Darsi (horse)

Darsi is a "big, imposing" bay horse standing 16.2 hands high[2] bred in France by his owner the Aga Khan.

Starting the 6/4 favourite against twelve opponents, he took the lead in the straight but faded in the closing stages to finish fifth behind the André Fabre-trained Gravitas.

Best Name finished strongly to take second place by a short neck from Arras, just ahead of Art Deco, Numide and Irish Wells.

"[10] Four weeks later, Darsi was sent to Ireland and started 5/1 second favourite for the Irish Derby over one and a half miles at the Curragh after his owner paid a €100,000 supplementary entry fee.

[11] Before the race, Alain de Royer-Dupré said that the horse had been working well, but expressed some concern about sending him abroad, as Darsi had never previously traveled on a plane.

[2] Announcing his retirement in October 2006, the Aga Khan's racing manager Georges Rimaud described him as "a brave and courageous horse who had both speed and stamina".

[14] At the end of his racing career, Darsi was bought by a consortium of Irish breeders and retired to become a National Hunt breeding stallion at the Beechbrook Stud near Tinahely in County Wicklow.