King George: The Queens of Ascot, from Aunt Edith to Enable

Aunt Edith won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in 1966. Aunt Edit was the first filly to do that. She had won three races before the Hardwicke Stake. In her last race she finished eighth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She was trained by Noel Murless and ridden by Lester Piggott. He didn't have his first victory in that race until 1973. The winner of the race was Rheingold.

Park Top won the King George in 1969. She was unraced at two, but she won Ribblesdale at three and Brighton Cup at four. Piggott rode her in the Coronation Cup and Prix de la Seine. Park Top was denied room in Eclipse at Sandown. She got the better of Chicago in Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Levmoss was the only horse to defeat Park top in Arc. The horse was caught behind a wall of horses. It was a fast-finishing three-quarters of a length defeat.

Dahlia won the King George in 1973 and 1974. She was the first horse to win the race twice. Dahlia was a pioneer for racing overseas. She won major races in the UK, Ireland, France, Canada and the United States. In 1974 she was sent off at 15/8 to retain her crown in KingGeorge. Highclere, the 1000 Guineas and Prix de Diane winner, was second, Snow Knight, Derby winner and Dankaro, top French colt, fourth. Dinkaro won. During her career Dahlie won many races, including during a long stint in her U.S. career.

In 1976 French horses dominated the European racing scene. Daniel Wildenstein's Pawneese won both the Oaks and the Prix de Diane. She was sent to the lead from the outset in the 1976 King George by her jockey, Yves Saint-Martin. P pawneee never recaptured her form after that sizzling summer of 1976 and she finished way down the field in both Vermeille and Arc.

Time Charter won the King George in 1983. She had won three races at three years old in 1982. Joe Mercer replaced Billy Newnes in the saddle. Diamond Shoal won four races that year in UK, France and Italy. Sun Princess won Oaks and St Leger. Time Charter was injured in Coronation Cup and finished fourth at Ascot in 1984. The daughter of Saritamer won Prix Foy and the following year’s Cor onation.

Danedream won the King George for the first time in 29 years. Peter Schiergen's filly was the reigning Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion. Seven of the field had won a Group One. DanedREAM finished fourth in the Grand Prix of Saint-Cloud. She was denied a chance to retain her Arc crown by the German agriculture department. She only raced once more and won Grosser Preis von Baden for a second time.

Taghrooda finished third in the 2014 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Treve won the race. Taghrado won her King George at the same race in 2013. It was her fourth start of her career. Gosden had taken a bold route to Ascot for the Irish Oaks.

Taghrooda won the King George by three lengths. She is only the second filly to win the Oaks and the king George in the same year after Pawneese in 1976. She was trained by Trading Leather's pacemaker Leitir Mor.

Enable is going for a record third King George victory in 2020. She is the latest in a long line of fillies and mares to leave their mark on Ascot's midsummer highlight. The closest horse to her in the betting, Magical, has already been beaten by her on five occasions. The prizemoney has been slashed and only two trainers are represented. There are no Classic horses in this year's race. It could be a history-making race, the first horse with three King Gays. If Enable is good, she will win. if she isn't, it might be the case that she might not win anyway.