THE Gazi Derby, run without interruption for 96 years and named in honour of Turkey’s former leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was staged on Sunday at Veliefendi racecourse in front of some 40,000 racing fans. Yes, that is not a misprint – 40,000!

Frankie Dettori and Olivier Peslier were among the 22 riders who lined up for the classic which saw the Turkish 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner Secret Power, owned by Emrah Karamazi, win and give her jockey Özcan Yildirim a first victory in the race, The three-year-old daughter of Native Khan (Azamour) was bred by Umut Cosar and is trained by Yasar Demir.

This was her sixth victory in nine career starts, and should Secret Power be successful in the Ankara Stakes-Turkish St Leger on September 24th, she would become the ninth Triple Crown winner, and just the second filly, in Turkish racing history.

The winner received some €220,000 and, if Secret Power lands the Triple Crown, her connections will receive a bonus of about €145,000. Mucize Kiz (by Torok out of Plucky Khan, by Holy Roman Emperor) finished in second place in the Derby, followed home by Sigos (by Toruk Macto out of Crafty Spell, by Mastercraftsman) and Final Dance (by Declaration Of War out of Finnie Mac Cool, by Giant’s Causeway).

Native Khan was trained for two seasons by Ed Dunlop, for whom he won the Group 3 Craven Stakes and was a well-beaten third to Frankel and Dubawi Gold in the Group 1 2000 Guineas. He was less than three lengths behind Pour Moi when fifth in the Group 1 Derby. Transferred to John Oxx for his four-year-old season, Native Khan made just two more starts and was third to Famous Name on both occasions in Group 3 races. He went to stud in Turkey in 2013 and Secret Power is one of 10 international stakes winners he has sired.

Fleeting Mirage (Afleet Alex) did not race. Purchased as a newly-turned yearling by Louis Walshe from Graigueshoneen Stud, she was sold to Turkey at the Goffs November Sale eight years ago for €26,000. She has three winners, Secret Power being the best to date. Fleeting Mirage is a daughter of the US stakes winner Dancing Mirage (Alleged).

Dam of four winners, Dancing Mirage is a half-sister to the dam of Kinsale King (Yankee Victor), and that gelding had his biggest success a dozen years ago when he won the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan, trained by Carl O’Callaghan.