The World Racing Series Championship that began when Eishin Preston won the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin in April reconvenes in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Gr.1-2400m) at Ascot on 26 July.

Year in, year out, this race is unquestionably one of highlights of the global racing calendar and a superb renewal is in store in 2003 with at least three Derby winners in contention at the time of writing.

The King George is the first time the Classic generation of three-year-olds tackle older horses for the first time over 12 furlongs. The pick of the current Classic crop in England and Ireland, the respective Derby winners Kris Kin and Alamshar, are poised to clash with Sulamani, last year's French Derby winner and subsequently a close second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as taking out the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.

Other possible runners include Ange Gabriel, the talented and tough victor of the Hong Kong Vase in 2002 and the winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr.1-2400m) on 29 June; Nayef, four times a Group 1 winner including in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last month and also the runner-up in this race event in 2002; Falbrav, last season's Japan Cup hero and a Group 1 winner in France in the spring.

With such depth in quality you have the makings of a true championship race of the highest quality leaving out even the Group 1 winning fillies Yesterday and Islington, who are also possible runners, as well last season's St Leger (Gr.1-2800m) winner, Bollin Eric.