Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup |
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| Group 1, Epsom 15:10 £400,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 4f 10y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 4th June 2016 | |
1 Postponed 8/11F
2 Found 3/1
3 Roseburg 50/1
8 ran Distances: 4½l, 1¼l, 1¾l
TIME 2m 43.54s (slow by 9.04s)
The brilliant Postponed leaves his rivals trailing in the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup
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The Roger Varian-trained five-year-old son of Dubawi won by easily by four and a half lengths from Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old filly Found. Postponed was the 8/11 favourite.
Varian said: "We're very lucky to train the horse. I have to thank Sheikh Mohammed Obaid for his support, and the staff at home who do the job all year with Postponed. He's just a pleasure. He really is the ultimate and he's shown his adaptability at a track like Epsom - the conditions couldn't be more different from Meydan [where he won the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic in March], so he's a versatile, talented horse and we are all very lucky."
Asked how useful it was to have given Postponed experience of the course at Epsom's recent Breakfast with the Stars, Varian answered: "I think it is a great exercise. He didn't have a gut-busting work out but it was great to get him a day out, his first day out since March, when he was in Dubai, so that was a benefit, but to feel the contours and the shape of the track, I'm sure helps any horse."
What sets Postponed apart?
Varian said: "Number one, his ability - you can't install ability; they have it. All his other attributes come a close second. He's got the most level temperament; that's a real quality. I should have thought he's got the most level heart-beat of any horse at the start; he takes any situation in his stride. He can operate off a fast pace or a slow pace and in different ground conditions. He really is the ultimate."
Varian also trained the third-placed horse, Roseberg, ridden by Jack Mitchell.
He said: "He ran a super race. Jack Mitchell did a terrific job with him and we're thrilled with that."
Discussing winning jockey Andrea Atzeni, Varian said: "He's one of the very best riding at the moment. He knows this horse particularly well, but he knows all the horses. He's a real asset to have involved; really a lovely man to deal with, and I'm delighted for him.
"The short-term plan with Postponed, provided we come out safe and sound from this race, is to go straight to the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot to try to defend his crown from last year, and it gives us a bit of breathing space to worry about the rest of the year after that."
Titanbet cut Postponed into 5/1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe following his decisive victory today. Postponed was completing a five-timer and claiming a third Group One success in beating Found by four-and-a-half lengths. As a result, Titanbet trimmed the Dubai Sheema Classic winner into 5/1 from 7/1 for the Arc, while Found, who finished ninth at Longchamp last season, is now 12/1 from 8/1 for the same race.
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup
£400,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 4f 10y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Soft
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (3) | Postponed (IRE) 8/11f | Andrea Atzeni 9-0 |
R Varian | 5 | |
| 2nd | (4) | 4½ | Found (IRE) 3/1 | R L Moore 8-11 |
A P O'Brien | 4 |
| 3rd | (1) | 1¼ | Roseburg (IRE) 50/1 | Jack Mitchell 9-0 |
R Varian | 5 |
| 4th | (7) | 1¾ | Simple Verse (IRE) 5/1 | Oisin Murphy 8-11 |
R M Beckett | 4 |
| 5th | (8) | s.h | Second Step (IRE) 16/1 | J P Spencer 9-0 |
L M Cumani | 5 |
| 6th | (6) | 4 | Master Carpenter (IRE) 40/1 | F Tylicki 9-0 |
B R Millman | 5 |
| 7th | (5) | ½ | Arabian Queen (IRE) 8/1 | S De Sousa~ 8-11 |
D R C Elsworth | 4 |
| 8th | (2) | 33 | Star Storm (IRE) 33/1 | T P Queally 9-0 |
J R Fanshawe | 4 |
