Ascot is preparing for an exceptional renewal of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday, with ambitions to elevate the race’s standing in European horse racing. The track, which reported annual pre-tax profits of £10.5m in 2025, has announced that next year’s King George will offer a British-record prize fund of £2.5m. This follows a strategic decision two years ago to focus on the King George as its primary race asset.
The current prize fund for Saturday’s race is £2m, making it the most valuable race in Ascot’s history until next year’s increase. This investment reflects a concerted effort to restore the race to its former glory, reminiscent of memorable contests featuring horses such as Mill Reef, Grundy, Shergar, and Dancing Brave.
Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public affairs, described Saturday’s event as the best King George this century. The field includes Calandagan and Masquerade Ball, identified as the world’s best and second-best racehorses last year, alongside Benvenuto Cellini, the top one-and-a-half-mile three-year-old based on current performances. Other notable entries are Kalpana, Minnie Hauk, and Goliath, the winner from two years ago.
International interest and Japanese challenge
The presence of Masquerade Ball, one of two Japanese-trained runners, is particularly significant. Japan’s racing industry, which values both stamina and speed in its champions, is expected to have millions of fans tuning in to live coverage of Saturday’s race. These fans hope to witness Japan’s first-ever victory in the contest, which would establish Masquerade Ball as a highly sought-after stallion prospect in a nation passionate about racing.
Six horses trained in Japan have previously attempted to win the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes since 1969 without success. However, there is optimism that Masquerade Ball could end this streak. The colt was rated just 2lb behind Calandagan at the end of the Japan Cup, where he finished only a head adrift of the world’s top-rated racehorse.
Trainer Takahisa Tezuka has expressed satisfaction with Masquerade Ball‘s condition since his arrival in the UK on 12 July. Tezuka noted the horse’s maturation and development from three to four years old, both mentally and physically, describing him as “a lot bigger and stronger.” Despite concerns about the long journey, Tezuka reported that “everything went smoothly” and the horse’s training is progressing well.
Competitive field and future ambitions
Calandagan, last year’s winner, is a strong favourite at around 13-8, aiming for his seventh Group One win in his last eight starts. The gelding, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, concluded 2025 as the world’s top-rated racehorse. Masquerade Ball, at around 7-2, is seen as a strong contender, with his close second behind Romantic Warrior over 10 furlongs suggesting significant progress.
Other serious rivals include Benvenuto Cellini, the Irish Derby winner, and Minnie Hauk, who was a close second in last season’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and showed strong form in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. The competitive nature of this year’s field is seen as an immediate reward for Ascot’s strategic focus on the King George.
Ascot’s long-term objective is to match the prize money of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which currently offers a purse of €5m (£4.24m). While acknowledging that reaching this level will take several years, the increase to £2m this year and £2.5m next year is considered a clear statement of intent. The track aims for the King George to remain among the top four races in the world rankings, a position it held last year.
The event also features races like the York 1.30, a novelty sprint involving jump jockeys, where Mon Na Slieve has a favourable draw. At Ascot 1.45, Dark Issue is considered a strong contender after finishing fourth in the Albany. The York 2.00 race sees Evening Blues looking to build on improved form over six furlongs. Additionally, Touleen, who was second in the Group One Coronation Stakes, will compete in the Ascot 2.20 race following a drop in grade.
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Source: theguardian.com
