Kalpana Took Her Revenge and Claimed an Unforgettable King George at Ascot
- Turf Diario
- Jul 26
- 3 min read
The Andrew Balding-trained mare avenged her defeat from a year ago against Calandagan with a brilliant performance, decisively defeating the males in one of the European summer's marquee events; she now sets her sights on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), having already secured her spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1)
BERKSHIRE, England (Special for Turf Diario).- One year after coming up empty behind Calandagan (Gleneagles), Kalpana returned to Ascot to write the most memorable chapter of her racing career. The remarkable mare trained by Andrew Balding delivered a performance of supreme quality to capture the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), decisively defeating a top-tier field and firmly establishing herself among the premier middle-distance runners in Europe.
Partnered with a masterclass ride from Colin Keane, the 5-year-old settled comfortably throughout behind the strong pace set by Action (Frankel) and Lambourn (Australia), waiting for the opportune moment to launch her bid.
When space opened up entering the straight, she unleashed a devastating turn of foot that left her rivals flat-footed. Although favorite Calandagan produced his trademark late rally from deep off the pace, he never looked likely to threaten the winner, who hit the wire with a 1 1/2-length advantage.
Recent Irish Derby (G1) hero Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) closed strongly once more to claim third, while Lambourn, last season's Epsom Derby (G1) and Irish Derby winner, filled the frame in fourth.
"She is a truly special mare," summarized Keane shortly after dismounting. "As the season progresses, she just keeps improving race after race. I thought today she would need a career-best performance just to make the frame, but what she did was extraordinary."
The Irish jockey also highlighted his partner's temperament: "She is so straightforward to ride. She broke cleanly from the gate, can settle wherever you want, and always relaxes. We knew Calandagan would come flying at the end, as he always does, but we found a great position and were able to control the race. Once she gets to the front, she only does what she has to, but she never gives up the fight."
The victory also marked another milestone for the iconic Juddmonte colors, a responsibility Keane does not take lightly.
"It's a privilege to be given the first call to ride horses of this caliber. When you get those opportunities, you also have a duty to deliver."
For Kalpana, this marked her second win of the campaign following a victory in the Aston Park Stakes (G3) and a narrow head loss to Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman) in the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot.
The performance served as redemption after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the 2025 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), prompting bookmakers to slash her odds for October's Parisian showpiece from 20-1 down to 8-1.
Adding to the triumph, as a "Win and You're In" event within the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the King George victory automatically booked Kalpana a fees-paid gate in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), set to take place on October 31 at Keeneland.
The 2026 renewal of the King George once again carried a distinct international flavor. Beside France's Calandagan, Japan was represented by Masquerade Ball (Duramente) and Wurttemberg (Kitasan Black), who finished seventh and ninth, respectively.
On this day, however, all eyes belonged to Kalpana, who reaffirmed her affinity for Ascot by securing the crowning victory of her illustrious career, signaling that she will once again be a force to be reckoned with come the European autumn.
Comments