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Tetsuya Kimura trained-Authority claimed a smooth victory in the first feature of the evening. The Japanese-bred 5YO bay went to the lead the moment the gates opened and was never threatened, winning the 2100m race by a length and a quarter.
The son of Orfevre defeated locally-trained Kaspar (GER), while the Aga Khan-owned, French-trained filly Ebaiyra (USA) fought hard to hold on to third place.
The Silk Racing-owned Authority travelled to Saudi Arabia on the back of a second place in the Gr.1 Japan Cup. Kimura hopes to race him in the upcoming Gr.1 Sheema Classic on the Dubai World Cup undercard next.
"It is my first time having a runner outside Japan since I have been licensed, and to win a race like this is unbelievable,” said Tetsuya Kimura.
“It was a great ride from Christophe Lemaire from the front. It is the highlight of my career. We started thinking about this race when he finished second in the Japan Cup,” he added
The race favourite William Muir trained-Pyledriver finished 11th.
"The draw hammered me - my only hope was there was so much pace in the race on paper and I hoped it would give me a chance to get inside, but it didn’t, they went slow and I was trapped deep with no cover,” said Martin Dwyer, “I had no petrol left but it was no fault of the horse. We live to fight another day.”