International Diary

INTERNATIONAL DIARY

AUGUST 28, 2007

by Kellie Reilly

At York in the year 306, Constantine was hailed as emperor by the army. At

York this past Tuesday, Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) conqueror AUTHORIZED (Montjeu

[Ire]) staked a similar claim to the throne when posting a convincing victory

over older horses in the Juddmonte International S. (Eng-G1). A further

Constantinian parallel suggests itself, however. Constantine's York claim was of

a tenuous and provisional character, and he did not reign as the Western Roman

Emperor until he had ventured east for a showdown with his chief rival,

Maxentius, whom he defeated at Milvian Bridge in 312. Even so, Authorized must

head east for a decisive clash with his Maxentius, MANDURO (Monsun), at

Longchamp before he can wear the imperial purple.

In the Juddmonte post parade, Authorized was already serving notice that

something special was in the offing. The instant that he was released by his

handler, he took an exuberant whirl as he leaped away. Right then and there, it

was clear that Authorized was on the top of his game and spoiling for a fight.

Settled off the pace by Frankie Dettori, Authorized was traveling far more

powerfully than he had done when beaten in the Eclipse. At the halfway point of

the roughly 10-furlong affair, he looked as though he would storm clear when

given his head. Dettori turned him loose at just the right moment, when Eclipse

winner and defending Juddmonte champion NOTNOWCATO (Inchinor [GB]) struck

the front. Authorized swept past Notnowcato, emphatically avenging his Eclipse

defeat, and opened up by daylight, but he didn't have victory sewn up quite yet.

DYLAN THOMAS (Ire) (Danehill), who had been caught in traffic when

Authorized launched his bid, was finally clear and began to gain ground.

Although his margin was reduced, Authorized was always doing enough to hold him

safely at bay, and he was in hand as he crossed the wire a cozy length in front.

Authorized thus vindicated his owners' decision to point for the Juddmonte,

rather than my preferred itinerary, which would have involved the 1 1/2-mile

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1) on July 28. The Peter

Chapple-Hyam charge became the first Epsom Derby winner to capture this event

since Troy in 1979, when it was known as the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup

(Eng-G1). Let's not forget, though, that Troy had won both the Irish Derby

(Ire-G1) and King George in tremendous style before heading to York, while

Authorized didn't attempt either of those races. (Troy may be better known these

days as the broodmare sire of the outstanding young stallion Street Cry [Ire],

the sire of Street Sense.)

I took a bit of good-natured ribbing from a few of my colleagues after

Authorized's victory, but I wasn't discomfited by his success. After all, since

I thought he would have beaten Dylan Thomas in the King George, why would I be

disappointed by his doing so at York?

The real issue, of course, revolves around my view of Authorized's place in

history. While he cemented his status as an exceptional Derby winner, that

hardly entitles him to free admission into the pantheon. From my perspective,

the designation of greatness is earned over time, on a variety of fronts, and

should not be cavalierly awarded. Nor should the criteria be relaxed, in

racing's equivalent of grade inflation.

I don't think this way because of some backward-looking cult of nostalgia.

Rather, I believe this approach upholds the honor of the true greats, who

deserve to remain a small, super-elite group with staggeringly impressive

records. This issue will be revisited after the October 7 Prix de l'Arc de

Triomphe (Fr-G1), but whatever happens at Longchamp, it's a shame that

Authorized isn't expected to get the chance at a four-year-old campaign, when he could have

answered a lot more questions.

Manduro promises to be his deadliest adversary in the Arc. The Andre

Fabre star demonstrated his versatility when cutting back sharply to a mile in the

August 12 Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1) and coasting home by three

lengths, extending his 2007 mark to a perfect four-for-four. While this was an

exhibition of pure class, it must be admitted that Manduro wasn't facing the

deepest field at Deauville. His task was made easier when his only

quasi-dangerous rival, Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) and Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1)

victor LAWMAN (Invincible Spirit), trailed home a subpar last of six and

was later diagnosed with a minor liver problem. Still, Manduro proved once again

that he is a seriously good individual. The German-bred will stretch out to 1

1/2 miles for the first time in the September 16 Prix Foy (Fr-G2), his tune-up

for the Arc.

Dylan Thomas will probably take another crack at Authorized in the Arc. The

Aidan O'Brien trainee performed admirably in defeat at York, considering that he

was spotting Authorized eight pounds, was somewhat compromised by his trip and

didn't relish the rain-softened turf. It's also worth underscoring that Dylan

Thomas wasn't originally expected to line up in the Juddmonte, and O'Brien's

decision to pitch him in caught the bookmakers off guard. Exiting an impressive

four-length romp in the King George, he was cutting back in trip here, just as

Authorized had done unsuccessfully when dropping from the 1 1/2 miles of the

Derby to 1 1/4 miles in the Eclipse. In the circumstances, Dylan Thomas did very

well to draw three lengths clear of Notnowcato, reprising their respective

finishing positions behind Manduro in the Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1) at Royal

Ascot.

It's arguable that Coolmore's best chance to upset Authorized didn't even

line up in the Juddmonte, but instead raced in last Wednesday's Yorkshire

Oaks (Eng-G1). The irresistible force known as PEEPING FAWN (Danehill)

racked up her fourth Group 1 victory in a row without ever seeming to come off

the bridle. The O'Brien filly cruised to the front while still under a snug

hold, her older rivals already under pressure, and simply bolted home by four

lengths in a display of utter authority. Indeed, Johnny Murtagh, who guided both

Dylan Thomas and Peeping Fawn at York, was adamant that the three-year-old filly

would have been a bigger danger to Authorized in the Juddmonte.

In her previous start, Peeping Fawn had strolled home in the August 4

Nassau S. (Eng-G1) at Glorious Goodwood. Handling the unique contours of

that course with aplomb, she looked like the winner a long way from home, as she

cantered menacingly behind the leaders. Peeping Fawn burst through to take

command sooner than Murtagh really wanted, and she got a bit bored in front, but

she was never in the slightest danger.

The French champion MANDESHA (Desert Style) was the only one to try to

take a run at her late, narrowing the deficit to 1 1/2 lengths at the wire. The

four-year-old turned in a respectable effort, especially since she was carrying

nine pounds more than Peeping Fawn. Mandesha will probably square off against

Manduro in the Foy en route to the Arc. Checking in a well-beaten third in the

Nassau was Oaks (Eng-G1) winner LIGHT SHIFT (Kingmambo), who hasn't found

a way to derail the Peeping Fawn phenomenon since Epsom. Light Shift remains

under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Peeping Fawn has already run 10 times this year, and she must have an iron

constitution to thrive on such a busy schedule. O'Brien has a slew of options to

pursue with her, but she'd need to be supplemented for the Arc.

In other sophomore filly news, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One

Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) heroine DARJINA (Zamindar) knuckled down

bravely to take the July 29 Prix d'Astarte (Fr-G1) by a half-length at

Deauville. The Alain de Royer-Dupre pupil has raced exclusively at a mile so

far, but plans call for her to step up in trip eventually, with the 1 1/4-mile

Prix de l'Opera (Fr-G1) on Arc Day as a potential target.

The classy miler RAMONTI (Martino Alonso) likewise showed resolve

when holding on by a diminishing head from EXCELLENT ART (Pivotal) in the

August 1 Sussex S. (Eng-G1) at Glorious Goodwood. Unlike at Royal Ascot,

when Ramonti barely beat a wandering JEREMY (Danehill Dancer) in a

photo-finish conclusion to the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1), he left Jeremy nearly two

lengths behind here. The Godolphin colorbearer will likely aim for the September

29 Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1), which is also expected to mark the return of

English (Eng-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) victor COCKNEY REBEL

(Val Royal [Fr]).

Godolphin enjoyed another major coup on Sussex Day when the organization's

well-regarded juvenile RIO DE LA PLATA (Rahy) rolled to a comprehensive

two-length victory in the Vintage S. (Eng-G2). While there are other exciting

two-year-olds at large right now, Rio de la Plata is the only one with the newly

minted Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf reportedly on his radar screen. The chestnut

broke his maiden by five commanding lengths at Newmarket in his second outing,

just missing the juvenile course record, according to the Racing Post,

and would be a fascinating contender at Monmouth Park.

Our next edition will look ahead to Arc weekend, taking stock of the

September 8 Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) and Matron S. (Ire-G1), September 15 St

Leger (Eng-G1) and the September 16 preps at Longchamp.