Could it be time to reconsider the scheduling of King George & Eclipse?

The recent Eclipse sparked much conversation, especially given last weekend's thrilling duel between Paddington and Emily Upjohn at Sandown. However, the event lacked a first-class older horse at the 1 mile 2 furlongs distance.

This Year

This season has seen three prestigious Group 1 races in Europe for older horses over the same distance: the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May, Longchamp's Prix Ganay, and Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Interestingly, the top four finishers in these races did not participate in the Sandown contest .

Considering the wealth of talented older horses in Europe, the absence of notable contenders like Mostahdaf, Luxembourg, Adayar, My Prospero, and Bay Bridge at Royal Ascot reflects a flaw in the race scheduling. Fans argue that the proximity of these races to Sandown is a major reason.

With today's trainers opting for less frequent races for top horses, particularly older ones, the short three-week gap between Royal Ascot and the Eclipse discourages participation, pushing them instead towards the International at York.

The King George

This week’s Group 2 Princess Of Wales’ Stakes at Newmarket, spanning 1 mile 4 furlongs, saw a small lineup, not a promising sign for field sizes moving forward. King George at Ascot in a few weeks time.

A glance at the early market for the King George reveals interest in King Of Steel, Royal Ascot’s victor, and Eclipse’s runner-up Emily Upjohn, while the Irish Derby champion, Auguste Rodin, sees a decline.

While tight competitor fields can be exhilarating, ensuring top-tier competition is vital. When leading young and seasoned horses stand idle during Group 1 events, it is a trend to avoid.

Recognizing Auguste Rodin's recent underwhelming win at The Curragh, it's not surprising his value has decreased. Also, prominent names like Desert Crown, a previous favorite, and Adayar from Royal Ascot might skip the race.

Given this scenario, I hope to witness strong showings from last year’s champion Pyledriver and Hukum, who are among the top mature horses. Similarly, after Westover’s victory at Saint-Cloud, he could appear, despite last year's disappointing fifth-place finish.

France’s leading middle-distance contender, Iresine, is sidelined until autumn. Even so, attending the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud would have likely been prioritized over the King George, while Aidan O’Brien’s Savethelastdance could aim for the Irish Oaks soon.

Possible Move 

August lacks major 1 mile 4 furlong events, with only one top-level open age and gender Group 1 race at the Ebor meeting.

If the Eclipse shifted to the weekend of the current King George and the latter moved to post-Glorious Goodwood, celebrated older and three-year-old heroes like Paddington could contest Sandown’s Coral-sponsored highlight.

Historically, rare appearances like Vadeni’s at Sandown show changes in the French calendar years ago haven't encouraged generational face-offs—a fact emphasized by the mid-July timing of their national three-year-old showcase, compounded by a shorter Derby.

Coolmore regularly targets the three-year-old Grand Prix de Paris with candidates like this year's Adelaide River, runner-up of the Irish Derby, alongside Peking Opera and the Andre Fabre-coached First Minister.

A proposal to place King George in early August could open doors for winners of Europe’s celebrated 1 mile 4 furlong races—like Epsom Derby and Irish Derby—to challenge mature counterparts who've tackled Group 1s earlier in June and July.

Bonus 

Looking to the future, this rescheduling may prompt an innovative racing body to incentivize victories across the spectrum—spanning the Coronation Cup, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and more—leading up to the Arc and King George.

This approach sets a compelling narrative in the 1 miles 4 furlongs division, enabling showdowns between top-tier three-year-olds and seasoned competitors before autumn.

While traditionalists may resist changes, maintaining the high stakes quality through robust contestant rosters is critical.

Recent Irish Derby installments demonstrate the lack of depth behind leading positions, as underscored by the third-place Covent Garden, only rated 97, at The Curragh in 2023.