A Coronation Cup rematch between Jan Brueghel and Calandagan is in the offing as only five were declared for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot this Saturday, 26th July. Often billed as a cross-generational clash, there will be no representative of the Classic generation this time around, as all of Green Impact, Lambourn and Whirl were taken out at the 48-hour stage.
Jan Brueghel, the Ballydoyle representative, outfought French raider Calandagan at Epsom, though Francis-Henri Graffard’s charge has since won his first Group 1 back home and is a course and distance winner from Royal Ascot last season. His trainer claimed this 12 months ago with Goliath too. Jan Brueghel will also be attempting to end a relatively long duck for Aidan O’Brien in the race. Highland Reel was his last victor back in 2016, though he has sent out four winners in all, the last three of whom have been four-year-olds.
The likewise four-year-old Kalpana won the Group 1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day here last season and was recently second to Whirl in the Pretty Polly Stakes. She could easily be an improver still for Andrew Balding, while Rebel’s Romance was third in a gruelling renewal last season, but the globetrotting Godolphin superstar won the Hardwicke Stakes at the royal meeting recently. He still seeks a first British Group 1, but has won seven in all worldwide.
Continuous may end up as pacemaker once again for Jan Brueghel, and completes a small and select line-up for the showpiece contest.
2025 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Runners
| Number | Horse | Age | Trainer |
| 1 | Calandagan | 4 | Francis-Henri Graffard |
| 2 | Continuous | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 3 | Jan Brueghel | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 4 | Rebel’s Romance | 7 | Charlie Appleby |
| 5 | Kalpana | 4 | Andrew Balding |