Authaal

Authaal did not race as a two-year-old and did not appear as a three-year-old in 1986 until July, when he won a maiden race over one and a half miles at Leopardstown Racecourse. He followed up despite being dropped in distance in early August when he won a minor race over nine furlongs at Phoenix Park Racecourse. Later that month, he was stepped up in class and sent to England for the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes at York Racecourse. Ridden by Christy Roche, he led for most of the way but was outpaced in the closing stages and finished last of the seven runners behind the Paul Cole-trained Nisnas. He returned to Ireland for a minor race over one and a half miles at Naas Racecourse in September and won by four lengths from Bank Step.[7]

Christy Roche was again in the saddle when Authaal contested the Irish St. Leger over one and three quarter miles at the Curragh on 12 October. The 1985 winner Leading Counsel started 6/4 joint-favourite alongside the British-trained filly I Want To Be (winner of the Meld Stakes), with the French mare Faburola (Prix Kergorlay) next in the betting and Authaal the 8/1 fourth choice. The other two runners went off at odds of 50/1. With the other six jockeys apparently intent on restraining their mounts, Roche sent Authaal into the lead and opened up a lead of fifteen lengths. Although his pursuers steadily reduced his margin of superiority in the straight, the colt never looked in any danger of defeat and won by five lengths from Faburola.[7]

In the official International Classification for 1986, Authaal was given a rating of 125, making him the top-rated three-year-old in Europe over 14 furlongs and beyond. The Independent Timeform organisation gave him a rating of 118?, with the "?" indicating that the rating was based on "inadequate or unsatisfactory data". In their annual Racehorses of 1986 Timeform explained that they could not be sure of the extent to which the wide margin of Authaal's win in the Irish St. Leger was the result of Roche's bold tactics.[7]

On his first appearance as a four-year-old, Authaal finished unplaced over ten furlongs and was then sent to Royal Ascot to contest the Ascot Gold Cup over two and a half miles on 18 June. He went off at odds of 9/1 and finished tailed-off last of the eight runners behind Paean.[8]

In 1988, Authaal was sent to race in Australia where he was trained by Colin Hayes. He finished third to Ostensible in the Neville Sellwood Stakes in March and then contested the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 1800 metres at Randwick Racecourse on 4 April. Ridden by Darren Beadman he started at odds of 3.25/1 and won from Ostensible.[9]

After the winter break, Authaal returned in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in which he was partnered by Brent Thomson. He won his second Australian Group 1 as he came home three lengths clear of Fair Sir.[10] In October, he finished fourth to Sky Chase in the Caulfield Stakes[11] and third under top weight in the Caulfield Cup.[12]