Just days before the Epsom Derby, a host of familiar names feature towards the head of the market for the illustrious Classic. Aidan O’Brien has four amongst the current list of 25 entries, including the increasingly warm favourite Delacroix; Charlie Appleby relies on 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, and the Gosdens have a pair of intriguing contenders in the shape of Damysus and Nightwalker.
However, the Derby isn’t all about the Coolmore and Godolphin juggernauts. The race also retains an irresistible allure for the smaller owners in the game. In recent years, one man who can rarely resist throwing an unlikely dart at the ultimate prize is Ahmad Al Shaikh.
Al Wasl Storm: Bred for Aintree, But Owner Dreams of Epsom
Dubai-based businessman Al Shaikh is no stranger to targeting Epsom Gold with a bargain basement purchase. However, even by his own standards, 2025 hopeful Al Wasl Storm rates an unlikely contender.
Acquired for the relative pittance of 7,000 Guineas at the 2022 Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale, most expected Al Wasl Storm to follow the path suggested by the title of that auction.
The colt’s breeding certainly implied a career over obstacles may be in the offing. Unheralded sire Affinsea did race twice on the flat but ended that brief career with only a lowly maiden success to his name. Despite that low-key racing background, he had made a relatively encouraging start to life as a National Hunt sire, with his offspring including 2025 Arkle Chase runner-up Only By Night. However, before 2025, none of his offspring had even appeared on the flat in Europe, let alone won a race.
Dam Dearborn is even less remarkable. Unraced at the track, her main selling point comes via her half-sister Shallwehavonemore, who won a pair of National Hunt events during the 2021/22 campaign.
Undeterred by the breeding of the horse or the purpose of the sale at which he purchased Al Wasl Storm, it is the Derby that fuels Al Shaikh’s dreams. As such, despite all evidence to the contrary, Al Wasl Storm was sent to the yard of Owen Burrows to set forth as a flat racehorse.
Predictably Slow Start Precedes Chester Heroics
The validity of Ahmad’s plan may have been questioned following Al Wasl Storm’s debut at Newbury in April. Sent off at a not unfancied 17/2, the mount of Richard Kingscote finished last of the seven runners, offering little suggestion that Group 1s lay in his immediate future.
That remained the case following the colt’s next outing at Lingfield. However, this was at least a much better effort, as Al Wasl Storm finished a respectable second to Derby-bound Rogue Impact.
Gamble landed at @LingfieldPark!
Rogue Impact was well supported in the market and justified that confidence by getting off the mark in the hands of @daviesharry_, landing the double for @JPOwenRacing! pic.twitter.com/3PLXveLfcb
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 23, 2025
The third time then proved to be the charm at the Chester May meeting. It may not have been the key Derby Trials of the Chester Vase or Dee Stakes, but Al Wasl Storm booked his Derby ticket with a much-improved all-the-way success in the 1m4½f Maiden on the Friday card.
Al Wasl Storm wins @ChesterRaces with an impressive front running ride for @davidprobert9 @OwenBurrowsRace & Green Team Racing
The 3yo son of Affinisea was bought as a foal by @Ahmad_Al_Shaikh from Mocklershill Stables
— Tattersalls Ireland (@Tattersalls_ie) May 9, 2025
Next Stop, Epsom
In actually winning a flat contest, Al Wasl Storm has already surpassed the expectations of most pedigree students. However, it is surely clutching at straws to suggest he may be up to making his presence felt at Epsom on Saturday, 6th June.
At a general price of 150/1, the market doesn’t appear to rate his chances. However, recent history has taught us that Ahmad Al Shaik sees things the market doesn’t when it comes to what it takes to run well in the Derby. Whilst the affable owner has yet to win the blue riband event, he has come pretty close.
2020: Khalifa Sat
Al Shaik’s first near miss came in the behind-closed-doors Derby of 2020. Sired by Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Free Eagle, Khalifa Sat did at least bring a flat pedigree to the table and had shown definite promise in winning Maiden and Listed events at Goodwood. Despite that, the colt started as a 50/1 outsider in one of the strangest Derby runnings in living memory.
Aidan O’Brien’s 25/1 shot, Serpentine, was allowed to saunter into a 12-length lead, with the other riders seemingly waiting for the Galileo colt to tire and come back to the field. They waited in vain, but Khalifa Sat came closest to reeling him in to take a gallant second.
2022: Hoo Ya Mal
Picking up only a maiden win in his debut campaign, Hoo Ya Mal arrived at Epsom following defeats in the Craven Stakes and Newmarket Stakes. As such, odds of 150/1 looked like a fair reflection of his claims. In the end, the Territories colt was no match for the impressive winner, Desert Crown. However, he did finish ahead of his 15 other rivals to grab a spectacular second.
2024: Deira Mile & Sayedaty Sadaty
Ahmad’s most recent Derby tilt came in 2024. Sent off at odds of 25/1 and 50/1, the nicely bred Deira Mile and more leftfield Sayedaty Sadaty weren’t expected to trouble the judge. And in the end, they didn’t. However, the pair crossed the line in unison to take fourth and fifth, finishing just 1½l behind Los Angeles, who claimed the final spot on the podium.
For an owner who scours the sales for cheap purchases, four top five efforts in the Derby rates a fine return. Could Al Wasl Storm be the latest to perform way above expectations in the biggest flat race of the year? It might just be worth considering!
