Auguste Rodin will spearhead Aidan O'Brien's squad in the July 27 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse as the master trainer bids for a fifth victory in the 1 1/2-mile midsummer showpiece.
O'Brien, who has previously won the race with Galileo (2001), Dylan Thomas (2007), Duke of Marmalade (2008), and Highland Reel (2016), will hope to see Auguste Rodin continue his form after he bounced back to land the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot last month.
The Ballydoyle team will also include Coronation Cup (G1) hero Luxembourg, the ride of Wayne Lordan, and Hans Andersen, with Sean Levey.
Among the Ballydoyle trio's opposition will be Godolphin's Rebel's Romance, whom William Buick hopes can continue his globetrotting success. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Rebel's Romance has struck at the top level at Sha Tin, Meydan, Keeneland and Cologne, but this weekend's £1.25 million contest will be the first time Rebel's Romance will be featured in a group 1 in Britain.
The 6-year-old Dubawi gelding most recently scored in the Champions & Chater Cup (G1) in Hong Kong, and Buick believes he is in top form.
"He's an international superstar, but he just hasn't had the opportunity he deserves until now to run in a group 1 over here," Buick said. "He's obviously been on the go a long time, but his races have been spaced out nicely and he's taken them well.
"Bar the Derby, the King George is our biggest middle-distance race. It's a hugely important race, steeped in so much history, and it's our midsummer highlight."
It will only be the fifth time that Rebel's Romance has competed in Britain, with his last appearance coming when winning the listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton in December.
"He's high class and it's lovely that he's now getting a proper shot at a top level win at home," Buick said. "He's a huge, imposing horse who you can't help but spot, and he's very uncomplicated, very genuine, and obviously very good."
Group 1 winner Bluestocking adds further quality after producing a career-best effort in the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) at the Curragh last month for Ralph Beckett and Juddmonte.
Qatar Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher's Middle Earth, who will bid to improve on his third in the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot, will run for John and Thady Gosden. The son of Roaring Lion has won four of his eight starts, including the Aston Park Stakes (G3) at Newbury in May.
Irish Derby (G1) second Sunway will go in search of his first win of the season for David Menuisier, while William Haggas saddles Dubai Honour, who was last seen winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1)
The sole international challenger comes from France with trainer Francis Graffard represented by Goliath, who finished ahead of Middle Earth but behind Isle of Jura in the Hardwicke.
The King George is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, providing an automatic, fees-paid berth in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar. Auguste Rodin captured the Breeders' Cup Turf last year, and Rebel's Romance won the 2022 edition.
