King George Stakes 2025: Stars Align for Britain’s Richest Flat Race
What to Expect in the King George Stakes 2025 at Ascot
The eyes of the racing world will turn to Ascot Racecourse this Saturday, July 26, as the 2025 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes unfolds with a field worthy of its £1.5 million purse—the richest all-aged flat race in British racing. Eight elite contenders representing France, Ireland, and the UK are set to clash in a Group 1 contest that promises both class and complexity.
France’s Calandagan returns to Ascot following a hard-earned Group 1 breakthrough in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. A consistent runner-up at the top level, his trainer Francis-Henri Graffard will be hoping for back-to-back wins in this race, having upset the field in 2024 with Goliath.
The primary opposition comes from Jan Brueghel, who famously bested Calandagan in the Coronation Cup. A winner of last year’s St Leger, he’s attempting a rare double—only Conduit in 2009 has completed the St Leger–King George double in recent times. Trainer Aidan O’Brien will also send out three additional runners: 2023 St Leger hero Continuous, dual Derby champion Lambourn, and Pretty Polly Stakes scorer Whirl. Each arrives with top-tier credentials and varying tactical assets.
Veteran globetrotter Rebel’s Romance brings with him one of the most decorated résumés in the field. A 7-year-old with 18 victories worldwide—including the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf—he’ll attempt to become the oldest winner in the history of the King George, surpassing legends like Swain and Enable.
Kalpana adds further depth to the field for Juddmonte and trainer Andrew Balding. She was brilliant over course and distance last October in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, and comes into the race with strong efforts in Ireland, placing in both the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Pretty Polly Stakes. “Kalpana is all systems go,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager. “We know she stays the trip well, and we’ve had this race in mind all year.”
The Irish challenger Green Impact completes the field for Jessica Harrington. While his sixth-place finish in the Irish Derby doesn’t leap off the page, his earlier Group 2 victory suggests that under the right race conditions, he may surprise.
This year’s King George Stakes 2025 doesn’t just boast a rich purse—it represents a mid-season summit of class, stamina, and ambition. From France’s emerging middle-distance force to Ireland’s iron stayers and Britain’s global stars, the clash at Ascot will go a long way in shaping the European racing narrative for the remainder of the flat season.
Official site: Ascot Racecourse
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