Worried Ascot dip into coffers to boost King George prize-money

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The extra cash for the race battling for a sponsor takes its value to £850,000. It has been dredged from the track's coffers as an incentive for trainers to run their blossoming stars.

Royal carrot: Prize money boost could tempt connections of Derby hero New Approach

A race once won by Derby heroes such as Shergar, Nashwan and Grundy, in his 1975 'race of the century' with Bustino, no longer can rely on their participation.

Since 2003, when Irish Derby. winner Alamshar beat a field that included Epsom hero Kris Kin, only two - Tycoon (6th) in 2004 and Eswarah (8th) the following year - have run.

Ascot hope the proactive action can halt the trend.

Spokesman Nick Smith said: "We're sending out a message that this is a race that should be targeted by three-year-olds. We want to create a bit of distance between it and the competition.

"In the old days, the only older horses who turned up were, on balance, those with something still to prove. Now the best horses are staying in training so it is becoming a huge ask for a three-year-old."

Smith, who promised talks with the BHA about the future if the extra cash had no effect, added: "It is not about Ascot, it is about what British racing want the King George to be. We can do no more than we are doing."

Entries close today for the July 26 race that Jim Bolger won in 1992 with St Jovite. Smith hopes that is an omen for the entry of Bolger's Derby winner New Approach.

Ralph Beckett, however, confirmed Look Here, his Oaks winner, is likely to have her next run in the Yorkshire Oaks in August ahead of a tilt at the St Leger.