Authorized will forever be remembered as the horse who (finally) gave Frankie Dettori victory in the Blue Riband of the Turf, the Derby. Admittedly Frankie didn’t have to wait as long as Sir Gordon Richards, who was in his 50s by the time he scored on Pinza, but the Derby remained a glaring omission from the CV of the nation’s favourite jockey for too long – until Authorized’s devastating triumph in 2007 put that right.
Authorized is, of course, now in his second season at stud, and the favourable impression made by his first foals already suggests that he is on course to make as big an impact as a stallion as he did as a racehorse.
Winning the Derby was far from the full extent of Authorized’s achievements, even if it was naturally his crowning glory. He established himself as a prime Derby contender eight months in advance of the race when landing a Group One victory as a two-year-old, registering an emphatic success in the 2006 Racing Post Trophy. He confirmed himself well on course for Epsom in the spring of his three-year-old career with an impressive four-length victory in the Dante Stakes at York, and then returned to the Knavesmire later in the season to land his third Group One, winning the Juddmonte International Stakes over ten furlongs at the Ebor Meeting, defeating a high-class field with Dylan Thomas, Notnowcato and Duke Of Marmalade following him home. He thus became the first horse since Nashwan – 18 years previously - to end his three-year-old season with British Group One wins at eight, ten and twelve furlongs to his name.
As a son of Montjeu from the family of the likes of Green Dancer, Okawango and Quijano, Authorized has the pedigree to match his outstanding racecourse form and his impressive physique. Unsurprisingly, his first book of mares at Dalham Hall Stud in 2008 was a cracker. Six of his mates had themselves won Group One races, eight of them had bred a Group One winner, 24 were full- or half-sisters to Group One winners, and eight were daughters of Group One winners. In total, 26 of his mares had been Stakes winners in their racing days, while 29 were already the dams of Stakes winners.
It would be a major surprise were the result of this lovely young stallion covering such an impressive collection of broodmares anything other than a torrent of high-class winners from 2011 and beyond. Several studs have already been in touch to express their delight with the early Authorized foals which have so far been born, with Plantation Stud’s son of Vas Y Carla (a daughter Gone West out of Oaks winner Lady Carla) and Ermyn Lodge Stud’s son of Yesteryear having attracted particularly complimentary reviews.
Adrian O'Brien, general manager of Plantation Stud, said of Vas Y Carla's colt (who is pictured with his dam): 'In my opinion this is a cracking colt. We're thrilled with him.'
Channel Four viewers will shortly be able to see footage of Hesmonds Stud’s stunning son of Circle Of Moon thanks to Dubai Holdings’ sponsorship of Channel Four Racing – and, looking farther ahead, we’re confident that it won’t be too long before sons and daughters of Authorized are themselves taking starring roles in future Channel Four Racing broadcasts!
