ASCOT’S King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (4.10) has seen its fair share of gripping battles down the years and if last month’s Coronation Cup is anything to go by, we could be set for another thriller.

Jan Brueghel got the better of a prolonged tussle with Calandagan at Epsom 50 days ago, just half a length separating the pair after the runner-up traded as short as 1/4 in-running. The French ace has since gone and had his confidence boosted by a ready Group 1 win in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, though he has more than just his old rival to worry about this weekend.

Course-and-distance Group 1 heroine Kalpana is out to go one better than her second to Whirl in the Pretty Polly Stakes four weeks ago (when conceding 12lb to that younger rival). There’s also the presence of the ultimate global stalwart Rebel’s Romance. Having dished out a comprehensive enough beating to Al Riffa in the Hardwicke Stakes here last month (the runner-up since franking the form with a Curragh Cup rout last weekend), he’s chasing an eighth career Group 1/Grade 1 triumph for team Godolphin. It would be his first in Britain, though.

“Calandagan is in very good form and took his win at Saint-Cloud very well,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France.

“I spoke with Mickael Barzalona, who rode him in his last piece of work, and he’s very happy with him.”

Reflecting on the four-year-old’s Coronation dust-up, Routh added: “He doesn’t have much ground to make up on Jan Brueghel and although they were calling the ground good to soft at Epsom we felt it was riding softer that day.

“He handles softer ground so we can’t use that as an excuse, but I just think maybe his acceleration is a a bit more decisive on firmer ground. When it becomes a heavy-duty slugging match I’m not sure that’s really his game, but when he can use his acceleration on good, fast ground I think that’s when he’s at his best.”

Jan Brueghel has cheekpieces fitted for the first time here, though Ryan Moore, who has won this £1.5 million contest twice before in his career (Conduit in 2009 and Highland Reel in 2016), notes the 126-rated performer “has done very little wrong throughout his career.”

Speaking in his World Pool blog, Moore said: “We think a mile and a half at Ascot will suit him well. Conditions should be absolutely fine for him. Hopefully he’s going to turn up in the same shape or even better and we’d be hopeful of a similar performance [to Epsom]. He’s the highest rated horse in the field.”

Romance respect

The world-leading jockey described Calandagan as “a very consistent, solid horse who I have a lot of respect for”, believes Kalpana is firmly in the mix on her 2025 form and does not need soft ground, while adding that “you can pretty much guarantee Rebel’s Romance is going to run to his mark, so if we’re going to beat him, we’re going to have to run to our best.” Charlie Appleby is encouraged by his seven-year-old’s wellbeing heading into an all-star line-up.

“Rebel’s Romance goes into this in great order,” he said. “There was plenty of strength in depth in this contest 12 months ago, when he ran a good race [finishing third to Goliath and Bluestocking], and it looks a similarly strong renewal this time around.

“He’s taking on younger opposition again but, wherever he finishes, the others will know that they have had a race.”

On Kalpana, Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “She’s all systems go for the King George. This has been her intended target since her last run in Ireland and she is in good shape.

“I think her two runs this year have been very solid. We know she is proven over a mile and a half on soft ground, so for her to produce those performances over 10 furlongs on quicker ground is very promising. We would be hopeful of a strong showing on Saturday back over 12 furlongs, for all it looks a competitive race.”