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.

“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.