Authority stands up to older crowd in decisive win of Copa Republica Argentina

The 3-year-old colt Authority returned to the track for the first time in more than six months and, despite running against older horses for the first time, rose above the competition to win the Copa Republica Argentina, the main event at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday, Nov. 8.

The race third choice, Authority turned the tables on strong favorite You Can Smile in topping an all-male field of 18 in the 58th running of the Copa Republica Argentina, a Grade 2 handicap over 2,500 meters of turf. The win improved his record to four wins from six starts and gave him his second Grade 2 victory, both at Tokyo. He was paired for the first time with Frenchman Christophe Lemaire, who notched his seventh win over the weekend.

Folllowing the bay colt over the finish line 1 and 1/2 lengths later in second place was Last Draft, a 4-year-old Novellist-sired colt and the race sixth pick. Behind him by a neck was ninth choice Sun Appleton, a 4-year-old by Zenno Rob Roy. You Can Smile missed Top 3 with a fourth-place finish 3/4 length behind Sun Appleton, with second pick Sanrei Pocket off the board in sixth place.

Authority broke from the far outside gate and was sent forward to settle in third position. The field, with Musee Alien out in front by three lengths ahead of Ocea Great, spread out down the backstretch. Last Draft settled midfield with Sun Appleton to his rear.

Turning out of the backstretch with the field spread some 20 lengths from front to back, Musee Alien continued to lead with Ocea Great two lengths behind and Authority tracking steadily in third position. At the 800-mark, Authority rounded neatly into the straight, with Last Draft to his outside and Sun Appleton going wider.

Moving up to the outside of Ocea Great, Authority made his drive down the straight some five widths off the rail and stepped into the lead as he gained the top of the hill. From there it was clear sailing home with no serious challenge.

Authority’s win of the Copa Republica Argentina helped to allay much of trainer Tetsuya Kimura’s concerns about the colt’s recent unruliness and the long layoff after suffering a fracture while winning the Grade 2 Aoba Sho at Tokyo this spring in record time. The fracture forced the colt to miss the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and the final 3-year-old classic Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger).

“I’m really happy to have won,” said the 41-year-old Lemaire. “I was a bit worried with it being his first race after a layoff, but Mr. Kimura and his staff really did a fantastic job getting him ready. The horse felt really strong in the stretch and was able to accelerate gradually while running at a good speed at length. He got up to top speed at the top of the hill and didn’t let up until the end.”

Keita Tosaki, aboard runnerup Last Draft, who carried 56 kg, said, “I knew from his fast work that he was a good horse and today I didn’t think about what position I would race from but just concentrated on keeping him happy and well-balanced. He stayed strong until the finish.”

Veteran jockey Yoshitomi Shibata, on third-place finisher Sun Appleton, who ran under 55 kg, said, “He does have some issues but he ran nicely balanced and I feel that he’s maturing nicely.”

The Miho-based Authority clocked 2 minutes 31.6 seconds under cloudy skies and over a track rated good, but with some give in it. He covered the final three furlongs in 34.4 seconds, Sun Appleton the same in 34.1 seconds. Big for a stayer, Authority weighed in at hefty 512 kg, up 12 kg from his last start. He ran under 54 kg, 4 kg less than the top weight placed on the favorite.

Sired by Japan Triple Crown champion Orfevre and out of the Symboli Kris S mare Rosalind, Authority races under the colors of Silk Racing Co. Ltd. and was bred at Hokkaido’s Northern Farm.