Kalpana Claims King George Glory as Andrew Balding Celebrates Career-Defining Triumph

Kalpana produced a sensational performance to land the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, handing trainer Andrew Balding a first victory in one of Britain’s most celebrated races and securing sweet revenge over last year’s conqueror, Calandagan.

The Juddmonte-owned mare travelled strongly throughout before quickening clear under Colin Keane to beat the defending champion by a length and a half, reversing the result from 12 months earlier and delivering the biggest success of Balding’s career.

An emotional Balding admitted the victory meant more than any other after becoming the first member of his family to win the race since his father, Ian Balding, saddled the legendary Mill Reef to success 55 years ago.

“We were saying today she could run the race of her life and finish fifth and she certainly has run the race of her life,” said Balding. “I can’t say we were expecting it to happen but we were hoping. She’s a very special mare and Colin Keane did a beautiful job out there. It was a fabulous ride on a fabulous mare and well done to all the team at home.”

Ascot’s decision to boost the King George prize fund to £2 million helped attract an outstanding international field, featuring seven Group 1 winners representing four different countries, including two challengers from Japan.

Kalpana’s victory was all the more impressive given the strength of the opposition, with the mare producing a decisive turn of foot in the straight before comfortably holding off the late challenge of Calandagan.

Balding believes his stable star returned an even stronger horse this season after arriving at Ascot in peak condition.

“I felt she was better this year,” he said. “Last year it was a struggle to get weight off her and this year she’s trained leaner and lighter and we’ve just been so happy with her all along. I don’t know what the difference is this year but that was probably the telling change to last year.”

The victory adds another major prize to Balding’s already distinguished record, but the trainer admitted lifting the King George stands above the rest.

“A race like this defines a career,” he said. “It’s a race we’ve grown up with and the first ever winner of this race was trained by Evan Williams at Kingsclere, so it’s lovely to bring it back all these years later.

“It’s a huge privilege and a big deal. We’re so lucky to have Juddmonte in the yard and it’s a huge team effort.”

Attention will now turn to Kalpana’s autumn campaign, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe emerging as a possible target following her career-best display.

“We’ll have to sit down and see what the owners want to do, but I’m sure it will be under consideration,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon. “That was the who’s who of the best mile-and-a-half horses in the world and for her to win it just shows how good she is. It’s huge.”

Winning rider Colin Keane was equally full of praise for his mount after another top-level success in the Juddmonte colours.

“She’s like a sprinter out of the stalls and then a National Hunt horse through the race,” he said. “She relaxes beautifully but can quicken again at the finish and I’m lucky to be on her back.”

Kalpana’s success capped a remarkable afternoon for Balding, who enjoyed a treble of Group race victories.

Moonrise opened the sequence by claiming the Princess Margaret Stakes under Oisin Murphy after following up her excellent Royal Ascot effort, while Item bounced back from Derby disappointment with victory in the York Stakes to complete an outstanding day for the Kingsclere stable.

Balding was able to celebrate the landmark occasion alongside his family, although he joked there could still be one challenge waiting for him after making a promise to his daughter before the race.

“She asked me the other day whether I’d ever get a tattoo,” he said. “I said, ‘No, but I might have to get one of Kalpana if she wins the King George’. I hope she’s not going to hold me to that!”