Postponed by a nose in King George VI

There would not be another coronation for Golden Horn on Saturday, as the star 3-year-old was scratched from the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot because of soft ground, paving the way for Postponed to step forward and notch the most important victory of his career.

Postponed won a tight photo finish over Eagle Top, the latter trained by John Gosden, who, after walking the Ascot course Saturday morning, determined that the going was unsuitable for the participation of his star entrant in the race, Golden Horn. Ascot received nearly 1 1/2 inches of rain Friday, turning the good-to-firm course soft.

Gosden described the going in low spots as holding and sticky and decided to withdraw Anthony Oppenheimer’s undefeated Epsom Derby winner, who now goes to the Juddmonte International at York next month.

In winning, Postponed earned automatic entry and travel expenses to the Breeders’ Cup Turf through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program. His announced major autumn goal is the Prix de l’Arc de Triopmhe, though trainer Luca Cumani has been a regular participant in international racing.

Meanwhile, out on the racecourse Saturday, the rain cleared and the sun shining brightly, Eagle Top overtook Postponed in the final furlong of the King George, a Group 1 with a purse of more than $1 million, but Postponed was up for a fight.

Romsdal, a third Gosden charge, had set the pace, with Postponed tracking, and Eagle Top, moving in earnest a quarter-mile from the finish of the 1 1/2-mile race, appeared to be pushing past on his way to victory. Postponed, though, dug back in, regained momentum, and surged to the wire, nipping Eagle Top and Frankie Dettori – who switched mounts after Golden Horn’s scratch – by a nose.

The top two were much the best, with Romsdal fading to third, beaten nearly four lengths. He was followed by Madam Chiang, Clever Cookie, Snow Sky – the 3-1 second choice who failed to fire – and Dylan Mouth.

Postponed, ridden by Andrea Azteni, gave Cumani his biggest English win in about a decade while chalking up the first Group 1 win of his career. By Dubawi and out of Ever Rigg, Postponed, a 4-year-old owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum, won for the fourth time in 12 starts.