Saturday's eight-race card is brimming with quality with Europe's midsummer highlight, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, headlining a day with three Group races and over £1.75million in prize money.

 

The opening British EBF Crocker Bulteel "Confined" Maiden Stakes at 1.15pm is limited to horses who have not run more than once - as it happens, just two of the field have any experience. Back In Black was second on debut at Yarmouth in May and has a Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes entry so must be highly thought of, whilst Our Terms should come on for his introduction at Newmarket just over two weeks ago. If price is an indicator of quality, then Al Misbar should be top of the list having cost 1.5 million Guineas (over £1.4million) at the yearling sales last October - little surprise seeing as he is a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Battaash. Of the other newcomers, Echalar was the next most expensive at 310,000 Guineas and also holds a Gimcrack entry.

 

The second juvenile race on the day is the Group 3 Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes (1.50pm) where, unusually, the favourite is the only filly without a win. Simmering's second place behind Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot is by far the standout piece of form in this race and that result has seen Al Shaqab Racing buy her in time for this contest. There are three other Royal Meeting runners in the race, the best of those perhaps being Aviation Time who was third in the Windsor Castle Stakes but has since come up short again in Listed company at Deauville. Their Majesties The King and Queen have a filly in this contest, Handcuffed, who was impressive when winning on debut at Newbury earlier this month and is a half-sister to Queen Elizabeth II's smart performer Tactical.

 

Eight go to post in another Group 3 for fillies, the Longines Valiant Stakes, this time for three-year-olds and upwards over the Old Mile. There's more Royal Ascot form in this race, notably Soprano who took the Sandringham Stakes but then failed to follow that up in Listed company next time out. Doom was third in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes behind Running Lion, whilst Thornbrook was third in this race last year and has continued to run creditably at this sort of level without winning. Friendly Soul disappointed when odds-on favourite for the Musidora Stakes at York in May but is well worth another chance to prove herself. Devoted Queen is unbeaten in three starts and was set to run in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot before being declared a non-runner - these are much calmer waters for her as she looks to continue her upward trajectory.

 

The Moet & Chandon International Stakes (3.00pm) is worth over £77,000 to the winner and Fresh will be looking to build on his second-placed effort at Ascot just over two weeks ago. This will be his 17th run at the track, with three runs and five more places, it would be no surprise to see him on the premises again. Carrytheone was third in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal Meeting and has since finished fourth to Aalto at Newmarket, who reopposes here. Billyjoh finished just ahead of Carrytheone at Royal Ascot and might just be a little fresher having not had that run in-between. Make Me King, in the now-prominent Wathnan Racing colours, carries a penalty for his recent win at Newcastle - he too ran in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, finishing down the field. Grand old Summerghand will be having his 100th race under rules and is still in good heart - Tom Marquand takes the ride for the centurion.

 

The feature at 3.40pm has seen Auguste Rodin as ante-post favourite for a long time, especially following his sixth Group 1 victory last time out when winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot with something in hand. The extra two furlongs of this race shouldn't be an issue, having already won three top-level races over the 12-furlong distance. The nagging doubt is his liability to throw in a stinker, notably when favourite for this race last year and trailing home in last. That accusation can't be levelled at Rebel's Romance, who has been the model of consistency when winning Group 1 events all over the world over the last two years. He's not raced on turf in the UK since June 2022 but since then he has won top-level contests in Germany, America, Dubai and Hong Kong. The only filly in the race, Bluestocking, comes into this off the back of a career best when winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last month. She was closing all the way to the line that day, suggesting that this trip might even suit her better. Aidan O'Brien's perceived second-string, Luxembourg, is no forlorn hope, having finished just half a length behind Auguste Rodin at Leopardstown last September and he confirmed his class remains with victory in the Coronation Cup in May. Dubai Honour and Sunway are also Group 1 winners, the latter progressing with every run this year culminating in a second-placed effort in the Irish Derby four weeks ago. Middle Earth and Goliath are closely matched on their Hardwicke Stakes form behind Isle Of Jura in June, whilst Hans Andersen has performed pacemaking duties for Ballydoyle recently and may be relied on for the same here.

 

The Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes (4.15pm), a Listed race for two-year-olds, was won last year in impressive style by Rosallion, subsequent winner of the St James's Palace Stakes. If there's another star in the field it could be Chancellor, who pulled clear in style at Doncaster on debut to win by over four lengths, with the third that day winning since. Al Qudra was a close-up fifth in the Coventry Stakes last time out and could easily get back to winning ways in a smaller field, whilst Brian had little chance behind potential superstar Bedtime Story in the Chesham Stakes but proved himself a colt of quality when scoring at Newbury by over five lengths 16 days ago. New Century was fourth behind Al Qudra on debut but put that experience to good use when winning at Doncaster next time, and Dividend also improved for his initial run when causing an upset at Sandown on his second start.

 

Two handicaps close the card, starting with the Betfred Handicap at 4.50pm. Tolstoy is on a roll having run up a York hat-trick in the last couple of months - he'll need to prove his aptitude for Ascot but it could be a sign of intent that champion jockey William Buick is booked for the ride. Elnajmm is yet to finish out of the first two in his five runs so far and scored on handicap debut at Newcastle a month ago, so could have plenty more to come. The other runner coming into this off the back of a victory is Sterling Knight, who was down the field in the Buckingham Palace Stakes but since scored on his first start over a mile. Tempus was second in that race and won this handicap in 2022, whilst Baradar is another to have scored at Ascot before when winning last year's International Stakes on this card.

 

It's a sprint to finish QIPCO King George Weekend in the Whispering Angel Handicap (5.25pm) over five furlongs. Woodhay Wonder's winning run came to an end at Royal Ascot in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes but that fourth-placed effort was still highly creditable and he should be given another chance to get back to winning ways. Woolhampton was victorious here earlier this year, as well as at this meeting in 2023, so could record another victory on a track he clearly likes. Spangled Mac made his belated return to the track in 2024 at Hamilton just eight days ago and has form over five furlongs, while Brave Nation was in good heart before his below-par effort here two weeks ago and could easily bounce back having run well here before.

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