Ascot’s renewed focus on the King George
Ascot Racecourse is preparing for an exceptional renewal of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday. The event is set to feature some of the world’s leading horses and jockeys. This comes as Ascot has made a strategic decision to elevate the King George as its primary race asset, aiming to restore its historical prestige.
The racecourse announced annual pre-tax profits of £10.5m in 2025 and revealed that next year’s King George will offer a British-record £2.5m in prize money. This year’s prize fund is £2m, making it the most valuable race in Ascot’s history until next year. The long-term ambition for Ascot is to match the prize money offered for the Longchamp showpiece in the autumn.
Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public affairs, highlighted the significance of this year’s field, describing it as the best King George of this century. He noted the presence of last year’s top two racehorses in the world, Calandagan and Masquerade Ball, along with Benvenuto Cellini, identified as the best one-and-a-half mile three-year-old based on current performances. Other notable entries include Kalpana, Minnie Hauk, and Goliath.
International contenders and jockey matchups
The field for Saturday’s King George includes strong international representation. Masquerade Ball, one of two Japanese-trained runners, is considered a significant contender. The presence of Japanese-trained horses is particularly notable given the country’s successful racing industry, which values both stamina and speed in its champions. Millions of Japanese fans are expected to watch the race, hoping for a historic first victory in the contest for a Japanese runner.
Masquerade Ball will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, an eight-time champion jockey in Japan. Lemaire has prior experience at Ascot, with his only success at the track occurring in the 2008 Windsor Forest Stakes on Sabana Perdida. His ability in major British races is evidenced by wins in the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, and two Champion Stakes victories when the race was held at Newmarket.
Calandagan, last year’s winner, is partnered by Mickael Barzalona. Barzalona was aboard Calandagan for its victory in this race 12 months ago and a subsequent win in the Champion Stakes. These two wins are among his seven at the track from 126 rides. Christophe Soumillon, another international jockey, will ride Goliath, a horse he won this race with two years ago. Oisin Murphy has been booked for Wurttemberg, the other Japanese-trained runner, and has recorded 60 winners at Ascot with an 11 percent strike-rate. Colin Keane rides Kalpana, having achieved six wins from 116 rides at the track.
Ryan Moore will ride Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, adding to his 175 winners at Ascot, where his rides have earned over £27.5 million in prize-money. His 14 percent strike-rate at Ascot is matched by William Buick, who has 116 winners from 857 rides at the track. Wayne Lordan is set to ride Minnie Hauk, while Sean Levey will be on Action.
The King George is promoted as Britain’s premier all-aged race, emphasizing the sporting moment rather than peripheral attractions. The increase in prize money for next year aims to solidify the race’s position among Europe’s top events, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which has a purse of €5m (£4.24m), being the only European race with a higher prize fund.
The race is expected to be the strongest in terms of quality and depth in at least 20 years. Calandagan is the clear favourite at around 13-8, aiming for a seventh Group One win in its last eight starts. Masquerade Ball, rated just 2lb behind Calandagan and only a head adrift in the Japan Cup, is priced at around 7-2. The horse’s trainer, Takahisa Tezuka, expressed satisfaction with Masquerade Ball’s condition since arriving in the UK on 12 July.
Source: theguardian.com
As Latest News UK's Sports Reporter, Hannah Whitfield reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name covering the county circuit and Team GB at two Commonwealth Games. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Loughborough University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Hannah lives in Bristol, where she plays club tennis and coaches a junior side. “Sport is at its best when you let the athletes tell the story.”