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Trainer Roger Varian and jockey Andrea Atzeni attended an Ascot Racecourse and QIPCO press event in London this afternoon, ahead of hot favourite Postponed running in Saturday's Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which has joint record prize money of £1,215,000.
Artzeni won the race last year on Postponed, trained then by Luca Cumani. He recalled: "He is a very tough horse and he hit the front a long way out.
"Frankie (on Eagle Top) led for a few strides but Postponed stuck his head out and got there by a nose.
"I just get on well with the horse and have been very lucky. Postponed is a wonderful horse."
Varian has been responsible for Postponed's three wins from three starts this year.
The Newmarket handler said: "He certainly is an easy horse to like - he is really well made - a gorgeous animal - and most importantly he has the ability to go with his looks and a great temperament.
"He stands proud and seems to grow half an inch when having his photograph taken. He is a horse who knows he is good.
"We inherited a horse who had won a King George and I thought I hope I don't downgrade this guy! Mr Cumani is a great trainer and his horses improve with time and age so Postponed was given every chance to improve."
Postponed has developed into the best racehorse in Europe, rated 124, and is the top horse on turf over a mile and a half anywhere in the world.
Varian added: "He had two races in March this year and was in pretty hard training at the end of January. We hope this horse takes us into the autumn. It will be an achievement if he can win two King Georges and we are excited about running him on Saturday.
"Postponed is a horse of a lifetime."
The trainer mapped out an ideal campaign after Saturday, with an attempt to win a Group One race over a mile and a quarter in the Juddmonte International at York in August, followed by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup Turf.
The Diamonds and Pearls Series, organised by QIPCO, highlights a past running of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) and this year the focus is on the great Dancing Brave who succeeded in good style in 1986, the month after being the unlucky loser of the Derby to Shahrastani.
Guy Harwood recalled about the highest-rated winner ever of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO): "I was really privileged to train him and they were exciting times."
A special limited edition of the Aston Martin Vanquish car, fitted out with Dancing Brave's colours of pink and green, will be on offer for sale at Ascot on Saturday.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications at Ascot, said: "Postponed has gone from strength to strength after winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) last year and will take a huge amount of beating.
"The ground is good to firm, good in places at the moment. There was some water put on yesterday, nothing today, and we will put some more on tomorrow. Then we will see. There is the possibility of a shower on Friday.
"Saturday has always been a destination raceday. This is the mid-summer crowning glory of the British Flat racing season. If Postponed wins again on Saturday, he will be up there with the best King George winners we have seen."
Dartmouth, owned by Her Majesty The Queen, was supplemented at a cost of £75,000 yesterday to the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) at Ascot on July 23.
The progressive four-year-old colt's trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, commented: "Dartmouth has kept improving.
"He started the year on 101 and has improved with every race (now 119).
"He is very consistent and will run a good, solid race on Saturday."
Dartmouth gave Her Majesty a 23rd Royal Ascot success when victorious by a head from Highland Reel, who re-opposes, in the Hardwicke Stakes on June 18.
Sir Michael added: "I thought he would be in the frame (in the Hardwicke Stakes), but I thought we would win the race with Exosphere."
