Storm brews at Epsom over the 150-1 Derby outsider and his genius owner who wins millions with bargain horses
THERE is a storm brewing at Epsom – and not just with the weather.
While the rain is set to pour on the Downs – and thunder and hail are forecast – there could be a tornado on the track.
Al Wasl Storm is the 150-1 outsider bookies are giving no hope in hell of winning the world’s most prestigious Flat race.
But his owner Ahmad Al Shaikh, a Dubai businessman who loves staying horses, knows exactly what it takes to plunder huge cheques with bargain basement horses.
And he’s done it loads before in the Derby.
Hoo Ya Mal was a 150-1 runner-up in 2022 – his valiant second securing his owner a cheque for £350,000 before he sold him to Australia for £1.2million.
A blinding bit of business as the horse has never bettered that second-place finish.
Khalifa Sat was second two years before that at whopping odds of 50-1, landing Al Shaikh a cheque for just north of £100,000.
When 25-1 Deira Mile and 50-1 Sayedaty Sadaty were fourth and fifth respectively last year, the gravelly-voiced Al Shaikh left Epsom a staggering £125,000 better off.
In a world where horses are routinely sold for seven figures, Al Shaikh refuses to ever spend more than £80,000 – even though he and his Green Team operation have combined to win over £1m in recent years.
For every purchase, he goes through their pedigrees himself (paying particular attention to the third dam) making sure they match what he likes.
Which brings us back to Al Wasl Storm.
Trained by Owen Burrows, the three-year-old colt was bought for just £5,900 at the sales in November 2022.
He was dead last on debut at Newbury in April then came second to fellow Derby runner Rogue Impact at Lingfield.
His last run was his best, winning over the 1m4f Derby trip at Chester and staying on well to the line.
The £20,616 Al Shaikh, under the Green Team banner, pocketed there was nice.
But it’s an amazing £900,000 for winning the Derby – and the potential in stud fees as a result is practically unlimited.
As an example, former Derby winner Galileo was rumoured to charge £600,000 a cover at stud before he died.
So while the likes of Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix and Charlie Appleby’s Ruling Court head the market, if you fancy one at a price keep looking further and further down the racecard.
All the way to 150-1, where you find Al Wasl Storm.
History shows he is bound to outrun his odds.
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