AUTHORIZED'S owner on Sunday expressed fears that the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot later this month could come too soon for the Derby winner following his exertions at Sandown over the weekend.
Saleh Al Homeizi, who along with partner Imad Al Sagar leases Authorized from Sheikh Mohammed having sold him to the Darley operation after the Derby, said the Montjeu colt would not be risked if Saturday's defeat at the hands of Notnowcato in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown took a heavy toll.
However, while doubts over the Epsom hero's participation surfaced, so too did enhanced prospects of the Irish Derby winner turning out at Ascot on July 28, with Aidan O'Brien labelling Soldier Of Fortune a "definite possible".
Authorized remains favourite for the King George but has weakened in the market following his defeat. Before his weekend eclipse he was odds-on with the vast majority of firms. On Sunday night, however, he was available at 7-4 with VCbet.
Homeizi said:
"We'd definitely likea longer gap between the Eclipse and the King George.
"We'll have to see how he comes out of Saturday's race. If he is fine, maybe he'll go to Ascot, but if he needs more time we will give him it and he won't - he'll tell us."
At the weekend, Authorized and Frankie Dettori were beaten a length and a half into second by Notnowcato, who raced alone up the stands' rail, and survived a stewards' inquiry after hanging right close home and interfering with fourth-placed Yellowstone.
Should Authorized be deemed in need of a break by his owners and trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, they have the option of contesting York's Juddmonte International Stakes on August 21 - the most likely target for Notnowcato.
Homeizi, asked if he would be interested in a rematch over 1m2f, replied:
"I don't think the trip was the problem at Sandown.
"Authorized didn't not win because of the trip. It was the tactics that didn't suit him. Using a pacemaker for him didn't go as well as we'd hoped, but we were happywith the ride Frankie gave him."
Homeizi added:
"Maybe he did not win because he was against older horses for the first time. Whatever, I still think he ran an excellent race."
Authorized's trainer told peterchapplehyam.com on Sunday: "I
take my hat off to Notnowcato - he proved the best horse on the day.
"I'm bitterly disappointed for Authorized - things didn't quite work out for him. But we live to fight another day."
Punters who have already backed Authorized for the King George at least have the comfort of knowing that defeat in the Eclipse for a Derby winner does not automatically spell doom for Ascot.
In 1987, Epsom hero Reference Point bounced back after finishing second at Sandown to Mtoto, winning the King George by three lengths.
Soldier Of Fortune, the nine-length winner of the Irish Derby, was initially deemed by O'Brien less likely than his older stablemates Dylan Thomas and Scorpion to contest the King George following his victory at the Curragh, with the Arc the main aim.
However, O'Brien said on Sunday:
"Dylan Thomas and Scorpion are still in the King George picture but Soldier Of Fortune has come out of the Irish Derby in good form, and is a definite possible for the race.
"Nothing will be decided until much closer to the race, but it's possible we could run two or three."
From the last seven runnings three Irish Derby winners - Montjeu, Galileo and Alamshar - graduated to win the King George in the same season.
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