Race Review 2007
This year’s Derby will forever be remembered as the renewal in which Frankie Dettori finally ended his Epsom hoodoo, and whilst that is something for the whole of the sport to celebrate it should never be allowed to detract from what was a breathtaking performance from his equine partner, Authorized.
The Peter Chapple-Hyam trained winner was simply different class here, and the way in which he stormed clear inside the final two furlongs was reminiscent of the great Shergar and suggested that he may ultimately prove himself to be one of the best recent winners of the race.
When the race got under way, Authorized was actually one of the slowest from the stalls and was much further back through the first furlong then his connections may have wanted, but Dettori didn’t panic and rode him with a confidence that suggested he knew he was on the best horse in the race.
He still had half a dozen or so in front of him as the field free wheeled around Tattenham Corner, but most of those were being pushed along to hold their positions and nothing behind Authorized was traveling anything like as well as the winner.
He cruised up on the outside to join issue around two furlongs out and then quickened right away when asked to go and win his race. He was given a couple of smacks to make sure, but it really wasn't necessary as he strode away imperiously to win with overwhelming authority.
To emphasis the quality of the performance, the winning time was quicker than that in 2005 and 2006 despite all the rain we had in the build up to the event.
The runner up, Eagle Mountain did best of Aiden O’Brien’s eight raiders. Like the winner, he came from well off the pace and in fact he only had a couple behind him entering the home straight. He stayed on remarkably well from that point and would have been an impressive winner in his own right were it not for Authorized, as he was nicely clear of the third. He also did best of the 2000 Guineas participants that lined up here, having finished fifth at Newmarket.
The next half dozen finished in a bit of a heap.
Aqaleem won the battle for third and stamina looks to be very much his strong point. A crack at the St Ledger could be on the cards.
The same race may well be the aim for Lucarno who, like the third, was in the thick of the action throughout. This was an excellent effort from John Gosden’s runner who made his racecourse debut less than two months ago. He justified connection’s decision to run him again here only a week after his impressive success at Newmarket.
Soldier Of Fortune also ran well in fifth, but like many of those who finished near him he simply lacked the natural speed of the winner and couldn’t live with his turn of foot.
Salford Mill nearly didn’t run as the ground looked likely to be too soft for him a week or so ago. However, the change in conditions allowed him to take his chance and well though he ran a return to an even quicker surface is likely to see further improvement.
Kid Mambo cut out much of the running at a decent pace, and did well to hang on and finish as close to the winner as he did. He was three lengths clear early in the straight and a drop back in trip may suit.
Regime apparently tweaked a muscle early which may explain why he was never really traveling with any enthusiasm, whilst Mike Kinane reported that his well fancied mount Archipenko lost his action coming down the hill.
Authorized, ridden by Frankie Dettori, wins the 2007 Derby