repeat King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes bid looks like being top of the summer agenda for Postponed after he ran out a ready winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan for Roger Varian.
It was a smooth passage for Andrea Atzeni on the favourite, who travelled sweetly throughout before taking over from Highland Reel at the head of affairs with a furlong to run.
Continuing the theme of the Japanese raiders on the night Duramente, running on just three shoes after spreading a plate, and Last Impact chased him home, with Highland Reel fading into fourth behind the winner, who broke the track record.
Winner of the King George at Ascot last season, Postponed was moved from Luca Cumani with the rest of owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's 35-strong string after the mid-summer showpiece and looks like being a major player in all the top middle-distance races in this form.
Varian said: "It was good to watch. I was happy from the outset. We were worried before the race where the pace was, but they look to have gone an even gallop. He was in a good position and the horse quickened well in the straight.
"I'd like to thank Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and the team at home. This is one of the biggest nights of the calendar on the global stage. The prize-money is nice, but it is winning these big races which excites us all.
"He's a very good horse, he had already won a King George when we got him, but he has thrived out here. The team out here with him did a great job, as did the team at home before that, so big credit goes to my staff.
"I knew that if he picked up in the same way as when winning his prep race here three weeks ago then it would take a good horse to get past him. He is a heck of a good horse as a King George winner. He is versatile and professional and ticks all the right boxes.
"I imagine the King George will again be his mid-summer target with a run or two before. I'll make a plan with the owner when we get home."
The winner was given quotes ranging from Paddy Power's 8-1 for the Prince of Wales's Stakes to 10-1 with RaceBets for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, emphasising the big-race options open to him this season.
Atzeni, who was celebrating his 25th birthday, said: "I was really happy when Ryan (Moore) went off in front and my horse galloped out really well. But it's easy when you are on a horse like him and he ticks all the boxes.
"It's great for Roger Varian and the whole operation at Kremlin (House Stables). I would think there's no doubt he's the best mile-and-a-half horse in Europe."
Connections of Duramente can feel slightly aggrieved the Japanese champion was asked to race on three shoes after spreading a plate in the preliminaries.
His jockey Mirco Demuro said: "He is a wonderful horse and ran a fantastic race in the circumstances. He threw a shoe going to the gate and I could feel it affecting him in the race.
"He was changing his legs all the time, which isn't like him. Hopefully he'll come back as good as ever, because without this he would have finished closer to the winner."
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