Postponed showed guts to go with his class in York victory

As anticipation builds towards Wednesday’s Juddmonte International, Roger Varian has fond memories of 10 years ago when Postponed capped a glorious run with victory in the York feature.

Having been switched across Newmarket to Varian from Luca Cumani by late owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, Postponed had made a dazzling start to life for his new team, winning twice in Dubai – including the Sheema Classic – and romping to Coronation Cup glory at Epsom.

However, a setback would see him miss the defence of his King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes crown and there was trepidation in the air as the son of Dubawi headed north up the A1 for the 10-furlong highlight of late summer.

A 15-8 favourite come the off, he was sent on early up the long Knavesmire straight by his trusty big-race pilot Andre Atzeni, utilising every ounce of his mile-and-a-half stamina reserves to repel Aidan O’Brien’s Highland Reel.

Varian said: “He took us to some big events and he was a lovely horse who was exceptional on his day.

“His Juddmonte win was probably not one of his best and he was workmanlike, having coming into the race following a setback that had kept him out of the King George. I thought he was still a bit rusty following the midsummer break he had.

“It wasn’t the comfortable watch like his wins earlier in the year had been and there was a few nerves heading there, as while I was happy with him, I didn’t think he was quite as good as he was going into the Sheema Classic at Meydan or before Epsom, where he was exceptional.

“I think it was a mark of what a good horse he was that he was able to win without being at his very best.

“They say in sport sometimes a great champion can win scrappy or by scraping through when not at their best and I think that’s quite a good analogy in that Postponed was brilliant earlier in 2016, but at York he didn’t bring his best game but still won, as the champions do.”

Postponed may have not packed his fireworks for York, but in adding his name to an illustrious roll of honour he did conclude a six-race winning run that stretched across his stints with two trainers. It was also the ninth and final victory of a glittering career.

“I don’t think he was ever quite the same horse afterwards. The win at York was a good win and one that was very important, getting that 10-furlong Group One, but I did think it was one that left its mark going into the autumn,” Varian explained.

“I think the Dubai win was his best day and he beat a really strong field, including the Japanese horse Duramente. We have a lot of friends in Japan and know a lot of people in the horse racing world in Japan and they couldn’t really see him getting beat – that horse’s reputation was enormous.

“I think it was a mark of a top horse that Postponed was able to win and win quite nicely at Meydan and then at Epsom he was simply outstanding.

“He was like a Group One horse against lesser animals, but of course Found was behind him and she would go on to win the Arc that year and it wasn’t a shabby race.

“Epsom was probably the most visually impressive, but I did think the Meydan win was for me the best performance.”

Although the memories of Postponed remain fresh a decade on, attention now turns to the latest inmates of Varian’s Newmarket academy bidding for their own moment in the spotlight during the four-day Ebor Festival.

There may not be a proven Group One performer of Postponed’s ilk among this year’s travelling team, but there is a squad full of promise venturing north for a meeting the trainer always enjoys supporting and like racing fans far and wide, there is one race in he is relishing witnessing.

“The York team put on a fantastic show, looking after everyone, and it is always a meeting we are keen to support,” said Varian.

“It’s very hard to have winners there though, there are big fields and it’s always really competitive racing, and it means something when they win at York, that’s for sure.

“We’re spoilt in Flat racing where we roll from brilliant meeting to brilliant meeting, starting from the Guineas meeting all the way through the summer, and York is one of a number of highlights where the season bounces from month to month with no let up. It’s what makes Flat racing special.

“The summer really rolls and these stories really build-up and this year we’ll all be going there looking forward to Ombudsman against Constitution River as the highlight among a lot of great races there during the week.”