Raceday at the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky 2026

The only raceday of the current season in Topoľčianky took place on Sunday, 14 June. Seven races and two divisions of the next round of the Slovak Pony League 2026 were run on the perfectly prepared track of the National Stud Farm. The main flat race was dominated from start to finish by Tornado, a Serbian‑bred horse trained in Slovakia, while the steeplechase was won by Iarak from Šurany.

Four horses lined up for the President of the Nitra Self‑Governing Region Prize (flat race, Category II, 1700 m, €3,700 plus bonuses). Handicap races often bring surprising results, and this one was no exception. Last year’s winner of the Starohájske Criterion at the Turf‑gala meeting, SHELLBY (MNK Racing), carried the top weight of 62 kg, while his three rivals carried significantly less. The globetrotter TORNADO (Winning Line SK), who had raced in Baden‑Baden just a week earlier, set off with a start‑to‑finish tactic. Trainer Jozef Chodúr entrusted him to jockey Peter Hodáň, and the chosen strategy worked perfectly. Tornado—who, besides his native Serbia and the German‑French spa town, has also raced in Budapest, Prague and Bratislava—kept all rivals behind him and won by 1 3/4 lengths.

Iarak breaks his streak of second places

All five horses entered for the National Stud Farm “Topoľčianky” Prize (steeplechase, 3500 m, €2,800 plus bonuses) were born in France, Europe’s number‑one powerhouse in jump racing. In the end, only three went to post, and all three completed the course. The fastest was IARAK, running in the colours of Lokotrans Slovakia. The charge of trainer Ján Cagáň secured his fourth steeplechase victory on Slovak tracks, once again partnered by Martin Cagáň.

Double joy for the home team

Representatives of the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky started in three races during the afternoon and took home two victories. In the Žikava Municipality Prize (Category IV, 1250 m, €2,100), the homebred VIVA FRITZ, bred by Pavol Vigaš and ridden by Jaroslav Línek, won convincingly, securing her fourth career victory and third on her home track. Her half‑sister VIVA VERA (their dam Viva La Diva was an elite sprinter‑miler for the Vimar stable) prevailed at the end of the meeting in the Hostie Municipality Prize (Category V, 1780 m, €1,600). She was guided by Nikola Miklová, who, thanks to her two wins, moved up to second place in the jockeys’ championship. Miklová also scored in the Lovce Municipality Prize (Category IV, 1600 m, €2,100) aboard the three‑year‑old BLUE LAGOON for Stajňa Caruso, trained by Jaroslav Línek. Blue Lagoon thus became the fifth winning offspring of the outstanding broodmare Bathory.

A double for Quirinus Farm as well

Another team leaving Topoľčianky fully satisfied was Quirinus Farm, owned and trained by Jaroslav Brečka. In the hurdle race Topoľčianky Municipality Prize (hurdles, 3400 m, €2,500 plus bonuses), NIGHT OF DREAMS—recently imported from Scuderia Aichner—had no trouble defeating his rivals despite carrying the top weight, with experienced jockey Jan Odložil in the saddle. The red‑and‑blue colours struck again in the very next flat race, the Machulince Municipality Prize (Category III, 2200 m, €2,800 plus bonuses), where GRAN CRIME scored under Dominika Baranová.

Hungarian ponies fastest in the Pony League

The first division of the third round of the Slovak Pony League once again brought an exciting battle for victory. With the absence of the dominant leader of the under‑135 cm category (measured at the withers), Eliška Šaraboková, the duel was between the “eternally second” Nicole Veverková with Hidalgo Li and Hédi Hanga Horváth with BZ Siesta. This time, the order from the last Bratislava meeting was reversed, and the Hungarian rider crossed the finish line first. Third place went to Rebeka Eliášová on the pony Molly.

Seven riders competed in the division for taller ponies (over 135 cm at the withers). The winner from Šurany, Sofia Bogárová from Šamorín, riding for the Hungarian Baján Team on the mare BT Darling in Pink, repeated her success. After two bronze finishes, Silvia Cassaniti on Corona 11 claimed silver this time. Third place was secured by Emma Varšányiová with Nuit Fleur, who bravely made up many lengths after a slow start.

Text a foto: Ján Valtýni