Success lives here

At Ascot racecourse in Perth, Western Australia, triple Gr1-winning former English Derby victor & Darley shuttler Authorized (Montjeu-Funsie, by Saumarez) celebrated an elite race success when 6YO grey gelding Pounamu (Authorized-Tangiwai, by Street Cry) landed the biggest prize of his career when unleashing his trademark late flourish to score a minor upset win in the $1 million Gr1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) for 3YO+, defeating Material Man & Achernar Star. The former NSW-trained Pounamu, who was placed at Gr3 level in the Gloaming Stakes & Spring Stakes in Sydney as a 3YO, improved his record to 9 wins (including the Gr3 Asian Beau Stakes & Listed Detonator Stakes) and 13 placings (including the Gr3 WATC Strickland Stakes, Gr3 Gloaming Stakes & Gr3 Spring Stakes) from 37 starts for $1,122,530 in earnings. "He came here [from Sydney] and won a couple of races and then was the biggest bridesmaid in WA," trainer Alan Mathews told Sky Racing. "We always said he had the ability, but he just didn't have the concentration span to get his head around doing it at the right time." He added: "We set this horse for the race; second-up into the Railway, third-up into this and it's all gone to plan." Matthews said Pounamu may head to the Gr2 Perth Cup (2400m) on 1 January but fears he may now be weighted out of the race.