1985 renewal resulting in just twenty one entries (twenty down from the previous year). Only eleven lined up but it was a good field. Reigning champion EROT was back as was FESTIVAL and JAWAN. There were also high hopes for a seven year old colt called ESSEX ridden by Vaclav Chaloupka. They were to make history the following April by becoming the first Czech horse in fifty years to contest the Grand National at Aintree. ESSEX was a headstrong little colt and he went into an early lead with SANTOS. The Pardubice executive no doubt let out a collected sigh of relief as only two horses came down, ironically both Soviet challengers PANSIONAT and EROT who took an uncharacteristic tumble. For some reason Popkovices turn was not included this year and the runners instead took a snall fence in the middle of the wood. ESSEX remained in the lead yet he came down at the usually trouble free fence seven and whilst Chaloupka quickly remounted he was not able to coax the little colt over the "In and Out". The seven survivors, led by the sole surviving Russian ELDA settled down and by the time the horses had crossed the stone wall in front of the stands only ZELEZNIK had dropped out with a broken stirrup at the thirteenth. Having been a relatively incident free race there was sensation at the seventeenth, the notorious Snake-Ditch water . Leader BORG appeared hesitant and fell into the fence immediately followed by PARAMON. FESTIVAL struggled but got through the water with the partnership with jockey Vozab intact but ELDA and outsider VEMIN were not so lucky as both took spectacular dives, VEMIN giving both herself and her a jockey a good ducking. As with twelve months before FESTIVAL found himself left with just one horse to beat after the eighteenth , this time with SANTOS who had been campaigned heavily all season with the Velka in mind. SANTOS was a frail looking animal and by the English Jump where he almost had to drag himself over the fnec it was clear that he was not up to the task. FESTIVAL took the lead and was thereafter never in danger running out a very easy winner from the remounted PARAMON and the exhausted SANTOS. Whilst no SAGAR, FESTIVAL was a worthy winner who had been able to continue the successful run of the Kadruby stud. The famous black and white quartered colours are still seen on Czech racecourses now (uner the name "Vasury Kolesa") although they are have not won the Velka again.
VELKA PARDUBICKA STEEPLECHASE 220,000KC (1st 110,000kc, 2nd 51,000kc, 3rd 33,000kc, 4th 15,000kc, 5th 11,000kc) 11 runners (21 entries)
1st FESTIVAL - Petr Vozab 11, 67
2nd PARAMON - Mr Josef Vana 9, 67 (fell 17th remounted)
3rd SANTOS - Karel Kuchovsky 8, 70.5
4th ELDA - Ch.Kasajev aged, 71 (fell 17th remounted)
5th VEMIN - Mr J.Michal 8, 70.5 (fell 17th remounted)
6th BORG - P.Hytych (fell 17th remounted unseated rider 25th remounted)
Also ran : ZELEZNIK - Antonin Novak (pulled up after 12th), ESSEX - Vaclav Chaloupka 7 (fell 7th remounted refused 9th), PANSIONAT - J.Sevljakov 9 (fell 4th), EROT - N.Chludjev 11 (unseated rider 4th), JAWAN - Jaromir Stohanzl 12 (pulled up after 2nd).
Non Runner : Bosy
Trainer : Vaclav Cermal. Distances : distance-3-5-distance-15. Time : 10 mins 36.4 secs |
|
|
|
12th October 1986
|
|
|
|
|
EROT was back to make amends for his uncharacteristic early exit last year with another Soviet, newcomer GVARDJESK while FESTIVAL was looking to emulate his illustrious stable companion Sagar with back to back wins. The Taxis for the second year running only claimed a fraction of the runners with just three coming down although LOZORNO sadly was killed. GVARDJESK continued the Soviet trend of front running at a ridiculous pace early on. However at the normally trouble free Fence 10 the Soviet simply ran head first into the small ditch in front of the fence hampering ZELEZNIK who was just behind him and EROT who was unseated. In true Velka tradtiion all three were remounted although GVARDEJESKs rider Kasajev has to entangle the reins and extricate his mount from the fence. VALENCIO was left in the lead followed by PARAMON and ORKA. PARAMON briefly took the lead after the Drop but only for a matter of strides as VALENCIO headed the field onto the Snake Ditch where for the second year running there was considerable grief. PARAMON, clearly remembering his fall there the previous year refused pitching his jockey into the water, FESTIVAL came to a complete stop immediately behind although he managed to jump into the water and kept jockey Vozab in the saddle. Less fortunate was ORKA who got a ducking and no amount of caoxing could persuade DUKAT and POLY EXPRESS to take the fence. VALENCIO in a matter of strides was left in an unassailable lead pursued now by the remounted Soviets EROT and GVARDJESK who had been the main beneficiaries from the trouble at the previous fence. FESTIVAL was left a distant fourth. The rest of the race was a procession. VALENCIO simply stayed in front and none of his persuars were able to get anywhere near him. It was the easiest victory ever seen in the Velka despite some fairly mediocre jumping by the leader. It was a farily miserable end for the Soviet duo. EROT crashed out at the last hurdle and lay winded on the ground for several minutes whilst GVARDJESK was completely exhausted by his efforts. Neither raced at Pardubice again. As for VALENCIO he turned his attention to Aintree and was sent to be trained in the South of England for an assault on the great race. He ran twice in the UK, pulling up in a small race at Newton Abbot before carrying top weight of twelve stone in the 1987 Grand National. He was behind when he fell at Valentines Brook on the second circuit. Returning to Czechoslavakia in pretty poor condition he raced just once more in 1987 where he suffered an injury and was retired. He enjoyed a very long and happy retirement before he passed away just before Christmas 2007 aged thirty.
VELKA PARDUBICKA STEEPLECHASE 220,000KC (1st 110,00kc, 2nd 51,000kc, 3rd 33,000kc, 4th 15,000kc, 5th 11,000kc) 14 runners (31 entries)
1st VALENCIO - Mr Karel Zajko 9, 70.5
2nd GVARDEJSK - Ch Kasajev 6, 70.5 (refused & fell 10 remounted0
3rd MALBA - S.Beranek 7, 70.5 (fell 17th remounted)
4th FESTIVAL - Petr Vozab 12, 70.5
5th ORKA - M.Kantek 6, 71.5
6th LITOST - Mr Josef Kovanda 13, 70.5 (fell 4th remounted unseated rider 21st remounted fell 27th remounted)
Also Ran : EROT - N.Chludejev (unseated rider 10th remounted fell 30th), ZELEZNIK - Antonin Novak 8 (unseated rider 10th remounted unseated rider 21st remounted unseated rider 27th), ESKADRA - M.Zajicek 6 (unseated rider 4th remounted fell 10A remounted fell 17th remounted refused 18th, 20th & 21st - gave up), DUKAT - Miroslav Hanus 9 (fell 7th remounted refused 17th), PARAMON - Mr Josef Vana 10 (refused & unseated rider 17th), POLLY EXPRES - M.Bezdek 10 (refused 17th), DINGO - Jiri Bartusch 10 (pulled up 5th), LOZORNO - Jaromir Stohanzl 7 (fell 4th).
Non Runners : Linea, Laban
Trainer : Frantisek Holcak. Distances : distance-4-distance-distance. Time : 10 mins 39.04 secs |
|
|
|
4th October 1987
|
|
|
|
|
With Valencio injured in the Grand National just one former winner of the Velka, FESTIVAL lined up this year. ZELEZNIK, partnered for the first time by Josef Vana had recently changed trainers and was now in the hands young vet Cestmir Olehla. The entire FORMAN and PARAMON were quickly away with ORKA prominent. The pace was fast and furious, too fast for MALBA who was already some way adrift by the time the field reached the Taxis. PARAMON led over the great ditch which this year proved to have rather less bite that usual only claiming two horses SAFJAN and MAJAK. ORKA did his best to run out the the Irish Bank but jockey Kantek managed to steer him over. Unusually for a Velka there were few incidents in the early part of the race. FORMAN maintained his lead ahead of ZELEZNIK, PARAMON & VIETOR whilst FESTIVAL appeared to be struggling in rear and MALBA was tailed off. There was drama again at the seventeenth where for the third year running PARAMON came to grief. This year it was a refusal and try as he might jockey Jasinsky just could not coax the horse over his bogey fence. At the Big Water FESTIVAL actually fell into the brook giving viewers the first view of the effects that recent modifications had had on the fence. A fall such as this would have led to disaster but now as FESTIVAL only went up to his knees in the water and was able to quite easily continue on his way. In a sign of the times GOLGOTA fell there and was caught by his jockey but not remounted. At the second "In and Out" FORMAN was clear followed by VIETOR, ORKA, ZELEZNIK and the grey GIBRIDKA. VIETOR overjumped the first part and stumbled into the ditch on the take off of the second. It looked quite gruesome as the horse was trapped inside the fence unable to get up but fortunately he was extricated from the fence and was seemingly none the worse for his ordeal. FORMAN was yet to be headed in the race and by Havels Jump the race looked to be between the brave little colt, ZELEZNIK and GIBRIDKA. FORMAN was to race in four Velkas yet he never quite stayed the full distance and after the second last hurdle he was overtaken by ZELEZNIK and simply could not go with him. ZELEZNIK went on to win the race at this third attempt and in doing so recorded the first sub ten minute Velka in a time of 9 minutes 56.13 seconds.
VELKA PARDUBICKA STEEPLECHASE 220,000KC (1st 110,000kc, 2nd 51,000kc, 3rd 33,000kc, 4th 15,000kc, 5th 11,000kc) 12 runners (30 entries)
1st ZELEZNIK - Mr Josef Vana 9, 70.5
2nd FORMAN - Libor Stencl 6, 70.5
3rd GIBRIDKA - Miroslav Hanus 9, 70.5
4th ORKA - Miroslav Kantek 7, 71
5th FESTIVAL - Petr Vozab 13, 65.5 (fell 25th , remounted)
Also Ran : MALBA - S.Beranak 8 (pulled up 28th), VIETOR - Jan Havlicek 10 (fell 20th), GOLGOTA - Z.Zustek 11 (fell 18th), PARAMON - Frantisek Jasinsky 11 (refused 17th), VIVIER - Jaromir Stohanzl 7 (refused & unseated rider 17th), MAJAK - P.Juranek 8 (unseated rider 4th), SAFJAN - Ch Kasajev 9 (unseated rider 4th)
Non Runner : Host
Trainer : Cestmir Olehla. Distances : 12-7-distance-distance. Time : 9 mins 56.13 sec. COURSE RECORD |
|
|
|
(c) Chris 2006 All Rights Reserved.
Create a
free website at Webs.com
|
