Latest news with #GraffardRacing
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Midak deemed worthy of ‘shot in the dark' Derby bid
'He's definitely a horse improving with his races and will definitely get the trip,' explained Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs. 'We're not sure on his form lines and how it stacks up, but all he can do is win and he's won every start. 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 'He's going to have to handle the track and he's a big horse with a big, long stride. Mickael Barzalona (jockey) thinks he will handle the track because he's well balanced but you never know until they get there. 'We would be very happy to see him finish in the first three or even first five, but he is a bit of an unknown quantity and he does everything easily at home. It's a little bit of a shot in the dark, but we thought it was worth it.' The Aga Khan enjoyed many great days at Epsom, winning the Derby on five occasions and only 12 months ago his green and red colours were carried to Oaks victory by Dermot Weld's Ezeliya. His first winner was legendary Shergar in 1981, while it was some 35 years later in 2016 that the home bred Harzand was the last of his quintet to return to Epsom's famous winner's circle. 🟢🔴 The Aga Khan Studs are excited to supplement unbeaten colt #Midak for Saturday's Gr.1 Derby @EpsomRacecourse. The 246th running of this prestigious Classic will be run in honour of the Aga Khan IV, who won 5 times with #Shergar, #Shahrastani, #Kahyasi, #Sinndar & #Harzand. — Aga Khan Studs (@AgaKhanStuds) June 2, 2025 Now 25 years on from Sinndar's triumph on the Downs, Midak will attempt to add his name to the roll of honour following a rapid rise through the ranks. Routh continued: 'He's sort of come a little bit out of nowhere, but he's a very good looking horse – a big, strong horse. 'He had a few setbacks at two so we weren't really able to appreciate his level of ability and then first time out he kind of surprised us by the way he won and then he's won again and then again in a Group Three at Saint-Cloud.' Explaining the decision to roll the dice at Epsom rather than at Chantilly last weekend, Routh added: 'He wasn't in the Prix du Jockey Club and he earned himself an 'in' to the Grand Prix de Paris, but that isn't until July and we were kind of looking for a race to run him in and we just felt it was a nice thing to do and have the colours represented.'
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Unbeaten Midak to be added to the Derby mix
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. Trainer Francis Henri Graffard would love to win the Derby (John Walton/PA) 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.' Ladbrokes make Midak a 10-1 shot for Classic glory.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Unbeaten Midak to be added to the Derby mix
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.' Ladbrokes make Midak a 10-1 shot for Classic glory.
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Unbeaten Midak to be added to the Derby mix
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.' Ladbrokes make Midak a 10-1 shot for Classic glory.
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Unbeaten Midak to be added to the Derby mix
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.' Ladbrokes make Midak a 10-1 shot for Classic glory.
