Favorite Opasan won the 100th Czech Derby

On Sunday, September 6, the jubilee 100th Czech Derby (Gd-3, 12f, 2 mio. CZK) took place in the Chuchle Arena Prague, as part of the great ceremonial program. It could not be organized traditionally in June, but it took place at the latest in its long history. With total prize-money 2 mio CZK it is the richest flat race in Central Europe. 13 three-year-old colts and three fillies took part in the start, in this season undefeated Slovak colt Opasan (1,5:1) was the favorite.

He, again aboard jockey Radek Koplík, traditionally galloped at the back of the field and showed his crushing finish in the end. After the rocket acceleration, he certainly won by half length in the time of 2:33,36, to his jockey he brought the third triumph in the derby (after the Slovak 2006 and the Austrian 2019), for trainer Jozef Chodúr and the BORMANN stable it is the biggest success so far and the first classic win. As a month ago in Czech Oaks (Carlsbad), the German-registered filly Vivienne Wells (7:1, j. Pietsch, tr. Nedorostek, own. UTRIN) placed second, four lenghts behind Troop Commander (9:1, j. Šmida, tr. F. Holčák, own. Meridian) and Francimor (22:1, j. Liška, tr. Helena Vocásková, own. 3 hearts) placed third, and Czech 2000 Guineas winner Rate (4:1, j. Janáček, tr. Olehla, own. DS Pegas) finished the fifth.

Other to Class A races were won by favored four-year-old colts, both of last year's classic winners, of trainer Václav Luka: in the 61st J&T Banka Gold Cup (12f, 200 ths. CZK) won last year's St Leger winner Ramssio (13:10, j. Janáček, own. František Hrubý) and 17th Tattersalls Mile (1m, 200 ths. CZK) after the thrilling battle of three horses was won by of last year's Czech 2000 Guineas winner Ignacius Reilly (1,2:1, ž. Rája, own. Syndikát V3J).

Trainer Václav Luka achieved a hat-trick on this day, jockey Václav Janáček reached his 201st lifetime double, he won two races.

Results