Czech family ecstatic as Subway Dancer shocks with Champion Stakes third

Connections of Czech Republic-trained Subway Dancer could only have dreamed of their rank outsider being placed in a British Group 1, but that fairytale came true on Champions Day.

Although no match for six-length victor Cracksman, the six-year-old battled bravely to finish third, ahead of Group 1 winners Capri and Rhododendron and only three-quarters of a length behind Crystal Ocean, who was 21lb higher on official ratings.

It was a result enjoyed by all of the Koplik family, with jockey Radek riding for his brother, trainer Zdeno, and daughter Ingrid leading the horse up.

Watch Subway Dancer finish third in the Champion Stakes

She was stunned by the 66-1 shot's performance and said: "It's a shock. It's a special race so it's amazing for me, my father and my uncle.

"We have trained the whole family and he's done us very proud. I think he is a horse with class, and he liked the ground. I'm very happy."

Subway Dancer's best previous form had come in France, including a Group 3 win two years ago, while he had finished sixth of nine in the Group 2 Prix Dollar on Arc weekend on his most recent start.

The venture from the Czech Republic was organised by connections with the assistance of the International Racing Bureau.

Adrian Beaumont, a director of the IRB, said: "I'm totally thrilled, this is a horse we didn't even know was running until Monday. The owner had wanted to come back in August and he's driven the whole dream of coming here.

"The horse might go to Hong Kong now and it's extraordinary to see what he's done today – to think he was battling Crystal Ocean for second is unbelievable. I thought he had no chance.

"This is the type of story which proves you can never underestimate these foreign horses. It's been exciting and the result is utterly beyond all of our dreams."

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com