Juddmonte colt and poignant Aga Khan runner set to join Derby party as two French contenders to be supplemented for Epsom

The Aga Khan Studs will field a runner in Saturday's Betfred Derby (3.30) run in the late prince's memory, with Francis Graffard set to supplement Prix Greffulhe winner Midak on Monday if all goes well with his final gallop.

And with Juddmonte also announcing their intention to add New Ground to the race at a cost of £75,000, the race will feature two runners trained in France for the first time since 2011.

A son of Footstepsinthesand, Midak is unbeaten in three starts and will head to Epsom off the back of victory in the same trial as France's last Derby winner, Pour Moi. He is as short as 10-1 in the Derby betting.

"He worked very well last week and Francis is very happy with him so he'll work again tomorrow and if we're happy with him then the plan is to supplement," said racing manager Nemone Routh. "We definitely feel he will stay a mile and a half, Mickael [Barzalona] had a job pulling him up last time in the Greffulhe and his dam stayed 3,000 metres [a mile and seven furlongs].

Harzand: 2016 Derby winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The late Aga Khan enjoyed five victories in the Derby, beginning in 1981 with Shergar and the most recent being Harzand in 2016, while his grandfather also cheered home five Epsom heroes.

Of Midak's suitability for the unique demands of the Derby, Routh said: "There are a lot of unknowns but we think he'll act around the track as he's a balanced horse. He's a big horse which is a bit of an unknown but Mickael thinks he'll act on the course and we believe he will stay. 

"We're hopeful and we felt there was no obvious race for him before the Grand Prix de Paris and we didn't want to wait two months. We already had runners in the Jockey Club and, as the race is run in His Highness's honour, Francis spoke to Princess Zahra and everyone felt it was a nice thing to do."

Henri-Francois Devin will run New Ground in the Betfred DerbyCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

New Ground, trained by Henri-Francois Devin who, like Graffard, will be saddling a first Derby runner, will head to Epsom off the back of third placed efforts in the Prix La Force – notably chasing home the Jockey Club second and fifth – and in the Prix de Suresnes. 

Speaking about the decision at Chantilly, Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said: "I thought he ran a big race in his two trials but I think it was evident that he wants 12 [furlongs]. The temptation was to come here today but we just felt that the extra two furlongs would bring out a bit more improvement.

"The owners were very keen to supplement and let him have a go at the 12 furlongs, rather than wait for the Grand Prix de Paris. It’s a big step up but we’re excited about him."

Betfred Derby, Epsom (Saturday, 3.30)
Betfred: 5-2 Delacroix, 4 Pride Of Arras, Ruling Court, 6 The Lion In Winter, 10 Damysus, 12 Lambourn, 14 Midak, 16 Stanhope Gardens, 20 bar.

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