'I didn't know why he was that price' - owner proud of 150-1 Derby runner-up

Not for the first time, owner Ahmad Al Shaikh was able to celebrate a seemingly unlikely Classic performance from one of his runners as Hoo Ya Mal defied his 150-1 odds to finish second in the Cazoo Derby.

Al Shaikh was unable to be at the track to see Khalifa Sat chase home Serpentine at Epsom in 2020 at 50-1, the race having been run behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, while Glory Awaits was second in the 2013 2,000 Guineas at 150-1 as well.

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“Next year!” he said after posing for pictures with Hoo Ya Mal and jockey David Probert. “I'm very happy and I'm very proud of him. As he was an outsider I had none of the pressure, next year I'll try and come back with one who isn't an outsider!”

Like Khalifa Sat, who ran only once after Epsom and has since been retired to stud, Hoo Ya Mal is trained by Andrew Balding, and emulated the likes of Terimon, Blue Judge and At First Sight in finishing second in the Derby at a three-figure price.

Hoo Ya Mal: 150-1 second in the DerbyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Despite Hoo Ya Mal’s big price, Al Shaikh, who operates media companies in Dubai, had been insistent on the colt running in the Derby. He believed he had the pedigree to excel in the race after discussing it with bloodstock adviser Federico Barberini and assessing it himself.

“I didn’t know why he was the price he was,” he said. “He ran well at Newmarket last time [when second to Nations Pride in the Newmarket Stakes] and at the end of that race he still wanted to run.

“My trainer wanted to run him in the French Derby, but this horse’s dam is by Montjeu and I told him I was sure that he would stay a mile and a half. I'm a big studier of pedigrees and when I told him what I thought he went, ‘yes, why not?’.”

Hoo Ya Mal doesn't hold any entries, with Al Shaikh not expecting a quick reappearance for the colt.

“I will have to speak with Mr Balding about what we do next, but I don't think he would run straight away. I'm really pleased with him.”

Read more from Derby day at Epsom:

Did we see a superstar in the Derby? Racing Post experts' view

2022 Cazoo Derby at Epsom: where your horse finished

High drama in Epsom opener as William Buick struck in head by rival horse

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