Peter Chapple-Hyam was in philosophical mood after Authorized suffered a surprise reverse in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. The Epsom Derby winner finished second to Notnowcato in the 10-furlong feature, in which Michael Stoute's winner raced alone up the stands side for much of the home straight.
While Authorized won the seven-horse race on the far side, he passed the post a length and a half behind Notnowcato. Chapple-Hyam was in no mood to offer excuses, however, and said: "I take my hat off to Notnowcato - he proved the best horse on the day. Of course, I'm bitterly disappointed for Authorized - things didn't quite work out for him. But we live to fight another day," he said.
Authorized next holds an entry in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on July 28th, for which he is rated a best-priced 7 to 4 favourite with VC Bet.
Champion jockey Ryan Moore swung wide off the bend on Notnowcato and charged alone up the stands rail - a move which granted him a healthy advantage which was never eroded by those racing far side. Notnowcato, a 7 to 1 shot, flashed past the post with a length and a half in hand of Authorized, who led home the rest of the field and had George Washington breathing down his neck in third.
Moore said: "I walked the track before racing and decided about 1pm that I was going to come up the stands side. I thought the ground was a little quicker up along by the hedge and it has paid off. I was surprised nobody else came over and I thought some of them might have followed."
"I think people have underestimated him and not given him the credit he deserves. Ryan is back among the winners after he was out through injury. That was a good bit of professionalism and he deserves a lot of credit," said winning trainer Michael Stoute.
Authorized was all the rage in the build-up and was also hammered on course into 4 to 7 favouritism under Frankie Dettori.
There was further misery for Dettori who incurred a three-day ban for careless riding after allowing his mount to drift away from the whip.
The suspension was added onto the three days he received earlier in the day. He will also be out of action on July 31st and August 2nd-3rd.
Aidan O'Brien, responsible for third-placed George Washington, said: "He ran a blinder and the ground was messy at the start. Take nothing away from the winner, he's got the form and Ryan made the tactical move.
"He ran well over the trip and he has a lot of options open now. Yellowstone ran a stormer to be fourth, and I think I might drop Archipenko (seventh of the eight runners) back in trip now."
