Midak

Fresh from sending out four winners at Cheltenham's November Meeting, Dan Skelton issued another statement of intent in his quest for a first British trainers' championship when revealed as the new trainer of the two most expensive lots sold during Monday's opening session of the Arqana Autumn Sale. In the space of three lots, the three-year-olds Mets Ta Ceinture (Hunter's Light) (lot 380) and Merci Mam (Karaktar) (lot 378) sold for an aggregate sum of €1,230,000. Both horses went through the ring following the decision to dissolve the partnership between...

The Group 1-placed G3 Prix des Chenes hero Misunderstood (Hello Youmzain) (lot 372) is one of the highlights of Arqana's Autumn Sale catalogue which was revealed on Saturday. The sale is responsible for top-level graduates under both codes, and in addition to Misunderstood, will also offer group winners Midak (Footstepsinthesand) (lot 374) and Roshvar (Siyouni) (lot 375). Among the stores and NH yearlings are siblings to Grade 1 winners St Donats (Saint Des Saints) (lot 534); Jade De Grugy (Doctor Dino) (lot 540), Ches Demonmirail (Doctor Dino) (lot 603); Stormy...

Saturday, Epsom Downs, post time: 15:30, BETFRED DERBY-G1, £1,604,000, 3yo, c/f, 12f 6yT Field: Al Wasl Storm (Ire) (Affinisea {Ire}), Damysus (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Green Storm (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Lazy Griff (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Midak (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), New Ground (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Nightime Dancer (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Nightwalker (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Pride Of Arras (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Rogue Impact (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Ruling Court (Justify), Sea Scout (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Stanhope Gardens (Ire) (Ghaiyyath...

Epsom racecourse and the sponsor Betfred are to be saluted on their decision to run this year's Derby 'In Honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV'. No family has been a more constant competitor in the Derby over the past century than the Aga Khans. Most recently, HH Aga Khan IV, who died in February, headed the family's racing operation for 65 years, during which time he earned the respect and affection of professionals and public alike thanks to his unique blend of passion, knowledge, sportsmanship, courtesy and dignity.  ...

For so long now we have been used to the Galileo factor at Epsom, and while none of his final small crop of 13 has made the line-up for the Derby or the Oaks, we still find his name all over the place on the pages of this year's runners, merely starting to shuffle back a bit in the generation game.  Galileo's sons Frankel, Australia and Circus Maximus each have at least one runner in the Derby, and Frankel and Australia also have Oaks runners. Eight of the 19 Derby...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, there remains the possibility of a maximum field going to post for Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom, with market leader Delacroix (Dubawi) the standout name among 20 colts still in contention for the Classic. Last seen winning the G3 Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown by nearly three lengths, Delacroix is the sponsor's 5/2 favourite to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending 11th success in the Derby, having emerged as the stable's number one contender after The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) finished only...

The unbeaten Midak will represent the Aga Khan Studs in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday, June 7, after connections announced he would be supplemented for the Epsom feature. This year's edition of the race will be run in memory of the late His Highness Aga Khan IV. A homebred, the son of Footstepsinthesand won a maiden on the all-weather at first asking in March and prevailed over turf a month later in a conditions affair both over 2200 metres. He ran out a 2 1/2-length winner of the G3...

Friday, Chester, post time: 14:35, IRE-INCENTIVE, IT PAYS TO BUY IRISH HUXLEY STAKES-G2, £130,000, 4yo/up, 10f 70yT Field: Bolster (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), Deepone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Liberty Lane (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). TDN Verdict: With no entries, Aidan O'Brien cannot complete the clean sweep of Chester's black-type races which gives others a chance after a week of renewed domination of this fixture by Ballydoyle. Even without his...