Calandagan Defends His Crown: Saturday's King George Is a Genuine Global Showdown
The reigning champ, a Japan Cup rival seeking revenge, and four Aidan O'Brien runners collide in Ascot's midsummer championship on Saturday.
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes — Britain's midsummer all-aged championship over a mile and a half — goes off at 3:35pm Saturday at Ascot, and this year's edition has the feel of a true world championship, according to the Racing Post's runner-by-runner guide.
The favorite has history on his side
Calandagan (13-8), last year's winner, returns for trainer Francis Graffard with Mickael Barzalona riding. Graffard also saddles Goliath (9-1) — and per pre-race coverage from Racing and Sports, the French yard is chasing a third consecutive victory in the race. A repeat would put Calandagan among a select group of back-to-back King George winners.
The revenge angle
The most intriguing storyline comes from Japan. Masquerade Ball (4-1), trained by Takahisa Tezuka with Christophe Lemaire up, narrowly lost to Calandagan in the Japan Cup and travels to Berkshire for the rematch. Japanese-trained horses have famously never won the King George, which only raises the stakes — a win here would be a landmark moment for Japanese racing.
Ballydoyle brings the cavalry
Aidan O'Brien runs four, headed by Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini (4-1) with Ryan Moore riding, alongside Minnie Hauk (5-1) under Wayne Lordan, plus longshots Lambourn and Action. Kalpana (9-1), trained by Andrew Balding with Colin Keane aboard, rounds out the main contenders in the nine-horse field.
Why it matters
The King George is where generations and hemispheres meet — Derby winners against older champions, Europe against Japan — and it often reshapes the second half of the flat season, with the Arc in October looming over everything. Coverage is on ITV and Sky Sports Racing in the UK.