Mirsaale triggers Derby dreams for Dubai owner

Dubai: Mirsaale, owned by Dubai businessman Saif Ali, has stormed into the Derby picture after winning a key trial at Epsom racecourse on Wednesday.

A son of Sir Percy, who won the Derby for Marcus Tregoning in 2006, Mirsaale can now bid to emulate his sire should he take his place in the British Classic at the Surrey course on Saturday, June 1.

Run over 10 furlongs at Epsom, the Investec Derby Trial was the first of many trials leading up to Britain’s richest race worth at least £1,325,000.

Winning trainer James Tate was delighted at the prospect of having his first Classic runner and said: “We always thought he would handle a track like Epsom but we just didn’t know whether he was good enough. So I am really delighted with Mirsaale’s performance and Neil (Callan) gave him a great ride.

“I think we will be coming back here on Investec Derby Day — we will give him a whirl in the Classic.”

Tate also mapped out interim plans for Mirsaale with the likelihood of running him in another Derby Trial being very much on the cards.

“In meantime we will look at the Chester and Lingfield Derby trials and see if we can fit one of them in. He is a small, well-balanced horse who is ideally suited to these undulating courses, which don’t suit the bigger longer-striding sorts,” said Tate.

“I would have thought that a mile and a half will suit him even better but you never know until you have tried it. But we might send him over a mile and a half before the Derby.”

“He is by a Derby winner in Sir Percy and is a half-brother to Meeznah who was a neck second in the Investec Oaks (2010) before being disqualified. So he was almost certain to like Epsom,” the handler added.

“Mirsaale does not work very well at home but he has a hell of an attitude on the track — a real tough horse.

“He will be my first Classic runner. His owner Saif Ali has always wanted an Investec Derby runner which is why we entered Mirsaale at the second entry stage a couple of weeks ago. The colt deserves to take his chance now.

Winning rider, Neil Callan, added: “I knew coming into this race that he would be quite fit as he is a clean-winded horse. He is also very well balanced so I thought he would handle the track.

“As regards the Investec Derby, it is going to be a much tougher race but you cannot take anything away from Mirsaale today. He has done everything right in this trial and ran to the line very well so I am pleased.

“He tries and I am sure he will stay so he has the right credentials — it is just a question of whether he is good enough.”