Urfa Aslanı Becomes the Champion Thoroughbred of 2023

Gazi Derby (G1), being organized uninterruptedly for 97 years in honour of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was held on Sunday, 25 June 2023 at the Veliefendi Racecourse, with the participation of over 30.000 racing fans.

Gazi Derby, the most important challenge of 3-years-olds was held in the 100th anniversary year of Turkish Republic on 2400 meters on turf track with the participation of 22 thoroughbreds.

Urfa Aslanı (Approve - Waimaria / High Chaparral) owned by Selim Kaya, won the race with his jockey Mehmet Kaya with a finish time of 2.30.35. The bay colt bred by Kaya Atçılık Ltd Şti and trained by Velat Karakuş obtained his 1st Group victory and got his 5th victory at the 18th start of his racing career. Jockey Mehmet Kaya also got his first Gazi Derby victory.

Please click here to watch the race.

Qualizto (Torok – Arwa / Bin Ajwaad) finished the race in second place with Ayhan Kurşun and followed by Chaika (Marcavelly – Queen Regent / Medaglia d’Oro) with Vedat Abiş, Moonlight Fairy (Graystorm – Ay İncisi / Kaneko) with Müslüm Çelik and Native Power (Native Khan – Unity / Sadler’s Wells) with Akın Sözen.

The margins of the race were 1 ½ Lengths – 3 ½ Lengths – Head – Neck.

Ebubekir Gizligider, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and President of Board of High Stewards presented the trophy to Selim Kaya, the winning owner.

General Ali Sivri, First Army Commander, presented a plate to Velat Karakuş, the winning trainer.

Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, presented a plate to Mehmet Kaya, the winning jockey.

Serdal Adalı, President of the Jockey Club of Türkiye; Murat Birol Kayim, General Coordinator of Board of High Stewards; Ahmet Özbelge, General Secretary of the Jockey Club of Türkiye; Adil Mert Kaya, Treasurer Board Member of Jockey Club of Türkiye; Gülnur Gülerce and Tuğban İzzet Aksoy, Executive Board Members of the Jockey Club of Türkiye attended the prize giving ceremony.