The winning team from the last two Velka Pardubickas made their mark on last Saturday’s Slovak Day at Pardubice racecourse. 10-y-o bay gelding Tiumen, ridden by Josef Váňa senior, won the third qualification race for this year's 121st running of the high point of the Czech steeplechasing season in October. Köi Dent’s representative won the ELTODO Grand Prix convincingly, even though he ended up only a neck in front of second-placed Klaus. "It went well, and I got a good ride today. After the last fence, Tiumen accelerated nicely, and I am happy that we beat such a high-quality field," declared Josef Váňa senior, seven-time winner of the Česká pojišťovna Velka Pardubicka.

Your margin at the winning post was very small, but you had the end of the race well under control. What are your comments on your win in the qualification race?
"It was too fast. I don’t think it is necessary to run qualification races at such a fast tempo. But that’s the trend in racing these days. Everything is speeding up. The young boys ride all over the world. In any case, if we don’t go fast we don’t have a chance nowadays. They are even bringing it to the Pardubice crosscountry course where, in my opinion, the tempo should be more reasonable. However, there is nothing I can do about it, and I just have to adapt. Both as a trainer and as a rider. I’m glad I won’t be out there chasing around with the youngsters much longer."

At the winners' ceremony, you said that at Havel’s Jump [4th from home] you weren’t too sure you were going to win. Is that really how it was?
"I was reckoning the horse was sure to run out of breath. He had gone practically the whole race without a breather. I thought there would be a crisis. Before Havel’s Jump I left him alone, and I said to myself that we’d see when we came on to the grass track [800 metres from home]. Fortunately, most of those that had gone too fast began to drop back. So I drew on the fact that I had been more reasonable, and waited a bit longer."

Are you saying that Tiumen surprised you with his performance?
"No, not at all. When we raced over 5200 metres at Pardubice at the beginning of July I could have won if my saddle had not slipped. It wasn't a surprise for me."

in any case, I assume Tiumen is not yet in 100% form. Is that true?
"I’d say he was a bit too sharp today. This isn't how I know him. I didn’t know he was able to do what he did in such a fast race as this was."

The end of the race was reminiscent of the run in of last year’s Česká pojišťovna Velka Pardubicka. You controlled your first place, practically without using the whip, as the other horses got closer and closer to you.
„I did not want the race to cost him too much strength. Even at the expense of being punished by the stewards I didn't want to hit him with the whip."

You had two other runners in the qualification race. They did not do much. Caland finished second last, and Sixteen was last of all. What can you say about their performances?
"I didn’t see them and I can’t make any comments. After the sixth, Dušan Andrés [rider of Caland] and I were side by side. I asked him if everything was OK. He said OK, but that he was a bit surprised. Then I didn’t see him again."

Have not the jockeys given you their impressions of the race?
„Basically, Sixteen was a bit disappointing. Today’s race did not suit Caland like the June qualification race, which he won. However, I think plenty can be done before the Velka Pardubicka, and the form of the horses will change."

By the way, is it now clear in your mind how many horses you want to send to the starting line for the Česká pojišťovna Velka Pardubicka?
"Not at all. We will think it over first. I’ve already had discussions with Dr Charvát. I think he is going to listen to me, and we’ll wait another year with Belmont."