Postponed pips Eagle Top to win King George stakes at Ascot

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.”

Earlier Heaven's Guest just held on under apprentice Jack Garritty to win the Gigaset International Stakes at Ascot.

Richard Fahey’s seasoned campaigner took three lengths out of the field when going on two furlongs out in this valuable handicap.

The pack started to close inside the last 100 yards, but Garritty kept Heaven’s Guest (7-1) up to his work to win by a head from Balty Boys (20-1).

Garritty said: “I was always confident.

“This is a proper good handicapper and he’s proved himself in Listed class in Ireland.

“I was a bit worried about the draw but it’s worked out well.”

Fahey, speaking from York, said: “We’ve had three good Saturdays, but it’s down to the team — it’s great for everybody.

“He’s just a true professional horse by a great sire in Dark Angel. He’s been a wonderful horse.”

There was drama at the start when Speculative Bid, the well-backed 4-1 favourite, came out of the stalls minus his jockey Jamie Spencer.

Elsewhere Portage made sure his journey over from Ireland was not a wasted one after powering to victory in the Weatherbys Private Banking Handicap at Ascot.

The Mick Halford-trained three-year-old gained compensation for a luckless outing in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot when accounting for some useful rivals in this mile event.

It became apparent the 5-1 shot was hitting top gear inside the final furlong as he mastered long-time leader Mutasayyid within a handful of strides to score by a length and a quarter.

Halford said: “He had no luck in the Britannia Stakes. Things didn’t go his way as he had traffic problems.

“We brought him back home and he was in tremendous form so we thought we would come here as the track suited him.

“He doesn’t do anything in a hurry and we were a bit concerned about the ground.

“He will come on plenty for that and be better on better ground.

“He will have no problems stepping up another two furlongs.

“We will just take small steps with him.”