Cumani happy his plan came together

Luca Cumani was happy to see a long-term plan pay off after Postponed won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Postponed just prevailed in a bobbing finish in Ascot’s summer highlight as the four-year-old beat Eagle Top by a nose following the withdrawal of Derby winner Golden Horn.

Cumani won the King George for the first time and Postponed was also claiming his first victory in a Group 1.

The son of Dubawi had been an impressive winner of the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on his final start of last season in August before he was put away for the rest of the year.

He had run three times this season prior to the King George, finishing second to Western Hymn in the Gordon Richards Stakes over a mile-and-a-quarter before a third place behind Al Kazeem at the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh over the same trip.

Postponed was then just behind Eagle Top when third to Snow Sky in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot when the King George one-two were involved in a barging match for a large part of the race.

That saw Andrea Atzeni replace Adam Kirby in the saddle and Cumani confirmed that the King George had always been the aim for Postponed.

“After we won the Voltigeur, Andrea and I said this is a Group 1 horse and that’s why we put him away, with the King George the target and for once it’s come off,” Cumani told Racing UK.

“I’ve been second in this race three times. It’s one of the major, major races of the year, the major race of the summer and a championship race.

“It’s a defining moment in a horse’s career, and in a trainer and jockey’s career. I’ve been lucky enough to have the occasional good horse here and there, and this is another to add to the collection.”

Postponed, who will stay in training next season as a five-year-old, will now be aimed at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.