Latest news with #AgaKhanStuds
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Expected Derby 25 field as 20 horses on target for £1.5 million Epsom Classic
Aidan O'Brien trains four of the candidates for the Betfred-sponsored race, which has also attracted 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, including big race favourite Delacroix There could be a maximum field for the £1.5 million Betfred Derby after 20 horses were confirmed on Monday. Ante-post favourite Delacroix was the headline colt among the 20 names on track for the famous Classic to be run at Epsom on Saturday. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Delacroix propelled himself to the head of the Classic betting with conclusive victories in two spring Derby trials, adding to his narrow defeat in last year's Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. He is one of four contenders from Ballydoyle, with The Lion In Winter another key name despite his odds-on defeat in the Dante, while Lambourn and Puppet Master won trials at Chester and Lingfield respectively. The Charlie Appleby-trained Ruling Court bids to add another Classic to his CV, with the 2,000 Guineas winner one of two for Godolphin along with the Newmarket fourth Tornado Alert for Saeed bin Suroor. Dante winner Pride Of Arras is one of two possibles for Ralph Beckett who could also run Stanhope Gardens while John and Thady Gosden have confirmed both York second Damysus and the Juddmonte-owned fifth Nightwalker. Juddmonte have added a second string to their bow though, as French raider New Ground has been supplemented at a cost of £75,000 after finishing third in each of his two starts for trainer Henri-Francois Devin this season. The son of New Bay was beaten just a length by French Derby runner-up Cualificar in April and Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon is confident he will thrive for stepping up in trip. The Francis Graffard-trained Midak has also been added to the race and he will carry the colours of the Aga Khan Studs, with the race run in honour of the Aga Khan IV, who died in February. Charlie Johnston could be double-handed via Lazy Griff and Green Storm, with Al Wasl Storm, Nightime Dancer, Rogue Impact, Sea Scout, Tennessee Stud and Tuscan Hills round out the potential field. Derby runners, riders and latest betting 3.30pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday 7th June Al Wasl Storm (IRE) 3 9 2 Green Team Racing Owen Burrows David ProbertDamysus 3 9 2 Wathnan Racing John & Thady Gosden James DoyleDelacroix (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien IrelandGreen Storm (IRE) 3 9 2 Ahmad Al Shaikh Charlie JohnstonLambourn (IRE) 3 9 2 Mrs John Magnier,Mr & Mr Aidan O'Brien IrelandLazy Griff (GER) 3 9 2 Middleham Park Racing & Mr G Griffiths Charlie Johnston C. SoumillonMidak (FR) 3 9 2 Aga Khan Studs Scea Francis-Henri Graffard France Mickael BarzalonaNew Ground 3 9 2 Juddmonte Henri Francois Devin France Alexis PouchinNightime Dancer (IRE) 3 9 2 Stall Perlen Ab Richard Hannon Sean LeveyNightwalker 3 9 2 Juddmonte John & Thady Gosden Tom MarquandPride of Arras (IRE) 3 9 2 Mrs David Aykroyd Ralph Beckett Rossa RyanPuppet Master (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien IrelandRogue Impact 3 9 2 The Rogues Gallery James Owen Luke MorrisRuling Court (USA) 3 9 2 Godolphin Charlie Appleby William BuickSea Scout (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori Simon & Ed Crisford Harry DaviesStanhope Gardens (IRE) 3 9 2 Marcstown Ltd and New Chelsea Ralph BeckettTennessee Stud (IRE) 3 9 2 Westerberg,Tabor,Magnier,Smith Joseph Patrick O'Brien IrelandThe Lion In Winter (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien IrelandTornado Alert (IRE) 3 9 2 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor Oisin MurphyTuscan Hills (FR) 3 9 2 Amo Racing Limited Raphael Freire David Egan Latest Betfred odds (Non-Runner, No Bet): 9-4 Delacroix, 4 Pride of Arras, Ruling Court, 6 The Lion In Winter, 10 Damysus, 12 Lambourn, 14 Midak, 16 Stanhope Gardens, 20 Nightwalker, New Ground, 33 Tornado Alert, 50 Tennessee Stud, 66 Puppet Master. Sea Scout, Tuscan Hills, Lazy Griff, 100 Al Wasl Storm. Green Storm, Nightime Dancer, 200 Rogue Impact
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Unbeaten Midak to be added to the Derby mix
Midak is set to be supplemented for the Betfred Derby, where he will carry the colours of the Aga Khan Studs in a race which is this year named in honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV. The late Aga Khan was no stranger to success at Epsom, with one of the most famous Derby winners of all, Shergar, amongst his host of Classic scorers at the Downs track. His daughter Princess Zahra has now confirmed that Francis Henri-Graffard's unbeaten Midak will tackle the British showpiece as his next assignment after enhancing his reputation at Saint-Cloud in the Prix Greffulhe. She told Racing TV: 'He's unbeaten in three starts, we know he gets the trip, he's got the right kind of character to be able to handle Tattenham Corner and all the noise that comes with the Epsom Derby. Midak remains unbeaten with a straight-forward success in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud!🇫🇷 Another progressive type for @GraffardRacing and @AgaKhanStuds! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 9, 2025 'It's nice to have a runner this year because the race is being run in honour of my father and he's done everything he should to be a valid runner in the Epsom Derby.' She added: 'When Midak won his last race, I asked Francis 'this is a Jockey Club horse isn't it' and he said 'we can't as you have another runner for that race and there is also another horse in our stable'. 'I then asked 'what are you thinking of doing' and he just looked at me and replied, 'Epsom'. We all thought it would be lovely to have a runner in the race and he has ticked all the boxes and there is no reason not to run him.' Midak's trainer has been a regular visitor to the UK in recent seasons and landed the King Edward VII Stakes with Calandagan and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Goliath last year. Calandagan will again visit British shores as part of the Frenchman's Epsom team, but it is the lure of Derby glory that is causing most excitement. Graffard said: 'The Derby at Epsom is a dream race for me, I have walked the course and my grandfather would always talk to me about the Epsom Derby. 'We have this horse Midak who needed supplementing for either the Prix du Jockey Club or Derby, so I said to Princess Zahra 'you already have two runners in the Jockey Club, so why not give it a go in the Derby'. 'British racing has very kindly named the Derby in honour of His Highness the Aga Khan this year, so we will take our chance.'
New Paper
7 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Sosie, last in, first out in Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan
PARIS ParisLongchamp racecourse played host on May 25 to a superb card featuring two Group 1 races, the €250,000 (S$365,000) Prix d'Ispahan (1,850m) and the €400,000 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (3,100m), as well as a Group 3 event, the 150,000 Prix du Palais-Royal (1,400m). The Prix d'Ispahan was claimed by a colt who is already emerging as one of the leading contenders for the upcoming Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2,400m), the world championship for thoroughbreds, set to take place at ParisLongchamp later this year on Oct 5. Already the winner of the Group 1 Prix Ganay (1,600m) just a month ago, Sosie ($8) handled the Prix d'Ispahan with aplomb by delivering a highly promising performance. With Maxime Guyon in the saddle, the Sea The Stars four-year-old, who was also supplemented late into the race, finished ahead of British raider Sardinian Warrior (Christophe Soumillon). Next on his agenda is the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes (2,000m), at Sandown in England on July 5. Thereafter, the focus will shift to preparing for the Arc. "There was a slight concern if Sosie would have enough turn of foot for a race over 1,850 metres, which is a different test compared to 2,400 metres," said Pierre-Yves Bureau, representative of Wertheimer & Frere, the owner and breeder of the champion. "Maxime made sure he was always well-positioned in the race. He was very impressive, and I believe he's simply very good. "He's now reached full physical maturity. He looked absolutely magnificent. "He comes from a staying family, but his dam was more of a miler." Legendary trainer Andre Fabre said Sosie's late entry into the Prix d'Ispahan was to get a springboard towards the Eclipse. "The Wertheimer brothers are keen to run him in the Eclipse. We had to test him over a shorter distance," said Fabre. "I was delighted to see a horse who can run over a mile and a half and over to have enough speed to beat nice horses today." Guyon was equally delighted with Sosie's ability to rise to the occasion over a trip which is not necessarily his strongest suit. "It's fantastic. He was a little bit lazy over this distance, but he was very strong at the finish. "I'm really happy because he proved he can go quick and win over both 1,850m and 2,400m. "He's a real Group 1 horse and a real champion." The Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, which was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2025, went to a newcomer at this elite level: Candelari ($16), racing in the colours of the Aga Khan Studs and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard. With the operation's first jockey, Mickael Barzalona, serving a suspension, it was Clement Lecoeuvre who successfully stood in for the Frankel four-year-old. This marks the jockey's first Group 1 win in France, having previously enjoyed success at this level in Germany. "It's crazy for me, riding a horse like this. This horse is getting more and more experience with racing," said Lecoeuvre. "I travelled very well behind the pace. After the corner, when the other jockeys start to attack the lead, a gap appeared in front of me, and he sprinted very well. "It's my first Group race win, let alone first Group 1 win. It's magical, hopefully it's not the last." Finally, Topgear, a son of Wootton Bassett, made a winning return to action in the Group 3 Prix du Palais-Royal for trainer Christopher Head, jockey Stephane Pasquier and owner Hisaaki Saito. The six-year-old entire is now set to be seen again during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. FRANCE GALOP
