King George Purse Hard to Resist

The G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. July 25 at Ascot has an increased purse this year of £1.15 million, thanks to Qipco’s involvement and several UK trainers are keen on trying to snare some of the huge money on offer. One such trainer is Luca Cumani whose Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) ran a good race to be third in last weeks G2 Hardwicke S., a run that Cumani feels justifies a crack at the King George. “Postponed ran a good race, but it wasn’t a truly run race. I think our horse ran well in the circumstances and I think we’ll let him take his chance in the King George,” said Cumani. Postponed could well meet his Ascot conqueror Snow Sky (GB) (Nayef), who is not currently entered as connections strongly consider supplementing the colt. According to owner Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Lord Grimthorpe, Snow Sky’s Royal Ascot victory came as somewhat of a surprise.

“It was a little bit unexpected, but he traveled very well into the race. The way he did it will make us rethink our plans. We have to consider the King Geoge,” said Grimthorpe. Another horse who would be taking a big rise in class if tackling the King George is Mahsoob (GB) (Dansili {GB}). The John Gosden-trained 4-year-old maintained his unbeaten record in the Listed Wolferton H. at Royal Ascot, but Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum feels he’s ready for the next test.

“He’s improving, I think he’s crying out for a mile and a half and he has a fabulous attitude. I don’t think he would be outclassed in the King George,” Gold stated.