Steve Ryder previews the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 and picks out his best bet.
Described as Britain’s most prestigious open-age flat race, this race was established in 1951 and often pitches Epsom Derby winners against their elders. There are currently 10 entries for the race which is a Group 1 over 1m4f, this year run at Ascot on Saturday 25th July at 3:35.
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Trends
Enable won this race three times in 2017, 2018 and 2020 and interestingly is one of the previous three winners from the classic generation to have either won the Oaks or Derby prior to winning this race proving that you need to be one of the best of your generation to win this race.
- 12 of the previous 12 winners had won over the 1m4f trip
- 10 of the previous 12 winners had a rating of 118 or higher
- 10 of the previous 12 winners had already won a Group 1
- 9 of the previous 12 winners were aged four or older
- 9 of the previous 12 winners had already run at Ascot
- 7 of the previous 12 winners won last time out
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 Odds
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 Runners Guide
CALANDAGAN
Last year’s winner who bounced back from a disappointing run at Epsom on soft ground to win the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for a second year in a row. He beat the reopposing Kalpana in this race last season and beat Masquerade Ball by a head in the Japan Cup last season. The five-year-old boasts an impressive recent record of six wins from his previous seven starts.
BENVENUTO CELLINI
An impressive winner of the Chester Vase on his reappearance this season before underperforming in the Epsom Derby on ground softer than ideal (subsequently ruled a NR). He reversed that form with the winner Christmas Day in the Irish Derby last time at the Curragh relishing the return to faster ground over this 1m4f trip.
MASQUERADE BALL
Japanese raider who was narrowly beaten in both the Japanese 2000 Guineas and Japanese Derby last season. He won the Grade 1 Tenno Sho in November prior to finishing a head 2nd behind Calandagan in the Japan Cup last season. He ran well to finish a length behind Romantic Warrior in the Group 1 QEII Cup at Sha Tin on his reappearance.
GOLIATH
Six-year-old who won this race in 2024 beating subsequent Arc De Triomphe winner Bluestocking by 2 ¼ lengths. He won the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden last season before winning the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly on his reappearance. He was still travelling well when Christophe Soumillon lost his irons late on when 3rd in the Hardwicke Stakes last time at Royal Ascot when narrowly behind Kalpana.
KALPANA
Consistent five-year-old mare who has impressive form figures of 31212 at Ascot in her career. She finished 2nd beaten a length by Calandagan in this race last season before winning the Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Champion’s Day for a second year in a row. She made a winning reappearance at Newbury before finishing a short head 2nd in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Trainers Jockeys To Watch
John Gosden has won this race five times since 2011 with Nathaniel (2011), Taghrooda (2014) and Enable (2017, 2019 &2020) all winning for the trainer. Aidan O’Brien has won the race four times since 2001 with Galileo (2001), Dylan Thomas (2007), Duke Of Marmalade (2008) and Highland Reel (2016). Francis-Henri Graffard has won the race for the previous two years with Goliath (2024) and Calandagan (2025).
Christophe Soumillon (Hurricane Run in 2006 and Goliath in 2024), William Buick (Nathaniel in 2011 and Adayar in 2021) and Ryan Moore (Conduit in 2009 and Highland Reel in 2016) have all won this race twice.
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 Betting Tips
This looks a high class renewal of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes but preference goes to last year’s winner CALANDAGAN (best priced at 7/4) who bounced back to form last time when victorious in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for a second year in a row. His form figures at Ascot are 1211 with his only defeat coming on his unfavoured soft ground in the Champion Stakes in 2024.
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard has won this race for the past two seasons with Goliath (2024) and Calandagan (2025) and the latter looks to hold strong claims of giving him a hat-trick of wins in this contest.
Recommended Bet: Calandagan 7/4 (1pt)
