On Saturday’s Irish Champions Festival kickoff, classic-winning sophomores Auguste Rodin and Tahiyra raced into the Breeders’ Cup picture by defeating older horses in a pair of “Win and You’re In” contests.

With a star-studded field assembled at Ascot on Saturday, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) promised to be the race of the season so far – and likely one of the finest editions in the race’s richly embroidered history. A titanic tussle down the straight only enhanced the idea.

Sprinting six furlongs doesn’t leave much time to recover from a poor start, but Shaquille made it work in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot.