Reigning champion Calandagan tops a thrilling list of ten remaining contenders pointing toward Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
The Francis Graffard-trained five-year-old suffered a rare blemish when finishing outside the top two for only the second time in last month’s Coronation Cup at Epsom.
As the French trainer also looks for a remarkable third win in-a-row in the race – having won the Ascot Group One in 2024 with Goliath, who is back for more in 2026 too.
He’ll be looking to becoming the first horse since Enable in 2019 to win back the King George crown.
Back to Calandagan and despite his Epsom flop, he quickly proved his class by bouncing straight back to winning ways in the Group 1 Prix de Saint-Cloud.
The international intrigue doesn’t stop with the French.
Japan mounts a serious challenge spearheaded by Masquerade Ball, who comes in fresh off a tight, one-length defeat to the brilliant Romantic Warrior for trainer Takahisa Tezuka.
Meanwhile, Hiroshi Miyamoto’s outsider Wurttemberg adds further spice to the lineup; he makes his British debut with the heavyweight booking of Oisin Murphy in the saddle.
Murphy will be looking for his first win in the big Ascot race.
Kalpana Leading the Home Charge
The Juddmonte-owned mare Kalpana, who came agonizingly close when beaten just a length in last year’s renewal, arrives on the back of another heartbreak-going down by a mere short head in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
She will be joined by spectacular Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller.
Confirmed by trainer George Scott, the four-year-old-who routed his field by 10 lengths at Epsom-will be making his very first trip to Ascot.
Ballydoyle Have Four King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes Runners
Aidan O’Brien has tasted King George glory four times, though he hasn’t lifted the trophy since Highland Reel back in 2016.
With his first with the mighty Galileo back in 2001.
His primary weapon this year is Benvenuto Cellini, a colt whose season has been nothing short of a roller coaster.
After the bizarre drama of the Epsom Derby-where he was officially declared a non-runner despite physically crossing the line in tenth-he roared back to top form to capture the Irish Derby last time out (watch below).
The master of Ballydoyle has plenty of backup, too should Bennie not fire.
Last season’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Minnie Hauk steps up after putting together her best performance of the season when running an honourable second to the super-classy Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes last month.
The O’Brien Ascot King George runners arsenal is completed by Action, who is still searching for his first taste of success since breaking his maiden.
And last season’s Epsom and Irish Derby hero Lambourn, who started his campaign strongly in the Huxley Stakes but has failed to find the winner’s enclosure since.
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes Runners 2026
- Calandagan (Francis Graffard)
- Bay City Roller (George Scott)
- Goliath (Francis Graffard)
- Masquerade Ball (Takahisa Tezuka)
- Wurttemberg (Hiroshi Miyamoto)
- Kalpana (Andrew Balding)
- Lambourn (Aidan O’Brien)
- Minnie Hauk (Aidan O’Brien)
- Action (Aidan O’Brien)
- Benvenuto Cellini (Aidan O’Brien)
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Race Information 2026
📅 Date: Saturday 25th June 2026
⌚ Time: 3:35pm
🏇 Racecourse: Ascot
🔄 Trip: 1m4f
💷 Winner: £1,134,200
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Sky Sports
