King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes Preview & Odds

Here at betting.bet you’ll find exclusive analysis of the key runners and riders as well as the latest race odds
There is Group 1 horse racing at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday with the latest running of Britain’s most prestigious open-age flat race, the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes. The ‘King George’ has been won by some of flat racing’s biggest names and this year’s renewal has all the makings of a classic. As we assess Saturday’s feature race at Ascot, here at betting.bet you’ll find exclusive analysis of the key runners and riders as well as the latest race odds from our partners at BoyleSports.
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes Race Overview
This prestigious Group 1 race is open to horses aged three years and above and contested over a distance of 1m4f. The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes was established in 1951 and has been won by some of the most iconic horses to grace the turf. Past winners include Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Galileo, Hurricane Run and Enable.
Enable has won a record three King Georges and is one of four horses to have completed the King Geroge / Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe double this century along with Hurricane Run, Dylan Thomas and Danedream.
The race’s most successful ever jockeys are Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori with seven wins apiece whilst Sir Michael Stoute has trained a record six King George winners.
2023 Recap
Last year’s renewal was won by 13/2 shot Hukum for trainer Owen Burrows and jockey Jim Crowley. Hukum became the first ever six-year-old first-time winner of the race, beating 7/1 shot Westover by a head. The much-fancied King Of Steel took third at 9/2 but the red-hot 9/4 favourite Auguste Rodin finished last of ten.
The Market Leader - Can Auguste Rodin Make Amends?
Auguste Rodin hopes to lay the ghosts of twelve months ago to rest on Saturday as he once again lines up as the bookies’ favourite to win the King George. Never has a horse epitomised the phrase ‘win or bust’ quite like Auguste Rodin who despite winning eight of his 13 races including six Group/Grade 1s has completely flopped when a short-price favourite three times.
Aidan O’Brien’s enigma of a horse heads back to Ascot just over a month on from landing the Prince of Wales’s Stakes over 1m2f. Undoubtedly the most talented horse in the field but his most recent run over Saturday’s trip came when 12/12 in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.
Major Players
Whilst Auguste Rodin is the one to beat on Saturday, there are plenty in with a chance of upsetting the odds for a second successive year. The main danger looks to be the globe-trotting son of Dubawi Rebel’s Romance for trainer Charlie Appleby. The six-year-old has won top-level races in Dubai, Germany, USA, Qatar and Hong Kong whilst he has notched up wins on all five runs in Britain. After an injury-hit 2023 Rebel’s Romance has been in excellent form this year, winning all three runs in 2024 over Saturday’s 1m4f trip. Those wins include back-to-back Group 1s in the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.
When asked about the chances of Rebel’s Romance on Saturday, trainer Charlie Appleby commented, “He has earned his reputation on the international stage, and the only real omission on his CV is a Group 1 win in England. This looks a decent opportunity to fill that gap and he has come out of Hong Kong in great shape. Rebel’s Romance is a very uncomplicated horse these days and a true professional. It has been a faultless campaign so far and we feel he is a big player here.”
Another horse taking excellent form to Ascot is Bluestocking for trainer Ralph Beckett. Ended 2023 by finishing second by a neck in the Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes at the same venue on Champions Day but has kicked off 2024 with two impressive wins over 1m2f. Landed the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York in May before justifying favouritism to win a strong looking Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last month. The only female in the race but certainly capable of defeating her male rivals on Saturday.
At a much bigger price, Luxembourg cannot be ruled out if repeating the form shown when landing the Coronation Cup at Epsom in May. That win was his fourth Group 1 win overall and a first over Saturday's trip. Luxembourg was only ½ length off stablemate Auguste Rodin in last September’s Irish Champion Stakes and although jockey Ryan Moore has elected to ride Auguste Rodin on Saturday, Luxembourg simply cannot be written off.
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes Odds
(courtesy of BoyleSports)
Horse | Odds |
---|---|
Auguste Rodin | 5/4 |
Rebel's Romance | 7/2 |
Bluestocking | 4/1 |
Luxembourg | 11/1 |
Sunway | 12/1 |
Middle Earth | 16/1 |
Dubai Honour | 20/1 |
Goliath | 33/1 |
Hans Andersen | 100/1 |