Postponed Returns With Another Top-Level Win

For a race that saw no order change in the top two finishers after a decisive move at the top of the stretch, Postponed's victory in the £546,542.62 ($710,505) Juddmonte International (Eng-I) supplied a heaping dose of late intrigue.

Already racing near the center of the York course, Postponed moved further outside in deep stretch under jockey Andrea Atzeni and finished the race just a path away—at most—from the outside rail, a move that left third-place finisher Mutakayyef, who also was racing near the outer rail, short of running room late.

Meanwhile Highland Reel continued on well to finish second after relinquishing the lead to 15-8 favorite Postponed soon after the field turned for home. The most serious late threat to Postponed appeared to be Sheikh Hamdan's Mutakayyef, who entered Wednesday's test off an easy win in the one-mile Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile Stakes (Eng-II) July 9 at Ascot and continued that good form when stretched out in the Juddmonte International.

It appeared jockey Paul Hanagan wanted to take Mutakayyef outside the winner, but Atzeni and Postponed took that lane away.

"I thought he was going to win; Paul (Hanagan) said he just ran out of room," said Mutakayyef's trainer, William Haggas. "The winner started his run down the middle but ended up near us on the near side. I would have just liked them all to run in a straight line so we could have known."

In his first run in 74 days, a stretch that included a respiratory infection that kept him from an attempted defense July 23 at Ascot of his 2015 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-I) win, Postponed again looked to be in good form. The 5-year-old son of Dubawi completed the 1 5/16-mile race in 2:06.58 on good to firm turf.

"He turned the corner two weeks ago. In the last seven days he looks to have blossomed," said winning trainer Roger Varian, who said Postponed can improve off Wednesday's win. "A week ago I wouldn't have known if I was running him here. We're not having loads of winners at the moment, so you're never quite sure. I trusted in the horse's condition and he delivered.

"I think it's a turning point. I can see the signs in all the horses at home they are coming back to life and back to good health. I think it will be two or three weeks yet before we hit full stride, but come September we'll be ready to roll."

With the win, Postponed is ensured a spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), as the Juddmonte International is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" event. Varian did not talk about that possibility, but did say he was leaning toward training Postponed up to the Oct. 2 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), scheduled this year for Chantilly.

With the Juddmonte International win, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Postponed extends his victory stretch to six straight races including three other group I scores during that streak: last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and this year's Dubai Sheema Classic presented by Longines at Meydan and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup at Epsom.

"He's great, isn't he?" Atzeni said. "He's got too much class. I think people underrate him. I think he's one of the best in the business we've seen for a while."

While multiple grade I/group I winner Highland Reel was denied top honors Wednesday, a race before the Juddmonte International his full 3-year-old brother Idaho posted a clear victory in the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes (Eng-II). The brothers are sons of Galileo—Hveger, by Danehill and Idaho is the 250th stakes winner for his sire.

"That was a very good run. He's still progressing, this horse," said Highland Reel's trainer Aidan O'Brien, who mentioned the Aug. 27 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course as a next-race possibility. "He's physically getting stronger and I'm delighted with him."

Hawkbill, a group I-winning Kentucky-bred son of Kitten's Joy, weakened in the final furlong and finished eighth in the field of 12.