2026 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips

At the end of July, one of the biggest races of the season takes place at Ascot racecourse, as many of the world's best racehorses clash in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. 

This historic Group One, which was first run back in 1951. It's run over a distance of 12 furlongs and open to all horses of three-years-old and above.

Legends like Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Dahlia, Shergar and Galileo have won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The only horse to win this race three times is Enable, who scored in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

Calandagan claimed a cosy victory in this Group One 12 months ago, beating Kalpana and Rebel's Romance with a flying finish. Francis Graffard's star went on to win the Champion Stakes, the Japan Cup and the Sheema Classic, before bouncing back from a below-par run at Epsom with another Group One triumph in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud earlier this month.

The leading three-year-old in this year's King George is Benvenuto Cellini, and plenty of money has arrived for Aidan O'Brien's Irish Derby winner this week. Ballydoyle will also be represented by 2025 Arc runner-up Minnie Hauk, following her second-place finish behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Japan looks set to be represented by Tenno Sho winner Masquerade Ball, who started favourite when narrowly beaten by Calandagan in the Japan Cup. Last year's runner-up Kalpana also looks set for another showdown with the market leader, following her narrow defeat to Giavellotto in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Francis Graffard will also be represented by Goliath, an impressive winner of this very race two years ago.

George Scott's runaway Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller may head to France or Ireland in search of softer ground. Wurttemberg could join fellow Japanese contender Masquerade Ball on the flight to Ascot. Aidan O'Brien's Action and Lambourn complete this year's King George entries.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes was added to the Royal Ascot carnival in 1948, three years after it was introduced.

Established in 1951 as a result of two races coming together, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes has since become one of the biggest races in the UK.

With a big prize purse, it's Britain's second richest race behind only The Derby and it was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge in 2011 which saw its popularity rise.

Sir Michael Stoute trained the trifecta in 2009 with Conduit defeating stablemates Ask and Tartan Bearer.

Stoute scored consecutive victories in the race when winning with Harbinger to win in 2010. The champion thoroughbred scored by a record margin of 11 lengths.

It has been a good race for the international runners with winners including German champion Danedream, which captured many of the biggest races in the UK.

The German runners have had a good history in this race, winning again with Novellist. The Andres Wohler-trained four-year-old won by five lengths in a course record time.

Postponed, Highland Reel and Enable scored from 2015 to 2017, much to the delight of the breeding stables and having this race on your record adds a great deal of stud value.