Global Weekly Review - 27.07.15

John Gosden's late decision to withdraw Derby winner Golden Horn from Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot has arguably given the unbeaten colt a better chance of enjoying an active autumn campaign.

Plenty have argued that winner Postponed's time was pretty smart in the circumstances -- 2min 31.25sec for the mile and a half is only 2.65sec below standard -- and that Golden Horn would have hacked up had his trainer permitted him to run. The 'experts' reckon it was livelier going than the reported 'soft.'

But while I agree Golden Horn would probably have won comfortably had he taken his chance, there is no accurate way of assessing how much the effort would have taken out of him.

Ascot's rain might have cost him a crack at the biggest mid-summer prize in Europe, but he lives to fight another day and now faces a cracking head-to-head with Free Eagle in the Juddmonte International at York's Ebor Meeting next month, and he is still a chance of making it to the Arc at Longchamp in October.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum insisted that Postponed contest the King George, even on rain-softened ground, a surface which he reportedly did not like. The owner also brought in Andrea Atzeni to replace his retained jockey Adam Kirby.

Both were inspired decisions that may have contributed to the Luca Cumani-trained Postponed landing the biggest prize of his 12-start career. The four-year-old is a son of super sire Dubawi, who stands at Darley.

Postponed had been looking for a solidly-run mile-and-a-half trip, which he was able to use to his advantage as he kept well in touch with the trail-blazing Romsdal throughout.

When Frankie Dettori went for home on Eagle Top, he actually edged to the front for a few strides. But full credit to the gutsy Postponed, who fought back brilliantly on the inside to get his nose in front again right on the line.

Godolphin-owned Romsdal held on determinedly for a fine third, beaten three and three-quarters of a length, and should be winning again before long. The Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp has been mentioned as a possible long-term target, and is a feasible objective.

The Michael Halford-trained Portage landed an overdue win in the Godolphin royal blue in the Weatherbys Private Banking Handicap, over one mile on the Ascot card. The impressive son of Darley stallion Teofilo, ran on very strongly down the outside and is capable of much better than his 90-mark might suggest.

The G3 Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes was won by the rapid improver Besharah, who won by three lengths. Godolphin's Rah Rah finished a respectable fourth.

On Wednesday, James McDonald, Godolphin's retained jockey in Australia, will attempt to ride a treble in Sydney, which would take him half a win clear of leader Hugh Bowman, who has forged to the front in the Sydney Jockeys Championship.

That is, provided Bowman does not have a win. It is a thrilling finale to the title battle in Sydney.

In Melbourne, Damien Oliver has just won his 10th jockeys' crown.