Velka Pardubicka

CZECH REPUBLIC: Nikas won last Sunday’s contest two years after finishing runner-up in the Czech Republic’s famous jumps race.

The 10-year-old, trained by Stanislav Popelka jnr, was a rewarding success for his rider Marek Stromsky after disqualification in 2008 on Avant Gris.

The only British or Irish representative Tom Garner got no further than the sixth fence on the Michael Lisek-trained Sokol where he fell with two others.

There was no historic fourth consecutive win for Jan Faltejsek after three on Orphee Des Blins. He had to settle for fourth-place on favourite Universe Of Gracie after making most of the running. He cracked under pressure from Nikas after crossing the last ploughed field and Nikas held off Ribelino.

Surprise win

AMERICA: Outsider Her Emmynency held on for a surprise win in last Saturday’s final Grade 1 of the Keeneland season the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes for three-year-old fillies. Trained by Michael Stidham and ridden by Florent Geroux, the filly had to survive an objection after she hung into the rails two furlongs out impeding the challenging Miss Temple City who was switched and rallied.

Godolphin’s short-priced favourite Sentiero Italia only got going late and was over two lengths back in third. Andrew Balding’s Blond Me never got in a blow.

Rock Fall death

AMERICA: Top US sprinter Rock Fall, among the favourites for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint was put down after he broke down just past the line in a workout at Keeneland last Saturday.

Owned by Stonestreet Stables, the son of Speightstown was a dual Grade 1 winner and unbeaten this season for Todd Pletcher. He was pulling up following the breeze and suffered damage to both front limbs.

Rock Fall is the third horse to suffer a fatal injury during the 2015 Keeneland autumn meeting. Rogers Beasley, vice president of racing, stated: “We have our surface always tested before every race meet by Mick Peterson and his group, and we always have for years. We talk to our horsemen, trainers, and jockeys all the time. The safety of our horses and our riders always remains our top priority.”