THE ANTEPOST ANGLE - KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES

John Arnold takes a look ahead to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with trend analysis, the race history and pinpoints two horses worth an antepost bet. History:

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, commonly known as the King George, is a premier race held at Ascot. Established in 1951, this prestigious Group 1 flat race is run over a distance of one mile and four furlongs, making it one of the key middle-distance contests in the British racing calendar. The event attracts elite horses from around the world, serving as a highlight of the summer racing season. With its rich history and reputation for high-quality competition, the King George is often seen as a significant trial for horses aiming for the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe later in the year.

The race honours the memory of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, highlighting the close relationship between the British monarchy and the sport of horse racing. Iconic racehorses such as Nijinsky, Bustino, and more recently Enable have left their mark on this illustrious event, creating unforgettable moments for fans and participants alike. 

Trends:

Age - 9 of last 12 winners were aged 4 or older

Price - 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 7/12 were in top 3 of betting

Last Run- 7/12 winners won on their last run 

3/12 winners ran in the Hardwicke Stakes

2/12 winners ran in the Eclipse Stakes

Previous Course Form - 8/12 winners had at least one previous run at Ascot

5/12 winners had at least one win at Ascot

Previous Distance Form - 10/12 winners had at least 2 previous runs over 12 furlongs

Rating- 10/12 winners rated had a rating of 118 or higher

Group 1 wins - 10/12 winners had at least one previous group one win

Group 2 wins - 11/12 winners had at least one win in a group 1 or 2 race 

Season Form - 9/12 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 8/12 winners had at least 1 win that season

Contenders:

Winners at the Royal Meeting in June over the middle distances tend to return a month later to contest this coveted prize. REBELS ROMANCE has been the flag bearer all across the globe for Godolphin and you can expect a strong challenge from him if lining up here. JAN BRUEGHEL won the Coronation Cup at Epsom, grinding out the finish from CALONDAGAN, the french raider may well return to the UK to seek redemption. A winner at the Royal Meeting who is unbeaten but underplayed is AMILOC. Ralph Becket has done nothing wrong yet with the horse and has targeted this race since victory last month. Roger Varian avoided the Eclipse with ALMAQAM and you can understand why with the muddling race that ensued, his charge will be fresh and ready for this race and is an each way player. Jan Brueghel won the St Leger then the Coronation Cup and was not engaged at the Royal Meeting. Bred by Galileo and Danehill Dancer he has only lost once in six outings. He is my choice to follow up with this coveted prize. For the places I would side with Amiloc with the winning course and distance form last month. 

Selections

JAN BRUEGHEL (WIN) AMILOC (E/W)

written by John Arnold