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33rd stakes winner for Authorized

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Santiago (3 c ex Wadyhatta by Cape Cross) provided Authorized (Montjeu) with his 33rd stakes winner when he won Friday’s Queen’s Vase (Gr 2, 1m6f) at Royal Ascot. 

Ridden by Ryan Moore, Santiago scored a dominant two and three quarter length victory over Berkshire Rocco (Sir Percy) with the Charlie Appleby-trained Al Dabaran (Dubawi) another eight and a half lengths back in third. 

"He's a lovely straightforward horse. He travelled well and we always thought he would stay well. He's an easy horse to train and an easy horse to get fit,” said O’Brien.  

"We've been thinking he was an ideal St Leger horse so we'll look for another run somewhere between now and then really.

"I'm not sure he'd run in a Derby as he could be a Cup horse for next year - he'll get better from three to four.

"We've plenty for both Derbys, the Irish Derby would come too quick anyway but we'll see what the lads want to do.

"We think he'll be a horse for the Cup races next year so that is why we thought this race would suit him."

Bred by Lunch Bages, Santiago is out of the two-time winning Cape Cross (Green Desert) mare Wadyhatta who is a half-sister to five winners including the stakes placed Motamarris (Le Havre), who ran third in the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m). His third dam is Al Ishq (Nureyev) who produced nine winners including dual Group 1 winner and sire Tamayuz (Nayef) as well as the stakes placed pair Nuqoosh (Machiavellian) and Ettisaal (Dubawi). 

Authorized’s stakes winners are headed by five Group 1 winners including Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Hartnell who also won the BMW (Gr 1, 2400m), Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and CF Orr (Gr 1, 1400m).

Authorized shuttled to Australia for four seasons between 2009 and 2012 and is now based at Haras du Logis in Normandy where he stood for a fee of €12,000 this year. 

Santiago is unleashed by Ryan Moore to win the Group 2 Queen’s Vase for Aidan O’Brien! #RoyalAscot @Ascot pic.twitter.com/VLMhNAuAVM

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2020