With the 102nd Czech Derby being Central Europe’s principal racing event, it’s Agadir Gold in taking out the 107th Grand June Prize that’s classed as the true Czech Derby Trial.
The Grand June Prize for 3yo’s was Agadir Gold’s first season success, and he returns to Prague’s Velka Chuchle Racecourse for the Czech Derby of 2400m in drawing Gate 14 of 16 starters.
Again with former champion Jan Verner riding for trainer Radek Holcak, he was dropped-out on starting in the June Prize, and was allowed to settle in near last along the backstretch.
Confidently making ground around the home turn, and skirting wide into the straight, Agadir Gold made straight for the line to score by a length in 2:23.40 for the 2210m on a Good 3 track.
Unplaced in his two previous starts, and a 1600m first start winner at two, he races for Mr and Mrs R Topicovi, having been a 3,000 Gns buy-back at the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Consigned by Ballyphilip Stud, Agadir Gold is by the Prix Jean Prat winner Havana Gold from the winning Oratorio mare Alice Girl, the family of Duke of York Stakes winner Invincible Army.
However, it’s the 101st Czech 2000 Guineas, the 101st Grand Spring Prize, that’s making the 102nd Czech Derby a race in two with the Czech-bred Zamico running home a smart four length winner.
Now ridden by Jaroslav Linek for the Derby, Zamico raced behind the leaders for the majority of the race, and on entering the straight he never moved off the rails for a clear run home.
In accounting for French winner Westminster Night in 1:36.81 for the 1600m on a Good 3, he’s trained by four times champion Allan Petrlik for owner and breeder Rabbit Trhovy Stepanov.
In also winning over 1400m and 1800m at two, he’s by the former German Best Older Horse in Amico Fritz, who stood for two seasons at the historic Napajedla Stud Farm outside Napajedla.
Being from the British bred 2009 Czech Oaks winner Rabbit Zamindar, his stakes placed winning grandam Stay Behind is the family of Rainbow Quest, Warning and Commander In Chief.
However, it’s the locals who say you cannot dismiss the record of the 36th Professor Michal Memorial Stakes of 2210m, which was won by the Radek Holcak trained colt Well Prepared.
Sired by the 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist, Well Prepared is looking to join Last year’s winner Hazarder, and the 100th year 2020 winner Opasan for Derby hero celebrations.
With the 77th Czech Oaks not being run until Sunday 7 August at Karlovy Vary, it’s the 43rd Latina Stakes, the Czech Oaks Trial that will gain all the attention on Saturday 16 July.
Also to be run at Prague’s Velka Chuchle racecourse over 2200m for 3yo fillies, its looking to be an open-event with Eva Nieslanikova’s Comming Pulse having won the 18th Nora Jeane Stakes.
In scoring her first win in 9 starts in this 3yo+ F&M event over 1600m ridden by champion amateur Sabina Mokrosova, she defeated her Czech 1000 Guineas rival Dally Top by ½ length.
However, it was the failure of the hot-favourite Classa, that may see her return for the Latina Stakes, while Czech 1000 Guineas French-bred winner Queen of Beaufay is also a Derby starter.
With the Irish bred Classa sired by dual French Group 1 winner Tamayuz, and the HH Aga Khan’s Zarak siring Queen of Beaufay, it’s the Futurity Stakes winner Dragon Pulse for Comming Pulse.
A €3,500 graduate at the Goffs Sportsman Sale, Comming Pulse is half-sister to Withhold, from the winning Fantastic Light mare Coming Back, the family of Commander In Chief and Warning.
