Japan’s Masquerade Ball aims to break a long-standing national drought in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, nearly six decades after Japanese-trained horses first attempted to win Britain’s prestigious all-aged Group One race. The three-year-old colt will face a competitive field in the 3:35 p.m. race, seeking to become the first Japanese winner since 1969.
Masquerade Ball, trained by Takahisa Tezuka, recently arrived in the United Kingdom after a long journey through Anchorage and Amsterdam. Despite concerns over travel fatigue, Tezuka reported the colt’s condition to be strong and promising. The horse’s recent performances have shown notable improvement, including a close second-place finish to Romantic Warrior, a leading competitor in Hong Kong, over 10 furlongs.
Calandagan, the defending champion and world’s top-rated racehorse at the end of 2025, remains the favorite at around 13-8 odds. The four-year-old gelding, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, has amassed six Group One victories out of his last seven starts and demonstrates consistent toughness and class. Masquerade Ball trails Calandagan by only 2 pounds in ratings and was narrowly defeated by just a head in the Japan Cup, fueling optimism for his chances in this year’s contest.
Other notable contenders include Benvenuto Cellini, winner of the Irish Derby, and Minnie Hauk, who finished a close second in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and recently showed renewed form in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Analysts suggest Masquerade Ball’s progression from three to four years old could place him on a similar level to Calandagan, especially given his evident advancement in recent races.
The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be among several key races taking place across Britain on the day. At Ascot, other scheduled contests include the Crazee In Havana at 1:10 p.m., Dark Issue at 1:45 p.m., and Ohara at 4:10 p.m. Meanwhile, York, Newcastle, Chester, Lingfield, and Salisbury host their own fixtures featuring a mix of established performers and emerging talents.
In separate news, the future of Chelmsford racecourse in Essex has been secured following an agreement between Arena Racing Company and the site’s freeholders. The deal is expected to enable the renewal of the venue’s racing license. Chelmsford has been without race meetings since March after the British Horseracing Authority declined to grant a license to a newly formed operating company following the collapse of Great Leighs Estates Limited, the previous operator.
Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes is widely anticipated as a defining event of the British summer racing calendar, with Masquerade Ball’s bid carrying significant national interest due to Japan’s historic aim of topping the race’s honor roll.