Trainer Andrew Balding achieved a career milestone on July 25, 2026, as Kalpana won the £2 million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The five-year-old mare reversed last year’s form to defeat Calandagan by one and a half lengths, marking Balding’s first victory in the prestigious race.
The victory was more than a tactical success; for Andrew Balding, it was the number one
win of his 2,000 career victories, according to reporting from the BBC. The win arrives six months after the passing of Balding’s father, legendary trainer Ian Balding, who previously won the race in 1971 with Mill Reef.
Kalpana’s Tactical Shift and Physical Peak
Entering the race at odds of 13-2, Kalpana overcame a history of being a sitting target
in high-caliber races. After finishing second to Calandagan in the 2025 edition, the Juddmonte mare traveled comfortably in fourth or fifth position for the first mile before taking command 400 meters from home, straitstimes.com.
Balding attributed the victory to a change in the mare’s physical condition. While they struggled to get weight off her last year, she entered this renewal leaner and lighter
, according to the Telegraph.
“I don’t know what the difference is, but she is fitter this year and I think that was the telling change. She is pretty damn good and goes on any ground. It is amazing really.”
Andrew Balding, Trainer
The result left Calandagan in second and Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner, Benvenuto Cellini, in third. Last year’s dual Derby winner, Lambourn, finished fourth, BloodHorse noted.
Kingsclere’s Return to the Roll of Honour
The win brings a historical symmetry to the Kingsclere stables. While Ian Balding’s 1971 win with Mill Reef is the most famous, the stable’s connection to the race dates back to the inaugural 1951 running, won by Supreme Court under trainer Evan Williams, thoroughbreddailynews.com.
This victory also cements Kalpana’s place among the elite mares of the race. She is the first mare since Enable to capture Ascot’s midsummer championship, joining a rare group of only eight previous female winners dating back to Aunt Edith in 1966, straitstimes.com.
The financial impact was immediate. This surge moves him within striking distance of Aidan O’Brien in the trainer’s title race, the BBC reported.
Juddmonte’s Strategy and Future Targets
Kalpana’s continued presence in training reflects a specific philosophy from her owners, Juddmonte. Racing manager Barry Mahon noted that while some owners push fillies to stud quickly, Juddmonte recognized that Kalpana was better this year than ever, thoroughbreddailynews.com.
The mare’s success on Saturday is part of a broader winning streak for Balding with the operation; he has trained a Group 1 winner every season since joining the Juddmonte roster in 2022.
Beyond the Breeders’ Cup, Kalpana is expected to feature in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October. Bookmakers have already shortened her odds for the Paris event from 20-1 to 8-1, BloodHorse noted.
This double victory underscores a peak period for Balding, who joked that the win might result in his first tattoo after a conversation with his daughter, the Mirror reported.
“My daughter asked me the other day if I would ever get a tattoo and I said no, unless Kalpana ever won the King George. I hope she is not going to hold me to that!”
Andrew Balding, Trainer
By reversing the 2025 result and beating a world-class field, Kalpana has transitioned from a consistent performer to a dominant force. The win does more than just add to a trophy cabinet; it validates a high-risk decision to keep a proven Group 1 winner in training, proving that her ceiling had not yet been reached.
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