Postponed wins King George thriller Postponed just edged out Eagle Top in a terrific finish to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The Luca Cumani-trained four-year-old got the verdict on the nod under Andrea Atzeni from John Gosden's charge after the pair had treated racegoers to a thrilling climax to the midsummer Group One. Eagle Top's stablemate Romsdal set a strong pace, with Snow Sky and Postponed close up. Postponed (6-1) went on, but Eagle Top (5-2 favourite) drew alongside and briefly took a narrow lead. However, Cumani's inmate fought back and had his head down right on the line to prevail by a nose. Frankie Dettori switched to Eagle Top following the late defection of the Investec Derby and Coral-Eclipse hero Golden Horn due to the rain-softened ground. Atzeni said: "Fair play to the owner, if that was me I would never have run him on that ground. He stays well and he's got a big heart. I thought Frankie was going to get to me, but this fellow doesn't give up. "Things haven't gone his way this year, but it's now paid off. What a great day." Cumani said: "It was a fantastic race. Andrea gave him a peach of a ride. The horse was ready for a mile and a half, he just wanted a good pace. "I wasn't sure about the ground - I didn't know whether he could handle it. "They were locked together in battle and I didn't know who had won. "I'm naturally a pessimist and I'd prefer to be surprised favourably, rather than unfavourably." Atzeni's position as retained jockey to Qatar Racing had precluded him from riding Postponed this term, with Adam Kirby taking over in the saddle for his last three starts - including when third at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke Stakes, in which Eagle Top finished second. Kirby's ride in the Hardwicke attracted some strong criticism from Gosden, with Cumani confirming earlier in the week that Atzeni was back at the helm for the King George. Gosden said: "Eagle Top ran a great race. He was forced wide into the straight to come round the Italian horse (Dylan Mouth). It probably cost him at the end but he ran a great race. I couldn't be more thrilled with him. "The ground is tacky, holding. They went a good solid pace and (third) Romsdal's also run a lovely race." The Clarehaven handler added: "It's a re-run of the Hardwicke but without a hard-luck story." Cumani expressed sympathy for Kirby at having missed out on King George glory. "It's very tough on Adam and I'm very sorry for him," said the Newmarket handler. "I'm sure he would have won on the horse, too, but that's the way the owner wanted to play it. "Credit to Adam - he's always done an excellent job by the horse." The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp is now the long-range target for Postponed. Cumani said: "It would be nice to think about the Arc now we know he goes on soft ground. It's a step higher, but it's a challenge and we'll have to take it." There were, however, repercussions for Atzeni as the jockey was hit with a six-day suspension (August 8-13) for using his whip above the permitted level and down the shoulder in the forehand position on three occasions. Dettori, too, was banned for four days (August 8-11) for using the whip above the permitted level.
