Sports News

In Sports News this Monday: Orphee des Blins becomes first mare to win Velká pardubická steeplechase three times in succession; legend Váňa (61) comes 16th on previous three-time winner Tiumen; and Czech footballers have six points out of six in Euro 2016 qualifiers after away win over Turkey.

Orphee des Blins wins third Velká pardubická in succession

Jan Faltejsek and Orphee des Blins, photo: CTK

A milestone has been recorded in the long annals of the Velká pardubická steeplechase, the biggest event of the year on the racing calendar in the Czech Republic and one of Europe’s toughest jump races. Sunday’s race was taken by Orphee des Blins, which made history by becoming the first ever mare to win the Velká pardubická three times in succession, and the first mare to win three times in total in almost 120 years.

Jockey Jan Faltejsek has ridden Orphee des Blins to all three triumphs. But he said this year’s race was the toughest, as second-placed Al Jaz had pushed the 12-year-old to the wire.

“I’m not so interested in records. The credit has to go to trainer Greg Wroblevski and Mr. Trávníček, the owner. They’re the architects of our success… It’s always better when you win comprehensively and can wave to the stands, and this year it wasn’t like that. But the history books only record the number of wins – in the future nobody’s going to ask how the race went.”

Another three-time winner of the Velká pardubická was also in action on Sunday. Tiumen finished the race but could only manage 16th place under the legendary Josef Váňa; he failed to add to his eight wins as a jockey and nine as a trainer after coming out of retirement at a remarkable 61 years of age.

Turkey win continues Czechs’ great start in Euro 2016 qualifiers

Turkey - Czech Republic, photo: CTK

The Czech Republic have made a dream start in their campaign to qualify for the 2016 European Championship, with two wins out of two over stiff opposition. After overcoming the Netherlands 2:1 in Prague last month, on Friday the Czechs travelled to Istanbul to face Turkey. Within less than 10 minutes they were behind, after Umut Bulut headed past Petr Čech. But Turkey-based Tomáš Sivok restored parity soon afterwards and Bořek Dočkal found the net just before the hour mark. The score-line remained at 2:1 until the final whistle, meaning coach Pavel Vrba – whose team struggled in friendlies – has a perfect record so far in competitive games. Captain Tomáš Rosický said recent experience against Turkey – who famously knocked the Czechs out of Euro 2008 – had been valuable.

“We won here under Michal Bílek two years ago, so we knew that it was possible to beat the Turks at home. Of course, it was a very tough game. They’re a quality side. In the first half in particular we had huge problems… but naturally six points from two games like those is great.”

Rosický and his teammates are now in the Kazak capital Astana for another Euro 2016 qualifier on Monday evening, after the recording of our programme. As well as cold weather, they will have to contend with an artificial pitch in that game.