On Friday, Frankie Dettori rode the favored Sixties Icon who finished last of seven runners in the Coronation Cup. In Saturday's third race, Dettori rode Blue Ksar, the 10-11 favorite. It was a five-horse field. Slowly away, Blue Ksar used himself to get into contention. In the final furlong, he could not keep pace with Blythe Knight, the second favorite. One of Authorized's victims in the
Racing Post Trophy last year was Charlie Farnsbarns. Charlie Farnsbarns, bet to the exclusion of his
rival at Sandown Park earlier in the week, was beaten by an undistinguished 12-1 outsider. Dettori's detractors saw encouraging
signs. Was Dettori going to break the 'Rosewall mould'?
A gypsy tradition is that the name of the Derby winner will appear, in chalk, on a well outside the Amato public house, located on Chalk Lane Farm in Epsom on the Sunday before the race. The chalky prediction has come up with seven winners in the past 11 years. The name this year is Archipenko. Where did Archipenko finish? He was 17th and last.
Authorized was at 11-10 until five minutes before post time. The odds went up to 5-4 as the horses approached the starting gate. Eagle Mountain and Archipenko had their share of friends. Aqaleem, on the basis of his strong win in the Lingfield trial, was around 10-1.
Arabian Gulf and Eastern Anthem were scratches, There were seventeen runners. Authorized was slowly away. Dettori was in no hurry. It was a good, solid pace. Authorized was about ninth turning for home. There were 3 1/2 furlongs left. Taken to the outside, Authorized quickened to join the leaders. A moment later, Dettori had separated himself from the lead. Authorized had forged ahead and there was no challenger in sight. A reminder or two put the issue beyond doubt as Authorized raced to the line five lengths in front of Eagle Mountain, an Aidan O'Brien runner. Taking third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Eagle Mountain, was Aqaleem. Archipenko, losing his action early in the race, receded to the rear and was a disappointment.
The time for the 1 1/2 mile race was 2-34.77. Authorized earned 709,750 pounds. The Derby is a Group I event. Montjeu is Authorized's sire, Montjeu is by Saddler's Wells. Funsie is the dam of Authorized, She is by Suamarez. It was only Authorized's fourth career start. After losing in his debut, he has now won three in a row.
I asked Dettori in the press conference. "Now that the monkey is off your back and you have done everything in your adopted country, what goal are you setting up for the future"?
:He said, "racing is a challenge and it never ends. I want to win the French Derby at Chantilly tomorrow. You keep going. You need to be motivated."
I reminded Dettori that he was carrying housewives' money including his and was that pressure of an extraordinary kind? "I did not sleep for two weeks. It is a dream come true. My father is here. It's very special. I must thank Sheikh Mohamed for letting me ride this colt."
"I have five children. I must pay the bills and take care of them. I have to win more races like this," he added.
"Martin Dwyer was the first to congratulate but they were all a furlong behind. Winning the Derby in England is the biggest thing. There is relief."
Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam said, "My only instruction to Frankie was that he ride the colt as if he was the owner. It was a perfect ride."
I asked the owners, Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar if the Breeders Cup was on
their agenda. "Our main thing was winning the Derby. Now it's time we start thinking about the options."
"I smoke and I drink but the Derby beats everything. This is incredible. Winning it a second time (Dr.Devious in 1992) is
wonderful," Peter Chapple-Hyam exulted.
It was an unhappy day for the bookmakers. Yet, the losses were nowhere near the numbers seen in 1996 when Frankie Dettori won all seven races in an Ascot card.
The Queen and the Duke Of Edinburgh arrived in a royal procession at 12.55 P M. The Queen was dressed in blue. The Royal Party alighted in front of the winning
post. In May, the Queen was at Churchill Downs to see the Kentucky Derby. In 1953, the Coronation year, the Queen came close to winning the Derby when her Aureole was second to Pinza.
It on to Paris on Sunday. I take an 8 A M train from London Waterloo and will reach Gare du Nord, a Paris train station at 11.45 A M. Paris is an hour ahead of London. From Nord, it is a 30-minute train trip to Chantilly train station. The racecourse is a brisk 10-minute walk from the station. Chantilly is breathtaking. It is one of the most beautiful racing venues in the world.
