Brilliant Authorized is another Derby winner for Montjeu
2nd June 2007
A champion was crowned at Epsom on Saturday afternoon when Montjeu’s brilliant son Authorized (3c Montjeu-Funsie by Saumarez) ran out one of the most impressive winners of the G1 Vodafone Derby in recent years with a brilliant five-length victory from the Rock Of Gibraltar colt Eagle Mountain (3c Rock Of Gibraltar-Masskana by Darshaan).
Frankie Dettori kicked for home in the final two furlongs and his mount responded in electric fashion as he galloped away to a famous Classic victory.
The colt was a second G1 Derby winner in three years for Montjeu, also successful in 2005 with Motivator (5h Montjeu-Out West by Gone West). Montjeu had also sired Friday’s G1 Coronation Cup winner Scorpion (5h Montjeu-Ardmelody by Law Society).
Authorized, trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam for owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, was bred in partnership by Montjeu’s former jockey Mick Kinane and realised 95,000gns as a foal and 400,000gns as a yearling.
Dettori said: "When I was a child, it was always the dream to win the Derby, King George and the Arc and finally I have now nailed all three. I had not slept for two nights beforehand but I knew that I was riding a great horse and that he had been working brilliantly. The horse was very relaxed and has such a tremendous turn of foot."
Authorized also won the G1 Racing Post Trophy as a two-year-old and Chapple-Hyam said: "I always knew Authorized was a very good horse from day one and he has never let me down. He is not a typical mile and a half horse but he gets the trip through his sheer class. He travels and has a serious turn of foot and I am very lucky to have him. Things simply don’t come any better than the feeling I have just now."
Authorized is likely to next contest the G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown while runner-up Eagle Mountain, bred by James Wigan's London Thoroughbred Services, could now bid for the G1 Irish Derby.
"We were absolutely delighted with that and we can look forward to some big-race wins with him now. I imagine we'll go for the Irish Derby next," said Eagle Mountain's co-owner Derrick Smith.