The month of July arrives jam-packed with racing highlights. With the Newmarket July Festival now behind us, further cause for excitement arrives in the shape of Irish Oaks Weekend and Glorious Goodwood. Sandwiched between that duo is one of the richest and most prestigious events of the British racing year.
First run at Ascot in 1951, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes celebrates its seventy-fifth anniversary in 2025. If the leading contenders stand their ground, we look set for an edition to match the occasion. Seventeen runners remain in contention ahead of the £1.5 million event on 26th July, including a duo who produced one of the most compelling clashes of the season in the Coronation Cup. It’s Jan Brueghel versus Calandagan: Round 2, as the Irish and French duo lock horns for a second time.
Coronation Cup – First Round to Ballydoyle
The stars first collided in the 2025 edition of the Coronation Cup at the Epsom Derby Festival. Run over the same course and distance as the colts’ Classic, the King George gives the older horses their chance to shine in the Surrey spotlight.
Coronation Cup 2025 Full Result
| Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jan Brueghel | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | 10/3 |
| 2nd | Calandagan | Mickael Barzalona | Francis-Henri Graffard | 8/13F |
| 3rd | Giavellotto | Oisin Murphy | Marco Botti | 11/2 |
| 4th | Continuous | Wayne Lordan | Aidan O’Brien | 66/1 |
| 5th | Ancient Wisdom | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | 22/1 |
| 6th | Bellum Justum | James Doyle | Andrew Balding | 33/1 |
| 7th | You Got To Me | David Egan | Ralph Beckett | 40/1 |
Despite arriving on the back of three runners-up finishes, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Calandagan started as the odds-on favourite to prevail. Whilst beaten in those previous outings, close seconds behind City Of Troy, Anmaat, and Japanese star Danon Decile, suggested he might be the one to beat.
As is so often the case, the biggest hurdle standing between Calandagan and success hailed from the County Tipperary yard of Aidan O’Brien. Like Calandagan, the son of Galileo, filled the runners-up spot on his previous outing. However, unlike the market leader, Jan Brueghel was already a Group 1 winner. Having come out on top in a thrilling renewal of the St Leger Stakes over 1m6½f, would the mount of Ryan Moore be as effective at 1m4f?
Moving into the closing stages, Jan Brueghel ran down long-time leaders Continuous and Ancient Wisdom and set sail for the line. As the market predicted, Calandagan emerged as a big threat. Asked for more by Mickael Barzalona, the French raider reeled in Jan Brueghel and briefly headed the O’Brien runner deep inside the final furlong. However, back came Jan Brueghel, with the famed Galileo resolve, seeing him get back up to score by half a length.
Different Track, Different Result?
Watching the Coronation Cup back, it is reasonable to suggest that the unique contours of the Epsom track played a role in the result. Whereas Jan Brueghel handled the camber with aplomb, Calandagan noticeably drifted towards the inside rail when first asked for his effort. Will the more conventional course at Ascot be enough to turn the tables? Given the narrow margin of defeat, it might, and Calandagan warmed up for this when finally breaking his Group 1 duck with an easy Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud success.
Whilst the track offers hope to Calandagan supporters, Jan Brueghel has proven incredibly tough to pass in a battle. Having toughed it out to see off Illinois by a neck in the St Leger, he instantly pulled out more when joined at Epsom – leaving the impression there might be more in the tank.
Can Calandagan time his finishing effort to perfection? Or will the proven stamina of Jan Brueghel be the deciding factor? The bookies are struggling to settle on the most likely outcome, with both Jan Brueghel and Calandagan trading at a price of around 2/1.
Dual Derby Hero also in the Mix?
Jan Brueghel and Calandagan currently dominate the market. However, O’Brien may yet throw a spanner in the works. Included among seven Ballydoyle entries is none other than Epsom and Irish Derby champ Lambourn. He’s six pounds behind Jan Brueghel on official ratings but would receive 11 pounds on the weight-for-age scale if taking his place in the lineup.
This wouldn’t be the typical route for a Derby winner, but O’Brien has trodden this path in the past. Back in 2001, the great Galileo backed up Epsom and Irish Derby victories with an impressive King George success. Available to back at 14/1, the compilers seemingly don’t expect him to line up, while O’Brien was non-committal when stating:
“It’s still a possible, but no decision has been made.”
With Andrew Balding’s Arc contender Kalpana, loveable globetrotter Rebel’s Romance, and the red-hot Amilioc also among the entries, the 2025 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is shaping up to be a cracker.