15:35 Ascot

Saturday 25 July 2026

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1016:4517:20

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 2m 27.72s

(7)

Calandagan²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: M Barzalona| T: F Graffard| OR: 130| BF| CD

6/5

Saw off Kalpana in this race on good to firm 12 months ago and enhanced his excellent Ascot record with success in the Champion Stakes last autumn. Hasn't needed to reproduce that level of form when adding 2 more Group 1 wins this year but he'll be hard to beat if near the top of his game.

Form: 111-141

(5)

Goliath³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: C Soumillon| T: F Graffard| OR: 119| CD

12/1

Impressive winner of this race in 2024. Has shown he retains a good chunk of that ability with a win in a Chantilly Group 2 and 1¾ lengths third behind Giavellotto and Kalpana in the Hardwicke this summer but even a return to his very best is unlikely to be enough in this strong renewal.

Form: 103-213

(2)

Lambourn²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| D

50/1

Winner of the Derby and Irish Derby last year. Added a Chester Group 2 on reappearance but has struggled since and there's a chance he's here to act as a pacemaker.

Form: 54-1305

(4)

Masquerade Ball⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: C P Lemaire| T: Takahisa Tezuka| OR: 128

13/2

Narrowly denied by Calandagan in the 2025 Japan Cup. Last seen finishing second of 8 to Romantic Warrior in Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin (1¼m, good to firm) in April. This high-class Japanese colt adds a fascinating dimension to this cracking race.

Form: 13212-2

(3)

Wurttemberg⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Hiroshi Miyamoto| OR: 116

40/1

Very smart performer in Japan, notably going close in a 2m Group 1 at Kyoto 12 weeks ago. Has done his winning over much shorter so the drop back in trip shouldn't be an issue but he'll need to advance his form to play a prominent role.

Form: 1976-42

(6)

Kalpana^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: A M Balding| OR: 120| BF| CD

13/2

Very smart mare who chased home Calandagan in last year's King George before landing a second successive win in Group 1 Fillies' & Mares' Stakes over C&D. Won Newbury Group 3 on reappearance and fine short-head second of 12 to Giavellotto in Hardwicke over C&D at the Royal meeting.

Form: 2271-12

(1)

Minnie Hauk³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 123| BF| D

17/2

Progressed into a high-class filly last year, winning Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks before close second to Daryz in the Arc. Looked back to somewhere near her best when 4 lengths second of 8 to Ombudsman in Prince of Wales over 1¼m here at the Royal meeting and the return to 1½m looks ideal.

Form: 126-152

(8)

Action²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S M Levey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111

125/1

Had Christmas Day behind him in third when second in the Dante at York but well beaten in the Derby and Irish Derby since. Another who might be in here to help set the race up for better-fancied stablemates.

Form: 32-4207

(9)

Benvenuto Cellini²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 119| D

4/1

Floundered in the mud in the Derby at Epsom (subsequently declared a non-runner) but confirmed he's a very smart colt when proving 1¾ lengths to strong for Epsom hero Christmas Day in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1½m, good to firm). Likely more to come and Moore on him rather than Minnie Hauk.

Form: 2113-11

Forecasts

Calandagan (6/5), Benvenuto Cellini (4/1), Kalpana (13/2), Masquerade Ball (13/2), Minnie Hauk (17/2), Goliath (12/1), Wurttemberg (40/1), Lambourn (50/1), Action (125/1)

CALANDAGAN can become the fourth dual winner of this midsummer highlight. Minnie Hauk looked very much back on her game in the Prince of Wales's at the Royal meeting and, with the step back up to 1½m promising to be in her favour, may provide a bigger threat than Irish Derby winning stablemate Benvenuto Cellini. Masquerade Ball is also closely matched with the selection on last year's Japan Cup form.