International Diary

INTERNATIONAL DIARY

JUNE 26, 2007

by Kellie Reilly

In recent weeks, we've reveled in a few superlative performances at Epsom and

Royal Ascot. This edition will try to serve as a highlight reel in prose, so to

speak, to showcase the most notable efforts at those historic venues.

One does not often see an Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) field mercilessly torn

to shreds, but that is precisely what AUTHORIZED (Montjeu [Ire]) did to

his hapless opponents in the June 2 renewal of the Blue Riband. After breaking

slowly, the Peter Chapple-Hyam charge settled into a smooth gallop on the

outside, well off the strong early pace. As his rivals began to labor,

Authorized was still only cantering, awaiting instructions from Frankie Dettori,

but so great was his cruising speed that he was already passing horses and

gaining on the leaders. Entering the undulating straight, the outcome was never

in doubt, with the only question being how large his margin of victory would be.

When Authorized struck the front, Dettori asked him for his maximum effort, and

his acceleration was instantaneous, his stride visibly lengthening as he leveled

off and maintained his fierce charge all the way to the line. Dettori had

finally won his coveted Derby at the 15th attempt, by a domineering five

lengths.

Of course, the mere fact of Authorized's victory was a surprise to no one, as

he went off as the 5-4 favorite on the strength of his scores in the Racing Post

Trophy (Eng-G1) and the Dante S. (Eng-G2). The consummate disdain he displayed,

however, and his thoroughgoing demolition of well qualified or highly promising

individuals, are another matter entirely. We'll never know if the injured

TEOFILO (Galileo [Ire]) could have withstood his murderous onslaught. As a

card-carrying member of the Teofilo Admiration Society, I would like to think

so, but he would have to be one of the all-time greats to have denied Authorized

on this occasion. Hopefully Teofilo will recover well enough to reach his full

potential, setting up a clash for the ages.

I always feel bad when I underestimate a horse, not merely because of that

stinging sensation of being proven wrong, but because I have been unjust. In the

case of Authorized, even though I respected him as the most accomplished Derby

contender and undoubtedly the one to beat, I didn't think that he was light

years better than his rivals. Indeed, I kept harping on the fact that he was

proven on soft ground, not good going, and the more the ground dried up at

Epsom, the more I suspected that his comparative advantage could have been

evaporating right along with it. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Authorized is truly exceptional, and his Derby will forever go down as one of

the most scintillating on record.

Interestingly, Authorized is inbred not only to Northern Dancer (3 X 4),

which is common these days, but he also boasts a much more unusual 5 X 4

inbreeding to *Val de Loir, France's champion three-year-old colt in 1962 and a

top stallion in his native land. While I've only seen a couple of photographs of

Val de Loir, I think Authorized's head bears a certain resemblance to his.

Authorized will now go in search of new worlds to conquer. Instead of lording

it over fellow three-year-olds again, he will tackle older horses, and cut back

in trip to 10 furlongs, in the July 7 Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) at Sandown. Whether in

that spot, or later in the season, Authorized promises to buck a disconcerting

recent trend. The last four Derby heroes have failed to win a single race

between them after scoring at Epsom, but this superb bay colt should snap that

depressing streak.

In the June 1 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1), LIGHT SHIFT (Kingmambo)

displayed real courage to hand trainer Henry Cecil his eighth Oaks victory.

After she stormed to the front in the stretch, she was accosted by a surprising

PEEPING FAWN (Danehill), an Aidan O'Brien trainee who took four tries to

break her maiden and had never been farther than a mile. Peeping Fawn unleashed

a tremendous rally from far back, and despite veering sharply left, didn't lose

much momentum as she drew up to the leader's flank. Light Shift looked sure to

be swamped in a few more jumps, but she roared back, making a second decisive

move while hitting the rising ground, to score by a half-length. Now

three-for-three this year, she will likely head to the July 15 Irish Oaks

(Ire-G1).

On the Oaks undercard, the O'Brien-trained SCORPION (Ire) (Montjeu

[Ire]) poached an unassailable advantage and powered to a 1 1/4-length victory

in the Coronation Cup (Eng-G1), recording his first success since taking

the 2005 St Leger (Eng-G1). It's taken a while for the classy bay to return to

top form after fracturing a pastern last year, and I'd started to fear that we'd

never see the grand Scorpion of old, but he's clearly back on track now.

Scorpion wasn't able to build on that success when lining up in Saturday's

Hardwicke S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot, where Coronation Cup third MARAAHEL

(Alzao) narrowly turned the tables on him. There were a couple of extenuating

circumstances that contributed to Scorpion's defeat in the 1 1/2-mile affair.

Unlike their previous meeting at level weights, Scorpion was giving Maraahel

five pounds, toting 131 to the winner's 126. Even more crucial, however, was

Richard Hills' heady ride on Maraahel. Sensing the opportunity to entrap

Scorpion in a pocket turning for home, Hills sent Maraahel forward and seized

the advantage. Scorpion extricated himself in the stretch and had an eternity to

get by Maraahel, but by the time he found his best stride and closed the gap, it

was too late to reel in his ultra-game rival. Scorpion still ran an excellent

race, and he should add to his trophy collection over the course of the season.

Maybe he'll try to improve upon his fifth-place effort in the 2006 Breeders' Cup

Turf (G1).

Although O'Brien didn't capture the Hardwicke, he took top trainer honors at

Royal Ascot. The master of Ballydoyle got off to a brilliant start on Tuesday,

when he sent out the trifecta in the one-mile St. James's Palace S. (Eng-G1).

EXCELLENT ART (Pivotal), who had been a troubled fourth in the Poule

d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1), found the seam this

time and bravely burst through to win by a convincing neck. The runner-up,

DUKE OF MARMALADE (Danehill), nearly took the field wire-to-wire in a bold

change of tactics. As O'Brien forecast, he had moved forward off his

fourth-place efforts in both the English (Eng-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas

(Ire-G1). ASTRONOMER ROYAL (Danzig) wasn't able to produce the same late

kick that carried him to victory in the French Guineas and wound up third.

The value of the race was undermined, however, by English and Irish Guineas

hero COCKNEY REBEL's (Val Royal [Fr]) hanging to his left clear across

the track in the stretch. He was just ranging into contention at the time, and

jockey Olivier Peslier said that he was confident that Cockney Rebel was about

to take command. Cockney Rebel had a very good reason for his behavior, as he

exited the race with a fractured pelvis. Despite his injury, the loss of ground,

and Peslier's wrapping up on him late, he was beaten a total of 1 3/4 lengths in

fifth. Without his unfortunate fracture, Cockney Rebel would likely have won his

third straight Group 1 and cemented his position as the leading three-year-old

miler. Trainer Geoff Huffer has issued an encouraging prognosis, so we could see

him return later in the year.

Older milers were responsible for another messy, inconclusive affair on

Tuesday in the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1). Godolphin's RAMONTI

(Martino Alonso) had been passed in the stretch, but he stayed on determinedly

to reclaim a slim advantage in a four-horse photo. JEREMY (Danehill

Dancer) should be credited with an assist. After seizing the lead, he forfeited

his chance by hanging to the right and wound up a frustrating second.

The horse to take out of the race is GEORGE WASHINGTON (Ire) (Danehill),

who was making his first start since proving to be subfertile at stud. O'Brien

has had to summon his ingenuity to re-educate George in the ways of the training

yard, and it was difficult to predict whether he would show his old ability.

George answered very much in the affirmative. He might have been overeager

heading to post and stirred up in the opening stages of the race, but he

finished in a most encouraging manner for a very close fourth. A tilt at the

Eclipse, against Authorized, is one of the tantalizing possibilities for George.

On Wednesday, a pair of star performers paid a hefty compliment to the

retired Ouija Board (GB), who had defeated them both last year.

In the 1 1/4-mile Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1), MANDURO (Monsun)

emphatically dismissed a strong field. DYLAN THOMAS (Ire) (Danehill) was

the only one who made a race of it, but he was simply outkicked, beaten by 1 1/4

lengths, fairly and squarely. Dylan Thomas ran as well as he possibly can,

considering that he was himself four lengths clear of his old nemesis,

NOTNOWCATO (Inchinor [GB]), and Breeders' Cup Turf hero RED ROCKS

(Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) was a non-threatening fourth.

A German-bred trained in France by Andre Fabre, Manduro had come close to

landing a major prize on several occasions in 2006, including a respectable

third to Ouija Board in last year's Prince of Wales's. The nearly black

five-year-old is reaching the peak of his powers at present, having bolted up in

the Earl of Sefton S. (Eng-G3) and Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-G1) in his first two

starts of 2007. Fabre has said that it's taken time to discover the way Manduro

likes to be ridden, and believes that the jockey switch to Stephane Pasquier has

been the key to Manduro's success. He could reappear in the July 26 King George

VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. (Eng-G1), and Fabre has even suggested that

the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) could be on the cards.

On an obscure pedigree note, Manduro is inbred 3 X 4 to the terrific miler

Dschingis Khan, a three-time champion in Germany in the 1960s and an influential

stallion. Perhaps he can leave a wake of destruction in his path as well.

NANNINA (Medicean) was no less impressive when streaking away by three

lengths in the one-mile Windsor Forest S. (Eng-G2). The John Gosden trainee has

ranked among the leaders of her generation for three seasons now, with a

Fillies' Mile S. (Eng-G1) score on her resume as a juvenile and a victory in the

Coronation S. (Eng-G1) here last year. Third to Ouija Board in the 2006 Nassau

S. (Eng-G1), Nannina may set her sights on that target again on August 4, en

route to a possible bid in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

O'Brien's YEATS (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) had no difficulty when

defending his title in Thursday's Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-G1). After

traveling ominously well throughout the 2 1/2-mile marathon, he asserted his

authority and drew clear. Yeats appeared to idle a bit, but when he sensed a

rival daring to approach, he got serious again and crossed the wire a 1

1/2-length winner. While he could remain in the stayers' division, it's worth

recalling that Yeats has top-class form at 1 1/2 miles. Once a leading Epsom

Derby contender in 2004 before being sidelined, he captured the 2005 Coronation

Cup. This season, O'Brien has said several times that Yeats has shown much more

speed in his training. Might this be a sly hint of a drop-down in trip on the

horizon? I hope so.

Also on Thursday, SILKWOOD (Singspiel [Ire]) took a class leap from

handicap company into the Ribblesdale S. (Eng-G2) and stormed home a

five-length winner. The form of the 1 1/2-mile event looks rock solid, with the

second- and third-place finishers both exiting the Epsom Oaks. Ribblesdale

runner-up ALL MY LOVING (Sadler's Wells), a distant third at Epsom, was

no match for the winner here. That raises the fascinating question of what would

have happened if Silkwood had run in the Oaks. She was an intended runner at

Epsom, but after the ground came up soft, trainer Michael Jarvis opted to skip

the classic.

Silkwood will probably get her chance to challenge Light Shift in the Irish

Oaks. Since she's owned by Sheikh Mohammed, I'm expecting her to be promoted to

Godolphin at some point. Note that her second dam is a full sister to multiple

champion Miesque, a two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

The rains then poured down at Royal Ascot, saturating the ground for Friday's

racing and swinging the balance in favor of soft-turf types. That wrecked the

eagerly awaited battle between FINSCEAL BEO (Mr. Greeley) and DARJINA

(Zamindar) in the one-mile Coronation, as neither was able to put forward

her best effort. As a result, the six-length romp by INDIAN INK (Indian

Ridge), as visually impressive as it was, isn't a true bill. Indeed, Indian Ink

had been soundly beaten by Finsceal Beo in the English One Thousand Guineas

(Eng-G1). The pelting rain changed the equation. The leading contenders weren't

able to quicken and ran on uncharacteristically one-paced, while Indian Ink was

the only one reveling in the conditions. To be fair, Indian Ink is no slouch, as

she won last year's Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1), but she needs soft ground to

produce her best.

The fantastic German filly MI EMMA (Silvano [Ger]) managed to outduel

Darjina for second, with Finsceal Beo treading home in eighth. Perhaps Finsceal

Beo's arduous early-season heroics have caught up with her. On the other hand,

she didn't run flat or appear dull. She was in a perfect position, but just

couldn't summon the speed when required, and her connections are adamant that

the ground was to blame. In any event, the well-rested Darjina certainly was

compromised by the soft going, and we never got to see her explosive turn of

foot. It would be no surprise if this result is turned upside down on faster

ground.

Like the St. James's Palace and the Queen Anne, the Coronation form can't be

taken too literally when evaluating possible contenders for the Breeders' Cup

Mile.

With the advent of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf this year, Royal Ascot's

two-year-old events could take on more immediate importance for North American

fans. Two O'Brien runners stand out in this regard. The royally bred

HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (Kingmambo) kept on strongly to claim the meet's opening

race, the six-furlong Coventry S. (Eng-G2), as the favorite. Henrythenavigator

is now two-for-two, and both his pedigree and the manner of his Coventry score

suggest that he'll want to stretch out.

Also intriguing is YOU'RESOTHRILLING (Storm Cat), a full sister to

multiple Group 1 hero and sensational young sire Giant's Causeway. The O'Brien

pupil debuted in a stakes versus males at the Curragh, finishing a solid second,

and then broke her maiden in the Swordlestown Stud Sprint S. (Ire-G3). At Royal

Ascot, she was a staying-on second in the six-furlong Albany S. (Eng-G3) after

having to weave around for a clear path. You'resothrilling already appears ready

to negotiate longer distances, and although it's really early now, she could be

the type to show up at the Breeders' Cup, whether versus her male contemporaries

on the turf or in the Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Unfortunately, the Breeders' Cup still does not have a turf sprint, which

should have been added to the program by now. Imagine if we did. Would we have

possibly lured the Australian wonder MISS ANDRETTI (Ihtiram), who

thrashed the field in Tuesday's King's Stand S. (Eng-G2), shattering the

five-furlong course record by 2.35 seconds? She was another inconvenienced by

the deluge later in the week and faded to 15th in Saturday's Golden Jubilee

S. (Eng-G1), well astern of SOLDIER'S TALE (Stravinsky), who got up

in the nick of time to catch the classy Australian TAKEOVER TARGET

(Celtic Swing).

North America isn't on the cards for Japanese star ADMIRE MOON (End

Sweep) either, but Europe is his next destination. A smashing winner of the

Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) in March, the improving four-year-old defeated an

exceptional cast in Sunday's Takarazuka Kinen (Jpn-G1). Ridden for the first

time by Yasunari Iwata, who replaced Yutaka Take after his questionable job

aboard the colt in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1), Admire Moon delivered a

lethal late kick to collar MEISHO SAMSON (Opera House [GB]).

If the two renew their rivalry later this year, it will have to be on the

other side of the globe. Admire Moon is aiming for the August 21 Juddmonte

International S. (Eng-G1) at York. Meisho Samson, last year's Japanese champion

three-year-old colt, is eyeing the October 7 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1).

Japan could have another Arc hopeful in VODKA (Tanino Gimlet), who became

the first filly in 64 years to win the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Jpn-G1),

but wound up eighth in the Takarazuka Kinen.

This weekend, Ireland will take center stage. Saturday's Pretty Polly S.

(Ire-G1) at the Curragh features Peeping Fawn as well as recent Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1)

heroine WEST WIND (Machiavellian) taking on older distaffers, while

Sunday's Irish Derby (Ire-G1) is the target for O'Brien's EAGLE MOUNTAIN

(Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]), runner-up to Authorized at Epsom.

Our next edition will recap those Irish contests, along with the Eclipse, and

preview the King George.