Champions for Montjeu and Sadler's Wells

15th January 2008

Montjeu’s son Authorized (4c Montjeu-Funsie, by Saumarez) was ranked Europe’s best three-year-old of 2007 in the World Thoroughbred Rankings after a season that included victories in the G1 Derby and G1 Juddmonte International at York.

Authorized, who was bred by a partnership including jockey Mick Kinane, was rated 129 - 4lb clear of any of his contemporaries in Europe.

"Authorized is the highest-rated Derby winner since Galileo so it’s a great credit to the horse. He thrashed his field," said Senior British Handicapper Phil Smith.

Meanwhile Montjeu’s sire Sadler’s Wells was responsible for his latest champion when the Aidan O’Brien-trained Septimus (5h Sadler’s Wells-Caladira, by Darshaan) was named World Champion Stayer of 2007.

The five-year-old achieved a rating of 122, the highest for an older stayer for more than 20 years.