Calanda can give Graffard a third King George
IN BOTH of the last two seasons, Ascot’s mid-summer showpiece, the Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (3.35pm), has been taken back to France.
Those renewals have been won by trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with Goliath in 2024 and CALANDAGAN last year.
The Chantilly-based handler could field both past winners in this year’s race in a bid to join Noel Murless and Saeed Bin Suroor as the only trainers to have won three consecutive King Georges.
Last year’s winner is very hard to knock on fast ground conditions that suit him perfectly.
Calandagan ended 2025 as the world’s highest rated horse, following his King George win with successes in the Champion Stakes and Japan Cup, where he ran down Masquerade Ball at the finish.
The Japanese horse lines up in this, making it a fascinating rematch.
Takahisa Tezuka’s four-year-old has only been seen once since his defeat by Calandagan, when beaten a length by Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin in April, and should get close to Graffard’s star again.
Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini adds further interest, but he is taking on some top-class older horses and will need to improve.
A line can be drawn through Calandagan’s disappointing effort in the Coronation Cup at Epsom where his trainer went on record lamenting his decision to let him run on the hock-deep ground.
He got back on track when winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud earlier this month and that should have readied him for this defence of his crown.
I can see him going off closer to even-money come the day, so he’s a good bet at 13/8.
The big handicap on the day at Ascot is the International Stakes (2.55pm), where the favourite, Extremely Zain, could be hard to beat.
William Haggas’ three-year-old is unbeaten in three career starts and was a ready winner on handicap debut at York last month.
He is taking a mighty chunk out of the market though and I’d rather look for some each-way value against him.
AKKADIAN THUNDER appeals as a horse with some good Ascot form that could be well handicapped.
He ran an excellent race to finish second to subsequent Group One winner Never So Brave at Royal Ascot last year and on the back of that effort was sent off an 11/4 favourite for this race.
While he disappointed, the market confidence on that occasion suggests he’s a big price at 12/1 carrying eight pounds lower this time around.
He was only three lengths behind Extremely Zain at York, and at Doncaster last week he hinted at a return to form when not getting much luck in a small field.
This big-field scenario should suit him better and a good run looks likely with Jamie Spencer booked.
The other to chance each-way at 33/1 is Ed Walker’s ATA RANGI, who ran a good race at Newbury in June.
Before that he won over this trip at Haydock and is only three pounds higher in the handicap now, with Ashley Lewis claiming a handy five pounds.
He’s relatively lightly raced as a five-year-old and still looks to have a bit of improvement in him.
The Hamad Al Jehani yard haven’t been firing of late but their fortunes could revive with ALTA REGINA in the Group Three Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes (1.45pm).
She ran a big race to finish sixth in the Queen Mary over five furlongs and probably would have benefited from the six furlongs of the Albany.
However, she now takes the step up in trip that she looks to have been crying out for and the 9/2 is more than fair.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Alta Regina 1.45pm Ascot
Akkadian Thunder e/w 2.55pm Ascot
Ata Rangi e/w 2.55pm Ascot
Calandagan 3.35pm Ascot