Postponed primed for Arc push

Omnisports

October 1, 2016 3:09 AM

Glittering form this season sees Postponed enter the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as the clear favourite.

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Postponed is well placed to live up to his status as favourite for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, according to trainer Roger Varian.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's five-year-old has been in fine form this season, winning all four of the races he has contested.

After victories in the Dubai City of Gold and Sheema Classic races, Postponed returned to the United Kingdom to claim the Coronation Cup and International Stakes.

A favourable stall draw of seven has seen Postponed backed into 15/8 and, with Andrea Atzeni on board, Varian is feeling confident.

"Postponed has thrived throughout the season and he has done everything we have asked of him so far," he told varianstable.com.

"He has trained to his usual high standard in the build-up to Sunday and I couldn't be happier with his condition as he heads into the biggest race of his career.

"The minor blip [illness] that ruled him out of defending his King George crown has been well documented, and while the result of the race showed he was ready to run at York [International Stakes], it is fair to expect some improvement on that performance.

"The horse is versatile in terms of ground, but he has shown his best form on a sound surface, which it looks like being at the weekend.

"Stall seven is virtually a central draw, which allows us options, while Andrea has the most brilliant relationship with the horse and he knows him better than us all.

"The Arc is a tremendously difficult race to win and this year’s renewal looks full of quality.

"That said, I feel Postponed is the rightful favourite and I hope everything is in place for him to run with great credit, which I am sure he will do."

Chantilly hosts the race for the first time as traditional home Longchamp undergoes redevelopment work, and Makahiki (6/1) and Harzand (13/2) are expected to be Postponed's closest challengers, with Found (7/1) also among the leading contenders.

Omnisports