Ascot’s Strategic Focus on the King George
Ascot Racecourse is preparing for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday, a race that officials have identified as a primary asset. This strategic focus aims to elevate the event’s standing in European racing. The racecourse announced pre-tax profits of £10.5m in 2025 and has plans for a significant prize money increase for next year’s King George.
The King George, a 12-furlong all-aged Group One race, has historically been a prestigious event, with past winners including Mill Reef, Grundy, Shergar, and Dancing Brave. However, in recent years, it has faced competition from the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in terms of prize money and prestige. Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public affairs, stated that a conscious decision was made two years ago to concentrate on the King George as their main race asset, distinct from the Royal meeting.
This year’s renewal features a prize fund of £2m, making it the most valuable race in Ascot’s history for the current year. Smith described the field as the best this century, including last year’s top two racehorses, Calandagan and Masquerade Ball, and the leading one-and-a-half mile three-year-old, Benvenuto Cellini. Other notable entries include Kalpana, Minnie Hauk, and Goliath.
International Contenders and Future Ambitions
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 follow the race. A victory for Masquerade Ball would mark a first for Japan in the contest, potentially making him a highly sought-after stallion prospect. Ascot’s goal is to promote the King George as a premier race in its own right.
Next year, the prize money for the King George is set to increase to £2.5m, which would position it behind only the Arc, with its €5m (£4.24m) purse, among European races. Ascot’s long-term ambition is to match the prize money offered by the Longchamp showpiece. This is considered a bold aim, especially given the different funding systems in French racing, which benefits from a pari-mutuel monopoly.
Despite the high quality of this year’s field, Smith expressed hope that the King George will remain among the world’s top four race rankings in the coming years. He acknowledged that matching the Arc’s prize money will take several years, but views the current and planned increases as a clear statement of intent. The racecourse aims to highlight the event as Britain’s premier all-aged race and a special sporting moment.
Supporting Races and Selections
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a highlight of the summer season at Ascot. The main event is scheduled for 3:35 on Saturday. Beyond the feature race, the supporting card includes several other competitive events.
One of these is the Longines Valiant Stakes at 2:20, where SKYDANCE, trained by Willie McCreery, is a notable contender. This horse has shown strong form, finishing in the frame in Group 3 and Group 2 company last season and winning a maiden at Leopardstown. The round mile distance is expected to suit her well.
In the Moet & Chandon International Handicap at 2:55, COMPLETELY RANDOM, trained by Harry Charlton, is considered a strong candidate. The five-year-old performed well at Royal Ascot and is expected to handle the step up to seven furlongs. The concluding Whispering Angel Handicap at 5:20 features SIR YOSHI, trained by Geoff Harker, who has been showing signs of returning to form after slipping down the ratings. Another selection for the 5:20 Ascot race is Getreadytorumble, with Tom Marquand riding.
Other races on Saturday include the York 1.30, featuring Mon Na Slieve, and the Ascot 1.45, where Dark Issue is expected to perform well. The York 2.00 race has Evening Blues as a contender, while Touleen is set to run in the Ascot 2.20. For the Moet & Chandon International Handicap at 2:55, Amazing Journey is noted for its impressive win and good speed figure. The York 3.05 race includes Son, who has delivered decent performances this season. In the York 2.35, Damysus is fancied to perform well over a mile and a quarter. The races from King George Weekend at Ascot are scheduled for Friday, 24th July and Saturday, 25th July.
Source: theguardian.com
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”