The 85th Grand Prix of Merano: The 12 participants

1. Ches Demonmirail (Italy) Coach: Josef Vana Jr. 2024: 4 starts – 3 wins – 1 placing Career prize money: 67.571 euros The 6-year-old gelding has made a strong comeback after a long injury break. He recently won the MASAF prize in Merano. He has great potential, jumps confidently and is tactically versatile. His jockey Jan Kratochvil has already won the Grand Prix and is very familiar with the gelding, who is one of the closest contenders for victory. 2. Emirati Dirham (Italy) Coach: Paolo Favero 2024: 14 starts – 1 wins – 5 placings Career prize money: 29.512 euros The 6-year-old gelding is the most frequent starter in the field. He has rarely been able to hold his own in the front field, even in lower categories, and seems overwhelmed in a test of this kind. With Gaetano Volpe in the saddle, he is one of the biggest outsiders in the field. 3. Fandango (Switzerland) Coach: Jürg Langmeier 2024: 5 starts – 2 wins – 3 placings Career prize money: 273.417 euros The 9-year-old gelding has spent most of his career in France and achieved very good results there. After 2 wins in the spring, he took 2 third places in his last starts in Aarau. He is very experienced, jumps confidently and should also be able to cope well with the distance. Jürg Langmeier knows the demands of the Merano course very well. With his trainer in the saddle, he can certainly be expected to be among the top field. 4. Fly Filo Fly (Czech Republic) Coach: Josef Vana sen. 2024: 8 starts – 1 wins – 4 placings Career prize money: 70.366 euros The 10-year-old gelding was used mainly in cross-country competitions this year and did well. He jumps confidently, but doesn't seem to be able to keep up in this category. With Lenka Neprasova in the saddle, he is one of the extreme outsiders in the field. 5. Gangster De Coddes (Italy) Coach: Josef Vana Jr. 2024: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 placing Career prize money: 180.283 euros The 8-year-old gelding recently won the Creme Anglaise prize, but was clearly beaten by L'Estran and First Of All in the European Grand Prix in the spring. He has a wide canter, is fast at speed and handles the distance well. Despite a certain susceptibility to mistakes, he can be up there with Jan Faltejsek in the saddle on a good day. 6. L'Estran (Italy) Coach: Josef Vana Jr. 2024: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 placing Career prize money: 646.040 euros The now 11-year-old gelding from the Aichner racing stable is the record winner in the Grand Prix with four successes in the last five years. He is a very confident jumper, easy to handle tactically, fast and loves the distance. He forms a well-rehearsed pair with Josef Bartos and can leave the track as a winner again this year. 7. Mandiko (Italy) Coach: Josef Vana Jr. 2024: 3 starts – 0 wins – 1 placing Career prize money: 36.168 euros The 5-year-old gelding has often been set back by injuries in his career. After an unsuccessful test on the Merano track, he showed strong signs of life with a second place in Waregem. He has great potential, but could have problems on the narrow Merano course because of his wide-ranging action. Jockey Ondrej Velek has a lot of experience and the gelding could turn out to be a surprise horse on a good day. 8. Human (Italy) Coach: Raffaele Romano 2024: 9 starts – 2 wins – 6 placings Career prize money: 156.395 euros The 9-year-old gelding has recently improved after a weak start to the season. He is experienced and jumps well. However, he faces an extremely difficult task over the long distance and against top-class competition. With Gabriele Columbu in the saddle, he is aiming for prize money. 9. Placenet (France) Coach: David Cottin 2024: 5 starts – 1 wins – 2 placings Career prize money: 352.715 euros The 7-year-old gelding has had no notable successes in England in the first half of the year, but recently won the well-funded Grand Hunt of Flanders in Waregem. He is a good jumper, agile and a distance specialist. His trainer David Cottin knows the Merano course as a jockey and trainer. He forms a strong pair with Johnny Charron, who are among the closest favorites. 10. Pretty King (Poland) Coach: Greg Wroblewski 2024: 5 starts – 2 wins – 2 placings Career prize money: 47.468 euros The 5-year-old gelding won two well-attended chase races in his home country and in Sweden this year. Most recently, he was clearly defeated by Che's Demonmirail in the MASAF prize in Merano. He is fast and should also be able to cope well over long distances, but has little experience in such competitions. With Benoit Claudic in the saddle, he is one of the outsiders in the field. 11. Regaxos (France) Coach: Davide Satalia 2024: 6 starts – 4 wins – 1 placing Career prize money: 218.416 euros The 11-year-old gelding has been able to score points in the French provinces over the course of the season and most recently won in Clairfontaine. He is very experienced, jumps well and the long distance should also suit him. His trainer knows the demands of the Merano track very well and with Damien Mescam in the saddle he is definitely one of the outsiders with good chances in the field. 12. Speed Emile (France ) Coach: Macaire/Langeneste 2024: 6 starts – 2 wins – 2 placings Career prize money: 333.200 euros The 5-year-old gelding has impressed this year both in Auteuil and in the French province. His trainer knows the requirements of the Merano course very well and has selected the gelding from a large horse park for the race. The Merano course should suit Speed Emile and the distance should not be a problem either. He forms a pair with the experienced Baptiste Le Clerc that is one of the contenders for victory.

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The 85th Grand Prix of Merano: The 12 participants

The weekend in Merano is all about equestrian sports. Here is an overview of the twelve participants who will be sprinting for the crown in the spa town.

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