Champion of 2018 is 
"HEP BERABER"

HEP BERABER, owned by Veysel Kahraman, trained by Mehmet Yalçın won the 92^nd Gazi Derby with its jockey Ahmet Çelik on turf track on 2400 meters with a finish time of 2.29.67.

Mr. Eşref Fakıbaba, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock presented the trophies to the winning owner, trainer and jockey of the breathtaking competition of 21 thoroughbreds.

Gazi Derby, named after our great leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and having been held uninterruptedly since 1927, is the Derby of Turkish Horse Racing.  92^nd edition of the Derby was held on 1 July 2018, with the participation of 21 thoroughbreds of 3yo, offering 1.650.000 TL to the winner at Istanbul Veliefendi Racecourse. HEP BERABER (Scream to Scream - Venezuella / Sports Hero) , owned by Veysel Kahraman, trained by Mehmet Yalçın won the 92^nd Gazi Derby with its jockey Ahmet Çelik with a finish time of 2.29.67. The successful thoroughbred is also the winner of 2000 Guineas and will become a Triple Crown winner, if it succeeds in Ankara Cup on 22 September.

Racing fans, members of the horse racing society, politicians, state officials, prominent figures in business and art enjoyed the organization, hosted by President Serdal Adali, and Executive Board Members of the Jockey Club of Turkey.

The Parade by the students of the Apprentice Training Center right before the start of the Derby drew an enthusiastic attention. The Jockeys of the Derby also greeted the spectators.

Please click here to watch the race.

Ahmet Çelik, winner of the Derby 4 years in a row

Successful jockey Ahmet Çelik was already sharing the record for winning the Gazi Derby 3 years in a row with Ekrem Kurt, who also won the Derby 3 years in a row from 1971 to 1973. Ahmet Çelik achieved this success with RENK in 2015, GRAYSTORM in 2016 and PIANO SONATA in 2017. Thanks to his last victory at the 92^nd Gazi Derby with HEP BERABER, Ahmet Çelik went down in history of racing for winning the Derby 4 years in a row.

Mr. Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock shared his comments with TJK TV, “ I am happy to be here, at the 92^nd of this most important race, being organized since 1927. The racing sector progressed significantly in the last 15 – 20 years.  I would like to thank sincerely to those who contributed this organization. I can see that the sector leaped forward following the law made in 2006, and this makes me very happy as the Minister of Agriculture. I also would like to thank our Minister Mr. Mehdi Eker, who is also here today, for his efforts in this law.” 

18 colts and 3 fillies of 3 yo, competed against each other on turf on 2400 meters to become the champion of 92^nd Gazi Derby. 25 thousand spectators held their breaths at 17:15 to witness the new champion of Turkish racing. DISTANT SHINING (Luxor - Thinker Bell / Always A Classic) finished the race as second with jockey Gökhan Gökçe and followed by MISTER GÖRKEM (Powerscourt - Gençceren / Kaneko) with Uğur Polar and VANCOUVER (George Vancouver - Kilfarasy / Galileo) with Mustafa Çiçek. The margins of the race were 4 L – ½ L  - N.

Mr. Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock presented the trophy to Fedai Kahraman, on behalf of the winning owner.

Mr. Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock presented a plate to Mehmet Yalçın, the winning trainer. 

 Mr. Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock also presented a plate to Ahmet Çelik, the winning trainer. 

Mr. Mehmet Mehdi Eker, Deputy Chairman of AK Party, responsible from Foreign Relations and former Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock; Mr. Bülent Kerimoglu, Bakirkoy Mayor; Serdal Adalı, President of TJK; Adil Mert Kaya, Treasurer Board Member of TJK; Yüksel Göktürk, Ahmet Özbelge and Tuğban İzzet Aksoy, Executive Board Members of TJK; Dr. Ender Aydiner, General Coordinator of Executive Board of TJK and Kahraman Family attended the ceremony at Winner Circle.

Students of Ekrem Kurt Apprentice Training Center performed a waltz dancing show.