Widely recognised as one of the finest racecourses in the world, the Berkshire venue of Ascot is best known for the five-day jamboree of the Royal Ascot Festival. That June event is the undoubted highlight, but this premier track has much more to offer.
British Champions Day of October serves as a celebration of all that has come before, whilst July sees the biggest all-age event of the British season. First run in 1951, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes offers a huge £1.2m in prize money. With such riches up for grabs, the race regularly attracts the crème of the British and Irish contenders and stars from further afield. Presenting a fascinating clash between the Classic generation and their elders, the prestigious contest continues to serve as a summertime highlight.
Given the calibre of performers it attracts, the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes unsurprisingly boasts an impressive list of previous winners; Nijinsky, Brigadier Gerard, Shergar, Dancing Brave, Montjeu, and Galileo all feature on the roll of honour, whilst wondermare Enable landed the prize three times.
2026 - Kalpana
Arriving as the defending champion, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Calandagan headed the betting in 2026. The 2024 winner Goliath completed a strong French team, while Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg carried the hopes of Japan. Aidan O’Brien’s squad included the 2025 Epsom Derby winner Lambourn, 2025 Epsom Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk, and 2026 Irish Derby champ Benvenuto Cellini. A formidable overseas challenge, but the sole British runner fended them all off. Having finished a close second in 2025, Andrew Balding’s Kalpana went one better with a display of class and determination to hand her trainer his first win in the race.
- 1st – Kalpana 13/2, Jockey: Colin Keane, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 2nd – Calandagan 6/5F, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- 3rd – Benvenuto Cellini 4/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2025 - Calandagan
A tactical affair developed into a thrilling finish as Calandagan produced a relentless late surge to capture the 75th running of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. With only five runners, Aidan O'Brien's Jan Brueghel dictated a steady pace, while stablemate Continuous raced in a supporting role rather than acting as a pacemaker. Kalpana struck for home entering the final quarter of a mile, and looked the likely winner, but Calandagan gradually wore her down in the closing strides to score by a length after overcoming an unfavourable position turning for home.
- 1st - Calandagan 11/10F, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- 2nd - Kalpana 15/2, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 3rd - Rebel’s Romance 5/2, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2024 - Goliath
Goliath caused a major upset by landing this race at very tasty odds of 25/1. Christophe Soumillon settled the French-trained gelding towards the rear before delivering a perfectly timed challenge around the final bend. Once asked for his effort, Goliath quickly put the race to bed, surging more than two lengths clear as favourite Auguste Rodin disappointed, fading badly to finish fifth. The emphatic victory made Goliath the first French-trained winner of the race since Hurricane Run in 2006, that horse also ridden by Christophe Soumillon, whose exuberant celebration that day is still well remembered.
- 1st - Goliath 25/1, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- 2nd - Bluestocking 9/2, Jockey: Rossa Ryan, Trainer: Ralph Beckett
- 3rd - Rebel’s Romance 5/2, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2023 - Hukum
An absorbing duel between Hukum and Westover produced one of the most memorable renewals in recent years. After favourite Auguste Rodin dramatically dropped away on the home turn, the race developed into a thrilling head-to-head between the two principals. Westover briefly looked set for victory, but Hukum battled back bravely under Jim Crowley to edge ahead in the final strides and prevail by a head. The success provided trainer Owen Burrows with the biggest win of his career.
- 1st - Hukum 13/2, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Owen Burrows
- 2nd - Westover 7/1, Jockey: Rob Hornby, Trainer: Ralph Beckett
- 3rd - King Of Steel 9/2, Jockey: Kevin Stott, Trainer: Roger Varian
2022 - Pyledriver
Pyledriver produced a shock at odds of 18/1 to claim this running in 2022. Partnered once again by PJ McDonald, who had not ridden him for three years, the determined five-year-old powered clear in the straight before comfortably holding off late challenges from Torquator Tasso and Mishriff. The result may have been different had Mishriff not suffered such a dreadful exit from the stalls, which handed his rivals an immediate five-length advantage, but easily beaten favourite, Westover, had fewer excuses, finishing fifth from six.
- 1st - Pyledriver 18/1, Jockey: P J McDonald, Trainer: William Muir & Chris Grassick
- 2nd - Torquator Tasso 16/1, Jockey: Rene Piechulek, Trainer: Marcel Weiss
- 3rd - Mishriff 5/2, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
2021 - Adayar
Adayar became the first Derby winner in two decades to complete the Derby-King George double with a commanding performance. William Buick sent the Charlie Appleby-trained colt to the front entering the straight and his powerful stride never faltered despite sustained challenges from Mishriff and the favourite Love. The three-year-old stayed on relentlessly to win by a length and three-quarters, with the weight-for-age allowance proving a significant advantage against his older rivals in a high-quality renewal of this brilliant race.
- 1st - Adayar 9/4, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd - Mishriff 13/2, Jockey: David Egan, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 3rd - Love 13/8F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2020 - Enable
Enable created history by becoming the first horse to win this race on three occasions. Despite plenty of pre-race discussion over tactics, Frankie Dettori always looked in control aboard the 4/9 favourite as she cruised into contention before quickening clear in the straight. Sovereign and Japan were unable to respond as Enable powered five and a half lengths clear. There were no other horses in the race to beat, with Enable’s presence scaring off any additional challengers. Winning the three-horse race meant Dettori equalled Lester Piggott's long-standing record of seven victories in Ascot's midsummer showpiece.
- 1st - Enable 4/9F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Sovereign 12/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Japan 5/2, Jockey: Ryan Moore., Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2019 - Enable
One of the finest finishes in the history of the race saw Enable regain her crown after an epic battle with Crystal Ocean. The pair raced stride for stride for much of the final quarter of a mile, neither giving so much as an inch in a thrilling contest that captivated the Ascot crowd. Crystal Ocean briefly edged ahead, but Enable responded bravely under an excellent ride from Frankie Dettori to regain the advantage close home and prevail by a neck. This extended her winning streak to 11 races and condemned her rival to a second successive narrow King George defeat.
- 1st - Enable 8/15F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Crystal Ocean 7/2, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 3rd - Waldgeist 12/1, Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot, Trainer: Andre Fabre
2018 - Poet’s Word
Patience proved the key as Poet's Word produced a perfectly timed late challenge to capture this edition. James Doyle settled his mount towards the rear before weaving through traffic in pursuit of stablemate Crystal Ocean, who looked the most likely winner approaching the final furlong. However, Poet's Word gradually wore him down and got up in the closing strides to score by a mere nose. The victory gave Sir Michael Stoute a record-breaking sixth King George success, a massive 37 years after his first.
- 1st - Poet’s Word 7/4, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 2nd - Crystal Ocean 6/4F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 3rd - Coronet 15/2, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa, Trainer: Sylvester Kirk
2017 - Enable
Enable confirmed herself as one of the outstanding fillies of her generation with a dominant victory in 2017. Frankie Dettori, having shed seven pounds in less than a week to make the weight, tracked the early pace before sending the Oaks winner to the front two furlongs from home. From there, she never looked in any sort of danger, using her weight advantage to power clear and defeat Ulysses by a handsome four and a half lengths. Needless to say, a big celebratory meal was waiting for Dettori afterwards.
- 1st - Enable 5/4F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Ulysses 9/1, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 3rd - Idaho 8/1, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2016 - Highland Reel
Highland Reel produced a superb front-running display to claim the 2016 edition of this race. Ryan Moore seized the initiative from the start, allowing the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt to dictate the pace before gradually increasing the pressure on his rivals. Although Wings Of Desire closed the gap in the straight, as Highland Reel took a breather, the pack leader found more when challenged and stayed on strongly to win by a length and a quarter. The Queen's colt and early favourite, Dartmouth, aiming to be the first royal winner since all the way back in 1954, finished third.
- 1st - Highland Reel 13/8F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Wings Of Desire 4/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 3rd - Dartmouth 9/2, Jockey: Olivier Peslier, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
2015
- 1st - Postponed 6/1, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: Luca Cumani
- 2nd - Eagle Top 5/2F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 3rd - Romsdal 12/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John Gosden