International Diary

INTERNATIONAL DIARY

JULY 24, 2007

by Kellie Reilly

It's hideously selfish of me, but I have to admit feeling relieved that Epsom

Derby (Eng-G1) conqueror AUTHORIZED (Montjeu [Ire]) was upset in the July

7 Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) at Sandown. It's one thing to have underestimated

his ability going into the Derby, but if I had failed to perceive true greatness

on the eve of the Blue Riband, that would have been hard to stomach. Indeed, I

would have gone to the grave bearing the scarlet letter "A" -- in my case, for

Authorized -- emblazoned on my chest. Now that he's been proven mortal after

all, I can rest easy, being guilty of only a misdemeanor and not high treason.

Although Authorized did not do well enough in the Eclipse to enter the

pantheon, he still ran honorably as runner-up to NOTNOWCATO (Inchinor

[GB]). Winning jockey Ryan Moore has been lionized for his clever ride, steering

Notnowcato to the stands' side to take advantage of the better ground. That

produced a remarkable scene, as Notnowcato stormed home in splendid isolation,

separated by the width of the course from the rest of the field on the far side.

The classy chestnut didn't need to sense his rivals to deliver a first-rate

effort. Despite spotting Authorized 11 pounds, the five-year-old Notnowcato

drove 1 1/2 lengths clear at the line to bag his third Group 1 event.

Authorized acquitted himself well in his first crack at the older generation,

especially considering that he was cutting back in trip to 1 1/4 miles.

Moreover, the best laid plans of his pacemaker were foiled by a tactical

maneuver on the part of a couple of Ballydoyle runners, and a muddling pace

scenario didn't help Authorized one bit. He didn't travel as ominously well as

he had at Epsom, and when Frankie Dettori asked him in earnest, he failed to

produce that startling change of gear. To his credit, he battled on, but he ran

like a true 1 1/2-mile horse who couldn't quite achieve daylight at the shorter

trip. So even if he had crossed over to the stands' side with Notnowcato, or

conversely, if Notnowcato had stayed with the herd, I don't think the result

would have been any different.

In terms of the overall strength of the form, it's worth pointing out that

Notnowcato had been drubbed by MANDURO (Monsun) in the Prince of Wales's

S. (Eng-G1) in his prior start. Further clouding the issue in the Eclipse, the

superb miler GEORGE WASHINGTON (Ire) (Danehill), who was making just his

second start of his comeback and stretching out to this distance for the first

time on turf, stayed on resolutely himself. Slowly gaining on Authorized

approaching the wire, George came up a mere head short of second. He too was

shouldering 11 pounds more than the Derby winner. Much more surprisingly,

YELLOWSTONE (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]), only eighth to Authorized in the

Derby, finished a close fourth here.

All of which goes to suggest that Authorized should return to 1 1/2 miles in

Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1), per the original

plan, but he's not. According to the Racing Post, trainer Peter

Chapple-Hyam has been overruled on the matter. The colt's owners insist that he

should aim for the roughly 1 1/4-mile Juddmonte International S. (Eng-G1) on

August 21 at York, where he would get the chance to turn the tables on

Notnowcato. It would be no surprise, however, if they were both dismissed by the

Japanese standout ADMIRE MOON (End Sweep).

Of course, the usual shibboleths about the well-being of the horse are

trotted out, to the effect that Authorized needs a break, etc. It all smacks of

damage control now that the bubble has been burst. Before he lost, there was no

such thought that a tilt at the Eclipse would ever compromise his taking part in

the King George.

It's extremely unfortunate that an outstanding Derby winner will not get his

chance in the midsummer championship, when he would have been poised to achieve

a prestigious Epsom/King George double.

While Authorized's reputation has been dented somewhat, three other

sophomores have emerged as high-class individuals on the upgrade.

The Derby form has taken a few hits recently, but none so significant as the

blow landed by the Aidan O'Brien-trained SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (Galileo

[Ire]), who engineered a stunning form reversal in the July 1 Irish Derby

(Ire-G1). A well-beaten fifth behind Authorized and runner-up EAGLE

MOUNTAIN (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) at Epsom, Soldier of Fortune plowed

through the soft-to-heavy ground at the Curragh to romp by nine lengths, leaving

his stablemate Eagle Mountain well behind in a toiling third. With O'Brien's

ALEXANDER OF HALES (Danehill) getting up for second, the master of

Ballydoyle sent out the trifecta in the Irish classic.

Of course, the bog-like conditions conspired against Eagle Mountain, who would

have put up a stiffer fight on reasonably good ground. On the other hand,

O'Brien was adamant that Soldier of Fortune had improved considerably since

Epsom, and his powerful display at the Curragh suggests that he's a different

proposition at this point. Soldier of Fortune will bid for more classic glory in

the September 15 St Leger (Eng-G1) at Doncaster, and he is unlikely to face

Authorized again until the October 7 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1).

The misery continued for Eagle Mountain in the July 14 Grand Prix de Paris

(Fr-G1), when he clipped heels and unseated Kieren Fallon in a

frightening spill. Juddmonte Farms' homebred ZAMBEZI SUN (Dansili [GB]),

who was involved in the barging that led to the incident, went on to storm home

by five convincing lengths. Because of the melee, we'll never know if Eagle

Mountain could have delivered a serious challenge. Given the winner's impressive

acceleration, however, I strongly doubt it.

Much has been made of the fact that the once-beaten Zambezi Sun has a similar

profile to Juddmonte's RAIL LINK (Dansili [GB]), last year's Grand Prix

hero who later captured the Arc. Unfortunately, Rail Link had to be retired last

week after sustaining a tendon injury, but his owner appears to have a worthy

replacement in Zambezi Sun. Following Rail Link's path, he will use the

September 16 Prix Niel (Fr-G2) as his prep for the Arc.

Zambezi Sun suffered his lone career loss in the June 3 Prix du Jockey

Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1), finishing a troubled fourth to the

front-running LAWMAN (Invincible Spirit). In his subsequent start, Lawman

employed the same tactics en route to a sparkling, three-length score in the

July 8 Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1). The Jean-Marie Beguigne trainee had it his

own way in both outings, and he will face a far tougher task when eyeballing the

mighty Manduro in the August 12 Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1) at Deauville.

Still, Lawman is a highly regarded colt who could head for the September 8 Irish

Champion S. (Ire-G1) before the Arc.

Just as the Epsom form was subjected to emphatic revision by the colts in the

Irish Derby, so was it turned upside down by the fillies in the July 15 Irish

Oaks (Ire-G1). Again, the ground played a role, but it's uncertain how

decisive it was. Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) runner-up PEEPING FAWN (Danehill)

exacted revenge on Oaks winner LIGHT SHIFT (Kingmambo), delivering a

terrific burst of speed to win by 3 1/2 lengths at the Curragh. Light Shift was

unable to quicken on the soft-to-heavy turf, but she kept on gamely to finish a

one-paced second.

There's no question that Light Shift was compromised by the ground. The key

debating point is whether Peeping Fawn would have won in any event, regardless

of the state of the ground. It's clear that Peeping Fawn has made rapid progress

in the last two months. Even though the deck was stacked against her at Epsom,

having never run farther than a mile and wheeling back on five days' rest, she

didn't miss by much. In between her two Oaks forays, Peeping Fawn defeated older

mares in the June 30 Pretty Polly S. (Ire-G1). A compelling case can be

made that she has surpassed Light Shift.

Thankfully, the pair will clash again in the August 4 Nassau S. (Eng-G1) at

Glorious Goodwood, and that should settle the matter. The Nassau is shaping up

to be a fascinating contest with Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)

implications. In addition to Peeping Fawn and Light Shift, such older stars as

MANDESHA (Desert Style) and NANNINA (Medicean) are slated to take

part.

Another Epsom Oaks alumna, sixth-placer SIMPLY PERFECT (Danehill), cut

back to a flat mile in the Falmouth S. (Eng-G1) and wired a field of

accomplished older distaffers, including Team Valor's IRRIDESCENCE (Caesour)

and Nannina. Simply Perfect is now aiming for Sunday's Prix d'Astarte (Fr-G1) at

Deauville, which is expected to feature English (Eng-G1) and Irish One Thousand

Guineas (Ire-G1) queen FINSCEAL BEO (Mr. Greeley), Poule d'Essai des

Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) heroine DARJINA (Zamindar)

and German One Thousand Guineas (Ger-G2) victress MI EMMA (Silvano

[Ger]).

Irridescence is scheduled to travel to the United States for the August 11

Beverly D. S. (G1). Her Mike De Kock-trained stablemate, smashing U.A.E. Derby

(UAE-G2) winner ASIATIC BOY (Not for Sale), will make his European debut

in the August 1 Sussex S. (Eng-G1) at Glorious Goodwood.

The next major event remains the King George at Ascot, even in the absence of

Authorized and Soldier of Fortune. Several astute observers have commented that

with DeBeers withdrawing sponsorship, the race no longer has the familiar

"Diamond" in the title, so it's oddly appropriate that it lacks a real standout.

Probables for Saturday's contest include O'Brien's DYLAN THOMAS (Ire) (Danehill)

and SCORPION (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]), MARAAHEL (Alzao), YOUMZAIN

(Sinndar), Godolphin's LAVEROCK (Octagonal), popular stayer

SERGEANT CECIL (King's Signet) and the German-trained

PRINCE FLORI (Lando [Ger]).

Our next edition will review the King George, as well as the significant

action at Deauville and Glorious Goodwood.