Postponed took his winning run to six as he returned from a 74-day absence with a solid display in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.

The Roger Varian-trained five-year-old dispelled doubts the trip of an extended mile and a quarter might be too short as he defeated a high-class field.

After his pacemaking stablemate King Bolete had made the running, Postponed (15/8 favourite) was given the office by Andrea Atzeni three furlongs from home and he stuck to his task well, despite drifting towards the stands side rail.

King George winner Highland Reel (6/1) was beaten a length and a quarter in second place, with Mutakayyef (15/2), who was slightly short of room in the closing stages, another length away in third.

Atzeni said: "He's great, isn't he? A lot of people had doubts about him - I never had. 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."

LEGER TRIAL

Idaho enhanced his claims for the Ladbrokes St Leger with a cosy victory in the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes on the same card.

Placed in both the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt showed he had stamina and class as he opened his account for the campaign in this Group 2 contest.

Stablemate Housesofparliament made the running and proved hard to pass, but Idaho (5/6 favourite) responded to Seamie Heffernan's urgings and got up in the final 100 yards to score by a length and three-quarters.

Across The Stars, winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, was third.

Heffernan said: "He had solid form. We expected him to take all the beating."

O'Brien added: "We're very happy with him. He travelled really well."

Idaho was cut to 2/1 favourite (from 3s) for the Leger at Doncaster on September 10th.

O'Brien added of the winner: "He had a nice break after the Irish Derby and he was ready for a comeback run. Seamus had one eye on the Leger and we just wanted to get him relaxed. Jamie (Spencer) went a nice sensible pace in front and his horse ran a blinder. Seamus gave his horse a lovely ride and came through at the end.

"Idaho might go up to a mile and six (furlongs), but I'm not sure he'll go much further than that. I'd be very happy for him to come back to a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half as a four-year-old. We had our eye on the Leger and this race came at a lovely time.

"Obviously Housesofparliament stays very well and he would be happy in the Leger. It seems the logical race for both of them."

Bruce Raymond, racing manager for Across The Stars' owner Saeed Suhail, said: "I am a little bit (disappointed) - I thought he was going to be in the first two. Frankie (Dettori) felt they didn't go fast enough for our horse. He was settled enough, but he wasn't lobbing. I don't think he'll be going any further than this for the moment. Frankie feels this is his trip and I think (Sir) Michael (Stoute, trainer) agrees."

SPENCER STRIKES

Kevin Ryan's Syphax swooped late and fast to collar 10/11 favourite Best Of Days and spring a surprise in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York.

A winner on debut at Musselburgh, he looked green that day and was sent off at 16/1 in Group 3 company.

William Buick looked to have everything covered on Hugo Palmer's Best Of Days with a furlong to run. But Jamie Spencer brought Syphax with a withering run down the centre of the track and he got up to win by a head. Lockheed was third.

Spencer said: "He was quite raw early - he picked up good. He lost sight of what I wanted to do with him for a few strides, but then he started to motor again. He didn't learn a lot at Musselburgh so this was probably like a horse having his first run."

Ryan said: "He's a lovely horse and has a great temperament. On his first run he was very green and clueless. Jamie is tremendous on horses like this. He holds them together and lets them find their stride. He's just a big baby and could be a very exciting horse.

"He's by Arch and he's Breeders' Cup eligible. That was always at the back of our minds and is why we stepped him up so far, so quick. You need to find out now. That's not set in stone, but he is a very exciting horse."

Ryan added: "We would never have run him if we didn't think he was a very nice horse. We bought him for €100,000 from the breeze-ups in France and we weren't going to leave him behind.

Hugo Palmer said of the runner-up Best Of Days: "The winner has made his run from nowhere near us and came too late. I think both the horse and jockey were going to win hands and heels, but the winner has got us at the last minute.

"Horses don't learn a lot when they win by six lengths, but he should learn from this. The winner will probably learn a lot as well. I think we'll probably look at the Champagne (Doncaster) and then the Dewhurst (Newmarket)."

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