Dettori Ready To Eclipse Sandown Rivals

Frankie Dettori believes everything is in Authorized´s favour as the countdown begins in earnest to the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

The Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained colt famously gave Dettori a first win in the Vodafone Derby at the 15th attempt, sparking a golden spell of three Classics in eight days for the Italian, who followed up in the French Derby and Oaks.

And he is eagerly-awaiting the all-aged Group One clash at the weekend, where Authorized ? who will have the benefit of a pacemaker ? is set to cross swords with the mercurial George Washington over 10 furlongs.

Dettori said: 'I´m looking forward to it, if you´re not excited to be riding a Derby winner, when can you be?

'It´s 10 furlongs, but it (the ground) is going to be on the slower side and it is quite a stiff mile and a quarter. I´ve no worries about the ground, the track or the trip.

'The only thing now is it is his first try against older horses. He´s the best three-year-old in Europe, now we have to see how he goes against the older horses, and Saturday is the big test.

'But I must say I haven´t ridden a three-year-old like this since Lammtarra. It´s been a long time since Lammtarra and I´m very excited. But it´s still early days and he has to go out there on Saturday and show what he is made of. After Saturday we will know.

'I rode him on Friday and he felt good,' he told Racing UK.

Mark Johnston´s Champery has been supplemented at the cost of #20,000 and leased to Authorized´s owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar by Sheikh Mohammed.

The Sheikh´s Darley operation bought the breeding rights to Authorized soon after his five-length success at Epsom and leased him back to the Kuwaiti owners, whose racing manager Tony Nerses said: 'Sheikh Mohammed has kindly leased us Champery for the Eclipse, just to ensure a true and even pace. Joe Fanning will ride.'

(C) PA Sport