BURGAS is the Winner of 95^th Gazi Derby

Gazi Derby, organized uninterruptedly since 1927 in honor of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was held on Saturday, 26 June 2021 at the Veliefendi Racecourse. 21 colts and 1 filly competed against each other to become the champion of the year.
 

Winner of the 95^th Gazi Derby, Burgas (King David – Thisbe / Yavuzstar), owned by Sanem Kahraman, bred by  Fedai Kahraman finished the race in 2.27.36 with his jockey Ahmet Çelik. The bay colt trained by Tevfik Bardakcı got the first G1 win and the 6^th victory at the 9^th start of his racing career in this prestigious race.

Ahmet Çelik, broke another record by winning the Gazi Derby 7 years in a row and got closer to the record of legendary jockey Mümin Çılgın, who has 9 Gazi Derby victories. Ahmet Çelik previously won the Derby with Renk in 2015, Graystorm in 2016, Piano Sonata in 2017, Hep Beraber in 2018, The Last Romance in 2019 and Call To Victory in 2020.
 

Please click here to watch the 95^th Gazi Derby.
 

Real Runner (Invincible Son - Baklava / Cape Cross), finished the race in second place with Gökhan Kocakaya and was followed by Megaloman (Native Khan - Bona Dea / Linngari) with Kadir Tokaçoğlu and İllüzyon (Kaneko - Nikiniki / Sri Pekan) with Özcan Yıldırım. Anadolu Aslanı (Victory Gallop - Mila Bella / Intense Focus) became the 5^th place thoroughbred with his jockey Mehmet Kaya. The race was held on turf track on 2400 meters and the margins were 1,5 Length - Nose - 2 Length - 1,5 Length.

The winning owner received 3.134.100 TL including the first prize (2.100.000 TL), entry fees and owner’s premium. 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th placed thoroughbreds respectively earned 840.000 TL, 420.000 TL, 210.000 TL and 105.000 TL as prize money.

Sanem Kahraman, the winning owner received her trophy from Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, Minister of Youth and Sports.

The winning trainer Tevfik Bardakçı received his plate from Mehmet Hadi Tunç, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and President of Board of High Stewards.

The winning jockey Ahmet Çelik received his plate from Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Serdal Adalı, President of the Jockey Club of Turkey; Ahmet Özbelge, General Secretary of the Jockey Club of Turkey; Hakan Yücetürk and Tuğban İzzet Aksoy, Executive Board Members of the Jockey Club of Turkey, Fedai Kahraman, trainer of the winning thoroughbred and the thoroughbred’s connections attended to the prize ceremony at the Winner’s Circle.

The legendary jockey Mümin Çılgın, who holds the record of winning the Gazi Derby most with 9 victories, rang the bell at the paddock for the 95^th Gazi Derby.

The jockeys of the 95^th Gazi Derby before the race. 

Mümin Çılgın previously won the Gazi Derby with Helene De Troia (1960), Apaçi (1965), Nadas (1974), Dr.Seferof (1979), Dersim (1981), Uğurtay (1985), Hafız (1986), Top Image (1988) and Abbas (1991).