Midak continues to make up for lost time with smooth success in Prix Greffulhe

Midak continued the fine form of both trainer Francis Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs with a smooth two-and-a-half-length defeat of Dioptase in the Prix Greffulhe.

In recent years the Group 3 has produced a Derby winner in the shape of Pour Moi (2011) as well as two Jockey Club heroes, Saonois (2012) and Study Of Man (2018), though the son of Footstepsinthesand may be set for a bigger test of stamina in the Grand Prix de Paris later in the summer. 

"We've always liked him and he had a few issues at two, but he showed ability quite early," said Aga Khan Studs racing manager Nemone Routh. 

"We were a little surprised with how easily he did it on debut at Lyon-La Soie and then we were very happy with how he did it last time, though he was still immature and was looking around all over the place.

"He's really improving with racing and hopefully there's still more to come. He's not entered in the Jockey Club and he wasn't entered in the Grand Prix de Paris either but, like Surabad, thanks to France Galop, he's now earned a free supplementary for the race. His dam had a lot of stamina and that's more the race I see him in."

The form of this contest is difficult to assess given the strange performance of the 1-2 favourite Uther, who had beaten subsequent Prix de Suresnes winner Nitoi on his previous start but struggled to lay up for most of the race here before running on to be a never-nearer third once Midak had already put it to bed.

"It was disappointing the way he was struggling in the back straight and was beaten turning for home, for all that he came home well," said the Wertheimers' racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau. 

"He almost certainly wants further but he was unable to follow the pace of the race and we'll have to see if something emerges."

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