Key Race This Saturday: King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes At Ascot

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes returns to Ascot on Saturday as Britain's premier open-age middle-distance contest, once again bringing together the best three-year-olds and older stars over the classic 1½-mile trip.

Following a significant increase to mark its 75th anniversary, the 2026 renewal carries a purse of £2 million, making it Britain's richest race.

As always, victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will secure a place alongside some of the greatest middle-distance champions the sport has ever produced.

Last year's winner and thriving over 1½ miles, he returns to Ascot with an outstanding international résumé and every chance of adding a second King George to his record.

Calandagan has forged a formidable partnership with regular rider Mickaël Barzalona, with the pair enjoying success at the highest level across France, Britain, Dubai and Japan. His consistency in elite company has been remarkable, transforming from a horse that repeatedly placed in Group 1 races into a serial top-level winner.

Returning to Ascot, he will be looking to reinforce his status as one of the outstanding international performers of his generation.

Bred in Japan, Masquerade Ball has built his reputation on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse, where he has produced his best performances under the Japan Racing Association programme. Regular partner Christophe Lemaire, one of Japan's most accomplished big-race jockeys, has been aboard for his major successes and will again be entrusted with guiding the colt on the biggest stage of his career.

With four wins from just seven starts, alongside placings in other high-class Japanese contests, Masquerade Ball has already shown the consistency expected of a top-class colt. However, Saturday presents a very different challenge. He steps up from his preferred 2,000 metres to Ascot's demanding 1½-mile trip, while also facing older, battle-hardened Group 1 performers for the first time. Should he win, he will strengthen the country's growing reputation on the global stage.

Another of the three most exciting three-year-olds in the field is Benvenuto Cellini, Aidan O'Brien's Irish Derby winner, who steps into open-age company in search of another major prize.

In the Irish Derby, Benvenuto Cellini produced a polished display to give O'Brien a remarkable fourth consecutive victory in the race. Ridden confidently by Ryan Moore, he demonstrated determination to secure his first Group 1 triumph and confirm himself among Europe's leading three-year-old middle-distance colts.

The King George now presents the next stage of his development. Taking on older horses so soon after a Classic victory is a familiar Ballydoyle route, with O'Brien regularly using the Irish Derby as a springboard to Ascot's midsummer championship. While he lacks the experience of proven Group 1 performers such as Calandagan, Benvenuto Cellini brings the benefit of youth and is one of the race's most fascinating contenders.