An epic King George at an awesome Ascot… and a winner that makes total sense

Matt Chapman on 07/10/2020 for Sun Racing. Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd. GREATNESS often comes from genes, and Benvenuto Cellini’s family tells you he’s in with a right chance of landing a belting King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. A truly international renewal – live on ITV – promises to give racing fans a treat in a Group 1 with tradition of being a fantastic mile and a half all age summer showdown. Benvenuto Cellini’s lineage tells you he has what it takes to be a King George winner Credit: Sportsfile It hasn’t always been that way, but Ascot is a proactive track doing all it can to keep British racing at the top table around the world. My Saturday NAP Top class horse. Top class trainer. From a top class family. He can be a top class winner, especially with the weight for age allowance. Under the excellent leadership of CEO Felicity Barnard, the course has been rewarded with a King George to whet any kind of appetite. Irish Derby hero Benvenuto Cellini must see off an older monster in French raider Calandagan, last year the best horse on the planet to race on turf and the defending King George champion. Then there is Japanese hotpot Masquerade Ball, beaten a head by Calandagan in the Japan Cup, and Goliath, the King George victor of 2024. Throw in class mares Kalpana and Minnie Hauk, the stable companion of Benvenuto Cellini, and you have a race for the ages. Back to those genes. Most read in Horse Racing The Aidan O’Brien-trained Benvenuto Cellini is by the staggering Frankel, and his sire was, of course, the mighty Galileo. Now Galileo won the 2001 King George for O’Brien in 2001, seeing off a terrific older horse in Fantastic Light. It bodes well that Benvenuto Cellini can land a huge blow, even though he’s only rated 119, 11lb below Calandagan. On the weight for age scale the former gets 11lb. There should not be much between them. Added to all that, there is every chance Benvenuto Cellini has much more to give. The horse who was famously voided from the Derby has only raced seven times (if you include the Derby!) and has never galloped on a good to firm surface which is expected to suit him. Also, he should get first run – albeit he might not be a horse to hit the front too soon – on deep closers Calandagan, Masquerade Ball and Goliath. O’Brien has not been banging in the winners as one might expect over the last month or so, but I’m not too worried about trainer form. I could see Benvenuto Cellini being well backed on Saturday after his price has drifted for the last 48 hours. Take a look at his odds when you wake up on Saturday morning – they are just too long. Calandagan is a star and of course he could take the prize again. But this is the best field he has faced over 1m4f and I suspect he’s best at a strongly run 1m2f, as she showed when denying Ombudsman in the 2025 Champion Stakes. It’s terrific his old rival Masquerade Ball challenges for trainer Takahisa Tezuka and the outstanding Christophe Lemaire. But much will depend on how he acclimatises and copes with a totally different tempo of race than he is used to. Even with pacemakers he won’t be familiar with what happens here. Some 20 years ago Lemaire rode a similar performer in Heart’s Cry to finish third in the King George to Hurricane Run. Minnie Hauk may well outrun her odds. The Classic heroine ran the race of her life to finish a close second to Daryz in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, and after flopping behind Almaqam in the Tattersalls Gold Cup she was back to form when chasing home Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting. Minnie Hauk can be ridden any way and that’s going to be in her favour. It just promises to be a cracker in every sense, and I’m hoping that Benvenuto Cellini can do the same as the likes of Adayar, Enable, Taghrooda, Nathaniel, Alamshar, Galileo, Lammtarra, King’s Theatre, St Jovite, Generous, Belmez, Nashwan, Reference Point and Dancing Brave and take the prize for the Classic generation. Elsewhere on the card many believe they might see a Group horse in the shape of Extremely Zain in the Moet & Chandon International Handicap. William Haggas’s beast hacked up at York last time and looks very exciting. Connections have always thought he’s very good and he works with some of the best at Somerville Lodge. I’ll take a chance with Mezcala, who is up 4lb for a battling success in the Buckingham Palace Stakes when a high draw may have been a big advantage. That all said, he’s another lightly-raced improver, like the favourite, who should have much more to give. George Bass gets the big chance for Jack Channon and stall 13 gives him every option in a field I suspect will come up the middle of the track. What a day. Fit for a King. FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Comment now