Authorized (horse)

Authorized made his racecourse debut at Newbury Racecourse on 15 September 2006, in the one mile Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes. Ridden by Eddie Ahern, he finished third of seven runners behind the winner, Teslin. He was beaten by a head into third by Aqaleem and the Racing Post's assessment of Authorized was that "he is bred to make a better three-year-old and looks sure to improve and win races."[5]

A month later, on 21 October 2006, Authorized returned to Newbury to contest the Group One Racing Post Trophy over one mile. The race was run on heavy going, and Authorized was ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori. He won at odds of 25 to 1, by one and three quarter lengths from Charlie Farnsbarns. The odds-on favourite Eagle Mountain finished fourth. Authorized was quoted immediately after the race at 16 to 1 for the 2007 Epsom Derby but this was soon cut to 10 to 1.[6]

Authorized's first run as a three-year-old came in the ten-furlong Dante Stakes at York Racecourse on 17 May. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Authorized was sent off 10 to 11 favourite and won by four lengths from Raincoat. It appeared at the time to be the best performance in any of the 2007 Trial races for the Epsom Derby and Authorized was made favourite for the race.[7]

Media attention ahead of the Derby focused on Frankie Dettori who, despite winning all the other British Classics at least twice each, had so far failed to win the Derby in 14 attempts. For the race itself, run at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 2 June 2007, Authorized was a clear favourite at odds of 5 to 4, and justified the odds by winning by five lengths in a fast time. Dropped back in the field early on, he came to join the leaders inside the final two furlongs and won comfortably. His winning margin has not been bettered since Slip Anchor won in 1985 and in a faster time than either Motivator in 2005 or Sir Percy in 2006. Eagle Mountain finished second and Aqaleem third.[8][9]

Breeding rights to Authorized were sold to Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum in June 2007. He was leased back to his owners for the remainder of the 2007 racing season and remained at Peter Chapple-Hyam's stables.[1]

Authorized's third run of 2007 came in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on 7 July, where attempted to become the first Epsom Derby winner to win the Eclipse since Nashwan in 1989, and the first Epsom Derby winner to win another race of any description since High Chaparral in 2002.[10] He was provided with a pacemaker, Champery, to give him a strong pace in an effort to test the stamina of his closest expected rival, George Washington, but despite beating George Washington he finished second to Notnowcato, who was switched to the stands side of the course by Ryan Moore to exploit the faster ground there.[11]

Authorized returned to the racecourse on 21 August in the Juddmonte International Stakes over an extended ten furlongs at York Racecourse. Sent off the 6 to 4 favourite, he was opposed by six runners including his Eclipse Stakes conqueror, Notnowcato and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, Dylan Thomas. Always travelling well, Authorized took the lead just over a furlong out and beat Dylan Thomas by a length.[12]

He ran his last race in Paris at the Prix des Arc de Triomphe. Dylan Thomas won this event at odds of 11/2. Authorized heavily backed and sent off at evens was never in contention to win the race, taking the wide outside route. Frankie Dettori's words as he dismounted were "this was not the same horse I'm used to riding".