POSTPONED moved a step closer to global supremacy with victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes on a sun-kissed Knavesmire.

There had been concerns that Europe's highest rated mile and a half campaigner might put a stain on his reputation at the shorter distance of 10 furlongs.

Any doubts were allayed as jockey Andrea Atzeni steered the 15-8 favourite to a sixth consecutive victory and the first prize of £546,500.

The Juddmonte, the richest race in York's history with total prize money of £963,000, was the first day highlight of the 'Welcome to Yorkshire' Ebor Festival.

Winners in recent years have included greats such as Frankel, Sea the Stars, and Australia.

Postponed had missed the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot due to a respiratory infection so his involvement was a further gamble on the part of Newmarket trainer Roger Varian.

The five year old hung towards the rail in the final stages but still beat Aiden O'Brien's Highland Reel by a length and a quarter with Mutakayyef, ridden by Paul Hanagan, a further length back in third.

Afterwards jockey 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."

Trainer Varian said: "It is unbelievable. We had to pull him out of the King George which was heartbreaking at the time - but to come back and win this race is one of the highlights of my life.

"You are never sure if the horse is back until the gates open. There were self doubts but you have to commit and run," he said. "I am delighted with what he has achieved at the top level over this trip but we will go back to a mile and a half now."

Postponed will now take a break before travelling to France for the Arc on October 2.

Highland Reel's second place finish, plus Idaho's success later in the afternoon, took O'Brien's winnings for the season past John Gosden's 2015 record of £5,300,553.

Boom the Groom, also ridden by Atzeni, won the opening race, the Symphony Group Stakes. The 11-1 shot needed just 43 seconds to finish the five furlong sprint, which was only 0.05 seconds outside the course record.

Only seven horses contested the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, a Group Three contest for two year olds. It was the first of ten group races at this year's festival and was expected to be a stroll in the park for odds-on favourite Best of Days.

However, the show was stolen by Syphax, whose victory carried more than a touch of irony for jockey Jamie Spencer and Hambleton-based trainer Kevin Ryan.

Spencer had been replaced by Danny Tudhope on The Great Gatsby, who is also trained by Ryan, in the Juddmonte International but showed his class to peg back Best of Days and win by a head on the line.

Ryan defended the decision to replace Spencer in the big race but hailed the Irish jockey as a 'genius' after winning the Acomb Stakes.

"Jamie is a great friend of mine and a great team member," said Ryan. "Sometimes a horse needs a change of hands but Jamie was the first person to know about my decision and, being the person he is, backed me all the way.

"Syphax is a big raw horse and ran a bit green but there is no better man to have on a horse like that than Jamie," he added. "He had to wait for the horse to come to him but he keeps his cool and that's why Jamie Spencer is the genius he is."

Idaho showed just why he is the favourite for the Ladbrokes St Leger when taking the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes.

His only previous victory came in a maiden on debut but, having placed in both this season's Derby and Irish Derby, is clearly a top horse.

Stablemate Housesofparliament had led for much of the race - and nearly gave jockey Spencer a rapid-fire double - but just ran out of steam in the closing stages as O'Brien's Idaho picked up speed. The result prompted bookmakers William Hill to cut his price from 4-1 to 9-4 for the final British Classic of the season.

Oceane, ridden by Fergus Sweeney, won the Fine Equinity Stakes at odds of 7-1 with Nakeeta in second and The Cashel Man in third.

Malton trainer Richard Fahey took the honours in the final race of the afternoon, the Betway Stakes, courtesy of The Wagon Wheel.

It was the third time in five years that a Fahey horse had won the prize.

The highlight on the second day of the festival will be the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks.