THE Aga wins the Aga Derby. That’s fairytale stuff, isn’t it? I’m not so sure.
I’m talking, of course, about Midak, one of the French raiders supplemented into Saturday’s Group 1 Betfred Derby, the world’s most famous Classic beamed to you live on ITV.
PAThe Kings of Epsom – Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien – have an obvious chance with Delacroix… but I don’t think they’ll win the Derby[/caption]Derby Day should always be something special for anyone who loves the thoroughbred.
For many it’s the ultimate test of the Flat racehorse, and it has tested the best.
Winners like Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Nashwan and Sea The Stars… as well as those in defeat like Dancing Brave and El Gran Senor.
The twists and turns are one thing, the stamina test over a mile and a half of the Epsom Downs another.
Will he stay? That will be the question many ask about the majority of today’s runners.
It’s certainly a doubt for 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, who was hardly mentioned after being chased home by fast-finishing Field of Gold at HQ.
Could it just be Ruling Court was the best horse for William Buick and Charlie Appleby? Time will tell.
Delacroix really should stay for the Derby King of Trainers, Aidan O’Brien.
But Ballysax and Leopardstown Derby Trial victor Delacroix is by Dubawi.
In itself that is no bad thing.
But the super stallion has had nine runners to date in seven different editions of the Derby and none of them has finished in the first four.
Dubawi himself ran in the 2005 Derby, eventually going down eight lengths to Motivator.
That was six years after his sire, Dubai Millennium, met the only defeat of his career when sent off the favourite for the Derby.
Pride of Arras has only raced twice but looked very useful when romping home from Damysus in a slowly run Dante at York which saw The Lion In Winter pull his chance away in the first two furlongs.
Ralph Beckett’s challenger, ridden by Hector Crouch, is bred to stay and could be the real deal for owner-breeder Mrs David Aykroyd.
Her colours are also carried by Amiloc, who hacked up at Goodwood the other day but can’t run here as he’s been gelded.
Lambourn is a similar type to Los Angeles who ran well behind stable companion City of Troy last year.
Another O’Brien raider, Lambourn is proven over further having landed the Chester Vase but he was beaten by Delacroix in the Ballysax.
The other I want to mention, before I get on to Midak, is Stanhope Gardens, who is another for Beckett and has always appeared to be a Derby type.
Last season Stanhope Gardens was only beaten a neck by Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. That puts him bang in the mix.
The son of Ghaiyyath is bred to stay well and had effectively a racecourse gallop at Salisbury the other day when winning an event put on especially for him.
But let’s get back to my French fancy Midak.
PA:Empics SportMickael Barzalona celebrates riding Pour Moi to victory in Derby – and I think he’ll be doing the same on Midak… though maybe not quite so early![/caption]He runs in the colours of Aga Khan Studs SCEA in a Derby run in memory of His Highness Aga Khan IV.
That means he carries the green and red silks that have been worn at Epsom by legends like Shergar, Shahrastani, Kahyasi, Sinndar and Harzand.
So, naturally, a Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Midak victory would be fairytale stuff under Mickaël Barzalona, who won this on Pour Moi in 2011.
Midak is out of a mare by Sinndar and is already very useful.
My hope is unbeaten in three races and his form suggests he’s a solid, improving Group 2 horse, having scored well over an extended 1m2f at Saint-Cloud last time.
He kept on well that day suggesting this trip would suit and of course he’s bred for it.
“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.
“He’s going to have to handle the track and he’s a big horse with a big, long stride. Mickael Barzalona thinks he will handle the track because he’s well balanced.
“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.”
It’s the type of Derby to simply ‘have a go’.
And there would be no more poignant victory than one for Midak.
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