Ascot’s Strategic Focus on the King George
Ascot Racecourse is preparing for an exceptional renewal of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday. This comes amidst broader concerns within the racing industry regarding affordability checks, tax raids, and declining attendance. Despite these challenges, Ascot reported annual pre-tax profits of £10.5m in 2025 and announced that next year’s King George will offer a British-record prize fund of £2.5m.
The racecourse, founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, has a long-standing connection with royalty. Its unique advantage lies in the Royal Meeting, which is described as the sport’s richest and most profitable event. However, Ascot is not solely relying on its historical fortune; its planning extends beyond maintaining the status quo, with the King George being a prime example of this proactive approach.
In recent years, the King George, a 12-furlong all-aged Group One race, has faced challenges in matching the prize money and prestige of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, its French counterpart held in October. Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public affairs, stated that a strategic decision was made two years ago to focus on the King George as their primary race asset, distinct from the Royal Meeting itself.
A Strong Field and International Interest
This year’s renewal of the King George is anticipated to evoke the race’s past glory days, offering a prize fund of £2m, making it the most valuable race in Ascot’s history until next year’s increase. Smith described the field as the best this century, featuring last year’s top two racehorses globally, Calandagan and Masquerade Ball, alongside Benvenuto Cellini, the best one-and-a-half mile three-year-old based on current performances. Other notable entries include Kalpana, Minnie Hauk, and Goliath, a previous winner.
The presence of Masquerade Ball, one of two Japanese-trained runners, is particularly significant. Japan’s racing industry values stamina in its champions, and millions of Japanese fans are expected to watch the race, hoping for their country’s first victory in the contest. A win for Masquerade Ball would establish him as a highly sought-after stallion prospect in Japan. Ascot’s ultimate goal is to promote the King George as a premier race in its own right, rather than solely as a platform for future stallions.
Calandagan, last year’s winner and the world’s top-rated racehorse at the end of 2025, is considered a favourite. However, Masquerade Ball was rated closely behind him and finished only a head adrift in the Japan Cup. Takahisa Tezuka, Masquerade Ball’s trainer, expressed satisfaction with the horse’s well-being following his arrival in the UK on 12 July, noting his physical and mental development from three to four years old.
Other strong contenders include Benvenuto Cellini, the Irish Derby winner, and Minnie Hauk, who was a close second in a previous Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday, 25 July.
Future Ambitions and Supporting Races
The prize money increase to £2.5m next year will position the King George second only to the Arc, which has a purse of €5m (£4.24m), among European races. Ascot’s long-term ambition is to match the prize money offered for the Longchamp showpiece. This is a bold aim, especially given the different funding systems in French and British racing. Smith acknowledged that while next year’s field might not be as strong as this year’s, the goal is for the King George to remain among the top four races globally in the coming years. He views the prize money increases as a clear statement of intent, marking a beginning rather than a conclusion.
In addition to the main event, the King George Weekend features several supporting races. The Longines Valiant Stakes at 2:20 PM includes SKYDANCE, trained by Willie McCreery, who showed strong form last season in Group 3 and Group 2 races. SKYDANCE also secured a notable victory in a maiden race at Leopardstown, defeating a horse that subsequently won the Oaks.
The Moet & Chandon International Handicap at 2:55 PM features COMPLETELY RANDOM, trained by Harry Charlton. This five-year-old performed well at Royal Ascot, narrowly missing a win in the Wokingham. The concluding Whispering Angel Handicap at 5:20 PM will see SIR YOSHI, trained by Geoff Harker, compete. SIR YOSHI has shown recent promise after a period of slipping down the ratings.
Other races on Saturday’s card include the York 1.30, featuring Mon Na Slieve, and the Ascot 1.45 with Dark Issue. The York 2.00 will see Evening Blues, while Touleen is set to run in the Ascot 2.20. The Punt nap for the day is Getreadytorumble in the 5.20 Ascot race, while Fantastic Fox is the Handicappers’ nap for the 4.00 Newcastle race.
Blue Rc is highlighted as an Eyecatcher in the 4.45 Ascot race, and Amazing Journey is noted for its speed figures in the 2.55 Ascot race. Son is considered a Dark horse for the 3.05 York race, and Damysus is the Newmarket nap for the 2.35 York race on Saturday, 25 July.
Source: theguardian.com
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”