Not seen since winning the G2 Prix Foy in mid-September, Postponed (Ire) looked every bit the class act when posting a hands-and-heels victory in the G2 Dubai City Of Gold under Andrea Atzeni. His facile three-length victory provided the perfect prep race for his major early-season target on Dubai World Cup night, the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.
Making his first appearance since switching to Roger Varian from former trainer Luca Cumani along with the rest of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's horses last autumn, the 5-year-old settled comfortably into third place in the early stages, sitting just off the rail behind front-runner Captain Morley (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and Haafaguinea (GB) (Haafhd {GB}). Rounding the turn for home, Postponed cruised into contention with Atzeni immobile in the saddle while eventual second Dariyan (Fr) (Shamardal) came under a hard drive to reduce the deficit, finishing three lengths adrift at the post, with Haafaguinea securing third, another length down.
“That was very pleasing and it is always to a relief to win with such a nice horse,” said Varian. “We had done plenty of work with him at home and the team here with him have done a great job. Remember, he was a very good horse when he joined us and we have enjoyed a smooth winter with him. Andrea was very pleased with him and, whereas he has done plenty of work, he is a big horse who carries a bit of condition so hopefully he will tighten up.”
Postponed displayed top-class potential from the outset of his career, finishing second in the Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy at third asking, and he earned a stakes win at three in Hamilton's Listed Glasgow S. before closing out that season with a victory in York's G2 Great Voltigeur S. He hit the board in last year's G3 Gordon Richards S., G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and G2 Hardwicke S. before posting a career-best win in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., and has now won three consecutive group races in three different countries.
Postponed is a grandson of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse). His dam Ever Rigg, who was a 1.5 million-guineas buyback at Tattersalls December last year while carrying Postponed's full sibling, has a yearling colt by Dubawi's son Makfi (GB) and a 2-year-old filly by Nathaniel (GB) named God Given (GB).
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI CITY OF GOLD SPONSORED BY SKYCARGO-G2, $250,000, MEY, 3-5, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 2410mT, 2:27.90, gd.
1–POSTPONED (IRE), 126, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Ever Rigg (GB), by Dubai Destination
2nd Dam: Bianca Nera (GB), by Salse
3rd Dam: Birch Creek (GB), by Carwhite (Ire)
(360,000gns yrl '12 TATOCT) O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al
Maktoum; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (IRE); T-Roger Varian;
J-Andrea Atzeni. $150,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-
Eng at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng & GSW-Fr, 14-6-2-4, $1,773,663.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A++.
2–Dariyan (Fr), 123, c, 4, Shamardal–Daryakana (Fr), by Selkirk.
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR);
T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. $50,000.
3–Haafaguinea (GB), 126, g, 6, Haafhd (GB)–Ha'penny Beacon
(GB), by Erhaab. (30,000gns yrl '11 TATOCT) O-Sheikh Rashid
Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Bishop Wilton Stud (GB); T-Saeed bin
Suroor. $25,000.
Margins: 3, 1, 5 1/4.
Also Ran: Balios (Ire), Sanshaawes (SAf), Captain Morley (GB). Scratched: Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire), Makzon.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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