Authorized was foaled on 14 February 2004 and was sired by Montjeu, winner of the Irish Derby, Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1999 and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2000. Authorized's dam, the unraced Funsie, was sired by Saumarez, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1990. Funsie is owned by the Irish jockey Mick Kinane, who is one-third of the partnership which bred Authorized. Kinane would go on to ride against Authorized in the 2007 Epsom Derby, finishing last on Archipenko.