DOUBTS POSTPONED
POSTPONED cemented his position as europe’s top performer when shrugging off doubts about both the race distance and health of trainer Roger Varian’s string with victory in the Juddmonte international Stakes at York yesterday.
the length-and-a-quarter success in the hands of jockey Andrea Atzeni also handed owner Sheik Obaid, a cousin of Sheik mohammed, a stage to explain why he removed postponed from the stable of Luca Cumani last year.
postponed won the 2015 King george Vi & Queen elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in Cumani’s care but was switched from the italian trainer along with 23 more of Sheik Obaid’s horses.
the owner said he became frustrated with Cumani not carrying out his orders, explaining: ‘When i tell a trainer something he has to listen to me, not to do his own thing.
‘i’m a military (man). if i give somebody an order, he has to take my order. Otherwise, he has to tell me to take my horses all from him. i’m not going to listen to a trainer to give me an order what to do.
‘i pay the money. i don’t mind people criticising me, but they have to pay as much as i do, then criticise me.’
postponed, the 15-8 favourite yesterday, proved as effective over 10 furlongs as he is over 12 to hold off this season’s King george winner Highland Reel. Back in third, beaten a further length and not done any favours by postponed hanging right, was the William Haggas-trained Mutakayyef.
Varian, according to the Sheik, can look forward to training postponed next season as well.
A respiratory infection had forced him to miss the chance of winning a second King george last month and Varian admitted to nerves ahead of yesterday’s win. ‘i can’t tell you how much satisfaction there is,’ the trainer said. ‘We have been lucky enough to win some big races but this is up there almost as a highlight.’
the prix de l’Arc de triomphe at Chantilly in October looks likely to be postponed’s next race.
Aidan O’Brien’s idaho is 6-4 for the Ladbrokes St Leger next month after beating stable mate Houses of parliament in the great Voltigeur Stakes.