Czech derby 2019: 41 entries

On Thursday January 24th, the first round of entries for this year's classic races was closed. In the 99th Czech derby, the prestigious race for the three-year colts and fillies, 41 horses are heading. Czech derby with a total prize-money of two million CZK is the richest Central European classical race and it will take place at Velká Chuchle racecourse on Saturday, June 22nd.

The nominations was given by 23 trainers. There are six coaches with three horses in the list (the record-holder in the number of Czech derby wins /7/ František Holčák, the four-time winner of the Czech derby Arslangirej Šavujev, the former champion-trainers Allan Petrlík and Václav Luka, current champion Helena Vocásková and Jana Nováková), two entries came from Austrian trainers Tamara Richter and Emmerich Schweigert.

The most successful two years old colts of last year were entered: the best five of Winter Favourit Stakes King Archie, Manoamano, Filip, Angkor Wat, Big Ben  and also winner of Prague's Winter Favourite Stakes Chiouboucar. There are nominated 35 colts and six mares, eleven representing czech breeders, thirty horses were born abroad.

In comparison with the last year of the Czech derby, five more horses were entered to the first deadline this year, and the number of candidates was also increased in two other Classic Triplecrown races: 29 aspirants are heading to the Czech 2000 Guineas (May 11) (by six more than last year) and 47 horses are registered for Czech St Leger (September 8) (by twelve more than last year).