Kevin Blake runs the rule over the nine-strong field assembled for Europe’s premier mid-season affair on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing, and reveals his 1-2-3.
1. (Draw 7) ★★★★★
Jockey: M Barzalona | Trainer: F Graffard
Officially the best middle-distance horse in the world, he has won six Group 1 races around the world including this race last year, the British Champion Stakes, the Japan Cup and the Sheema Classic at Meydan.
A hold-up performer that has an exceptional turn of foot, he bounced back from a poor run on softer ground in the Coronation Cup at Epsom to win a messy renewal of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last time. A sounder pace will suit him, and he sets a very high bar for his opposition.
Watch every race from King George Weekend at Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 512) on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July.
2. (Draw 5) ★★★
Jockey: M Barzalona | Trainer: F Graffard
Launched himself onto the international scene by winning this race at 25-1 in 2024. Has been around the world since then, gaining a second Group 1 win in the Grosser Preis von Baden last September.
Last time out, he looked to be coming with a very strong challenge in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal Meeting only for his rider to lose an iron inside the final furlong, eventually being beaten 1¾ lengths in third behind Giavellotto and Kalpana. That form gives him a shot.
3. (Draw 2) ★★
Jockey: W Buick | Trainer: A P O’Brien
Winner of the Derby and the Irish Derby last year but hasn’t come up to the required standard in open Group 1 company since. He made a winning return to action in the Huxley Stakes at Chester in May but has finished well behind multiple rivals that he meets again here in his three starts since – looks up against it.
4. (Draw 4) ★★★★
Jockey: C P Lemaire | Trainer: Takahisa Tezuka
A fascinating Japanese raider, he rose through the ranks on the domestic scene as a three-year-old last year with his two runs over a mile-and-a-half, yielding second-place finishes to the top-class Croix Du Nord in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and to Calandagan in the Japan Cup (with Croix Du Nord back in fourth).
His first run outside Japan saw him finish an excellent length second to Romantic Warrior in the QEII Cup at Sha Tin in April. This return to a mile-and-a-half seems sure to suit him and he looks to be a leading contender.
5. (Draw 3) ★
Jockey: Oisin Murphy | Trainer: Hiroshi Miyamoto
A six-year-old Japanese raider that has spent much of his career at a much lower level than this, but he leapt to prominence when finishing an excellent nose second to Croix Du Nord in the Tenno So (Spring) at 206/1 back in May. That run came out of nowhere to an extent and he faces a completely different challenge back at a mile-and-a-half in world-class company.
6. (Draw 6) ★★★
Jockey: Colin Keane | Trainer: A M Balding
One of the very best female racehorses on the planet, she has a fine record at this track that includes two wins in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and an excellent second to Calandagan in this race last year. Her most recent effort was a fine short head second to Giavellotto in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. She must be considered a serious contender.
7. (Draw 1) ★★★
Jockey: Wayne Lordan | Trainer: A P O’Brien
The highest-rated female racehorse on the planet – last season she won the Oaks at Epsom, the Irish Oaks, and the Yorkshire Oaks prior to finishing an excellent second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She hasn’t been quite as good in her three starts at around a mile-and-a-quarter this year but was not far off her best form when second to Ombudsman in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Returning to a mile-and-a-half will suit her and she has solid claims.
8. (Draw 8) ★
Jockey: S M Levey | Trainer: A P O’Brien
Finished second in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last season and the Dante this season but has been used as a pacemaker in the Derby and the Irish Derby in his last two starts and looks likely to take up the same role here.
9. (Draw 9) ★★★
Jockey: R L Moore | Trainer: A P O’Brien
A Group 2-winning juvenile, he created an excellent impression when making a winning return to action in the Chester Vase. Sent off favourite for the Derby, rain-softened ground may have been more to blame for his below-par run than an incident in the stalls that led to him being declared a non-runner after the event. Returned to a sounder surface, he duly righted that wrong by beating the Derby winner Christmas Day in a rematch in the Irish Derby. This course, distance and surface should suit, but he will need to improve again to be involved in the finish.
KEVIN BLAKE’S VERDICT:
CALANDAGAN may not have been at his brilliant best in his last two starts, but returning this course and distance with the promise of a solid pace to run at may well bring him back to his best. The main danger to him appeals as being Masquerade Ball who brings a very high level of mile-and-a-half form to the table from Japan.
KEVIN BLAKE’S 1-2-3:
1 – CALANDAGAN
2 – MASQUERADE BALL
3 – KALPANA
Watch every race from King George Weekend at Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 512) on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July.
