Ascot Racecourse is set to stage what could be the flat racing showdown of 2026, as the two protagonists from this year's thrilling Japan Cup are being lined up for a summer rematch in Britain's richest race.
The Stage is Set for a Global Showpiece
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with its prize fund dramatically increased to £2 million for next year, has been identified as the perfect venue for a historic clash. The race, a centrepiece of the new British Elite Summer programme, aims to attract the world's best middle-distance horses to Berkshire.
The potential head-to-head features French superstar Calandagan and Japanese ace Masquerade Ball. Their rivalry was forged in November in Tokyo, where Calandagan, trained in Europe, edged a dramatic photo-finish to win the Japan Cup by a head, becoming the first European-trained victor in two decades.
Champion Horses on a Collision Course
Calandagan, the brilliant gelding owned by the Aga Khan Studs, enjoyed a phenomenal 2025. His four Group 1 victories included a triumph in the King George itself last July, followed by a win in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. As a gelding, he is ineligible for Europe's premier race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, making the King George his primary summer objective.
Now, his closest rival from Japan is being pointed towards the same target. Teruya Yoshida of the powerful Shadai operation, which owns Masquerade Ball, has confirmed the colt will bypass the traditional Dubai route and instead target Ascot in July. "The distance of the King George is also suitable, so we should be able to expect great things from him," Yoshida told Japanese media.
Unprecedented Attention for British Racing
Nick Smith, Ascot's director of racing, hailed the potential match-up as a monumental moment for the sport in Britain. "Masquerade Ball is the best horse in Japan and Calandagan is the best in Europe and to have them meet for the rematch in the KG would be the highlight of the summer," he said.
He emphasised the significant global profile such a contest would bring, stating, "The impact of championship level Japanese horses when they travel can't be underestimated... The media attention that this horse would bring would be unprecedented for a Japanese horse in Britain."
Plans indicate Masquerade Ball will run in a domestic Group 1 race in Japan before travelling directly to the UK for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, setting the scene for a truly international sporting spectacle at Ascot in July 2026.
