YORK, ENGLAND // Postponed showed why he is rated the best turf horse in the world when he shrugged off a 74 day absence and a respiratory infection with an authoritative performance in the Group 1 International Stakes on Wednesday.
As a portent of what might transpire, owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid was present on the Knavesmire to see his Dubai Sheema Classic and Coronation Cup winner go hoof-to-hoof with four other Group 1 winners.
Postponed had not run since Epsom in June and although he looked a picture, he had to knuckle down under Andrea Atzeni to hold off King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Highland Reel by a length and a quarter.
It was a fourth win in succession for the son of Dubawi since he was transferred to Roger Varian’s stables from Luca Cumani’s base in Newmarket in September along with 34 other horses owned by the cousin of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
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Why Postponed was moved immediately after his win in the Prix Foy in September was a mystery.
It was an episode that Cumani referred to as ‘rumblings’ at the time and he later revealed he was informed of the decision just days after Postponed’s win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last July.
In the limelight of victory, however, the high-profile owner wanted to set the record straight.
“When I tell a trainer something he has to listen to me — not do his own thing,” he said. “One thing I asked him to do is to get Postponed ready for a race, and he said he can’t.
“He told me after running three times Postponed was not ready. That is not good.
“I was looking at the Irish Champion [Stakes]. I am a military man, and if I give him an order he has to take my order.”
“I went to Simon [Crisford] and I said the same and I said to Roger the same.
“I said, ‘if I tell you to run in this race, you have to run’, and I won’t take any excuses later. I pay the money. I don’t mind people criticising me, but then they have to pay as much as I do to criticise me.”
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid confirmed that Postponed would now head straight to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on the first Sunday in October without another race to allow him time to adequately recuperate.
He did not rule out the possibility of also running in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in November. That could happen before an ambitious campaign in 2017 that will start with a defence of his Dubai Sheema Classic crown.
Joining him at Meydan during the winter is likely to be Sheikh Hamdan’s Mutakayyef, who tried to come through a quickly-closing gap on the stands’ side rail on Postponed’s inside in the last 200 metres and had to settle for third.
It was the first time the gelded son of Sea The Stars, the 2009 International winner, had run at the top level and trainer William Haggas is looking forward to next season already.
“I thought he was going to win but Paul said he just ran out of room,” he said.
“He’s come of age this season. I’m chuffed to bits with him.
“The only race we have in mind for him is the Dubai Turf — that’s what the owner wants to go for and it will suit him down to the ground.”
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