Kalpana wins King George Stakes at Ascot in racing upset
Kalpana won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, reversing last year’s defeat by favourite Calandagan. The Andrew Balding-trained Juddmonte mare, ridden by Colin Keane at 13-2, scored by one and a half lengths in a landmark racing result that also delivered Balding’s first King George success.
Key Takeaways
- Kalpana (13-2) beat Calandagan by one and a half lengths in Ascot’s midsummer Group One.
- Colin Keane’s ride reversed the 2025 King George finish for trainer Andrew Balding and Juddmonte.
- Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini finished third, with Lambourn fourth of nine runners.
- Balding may now consider the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe or Yorkshire Oaks as next targets.
Who won the King George at Ascot and by how much?
Five-year-old mare Kalpana mastered last year’s winner Calandagan in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot’s mile-and-a-half championship. Keane struck for home inside the final quarter-mile and she held on by a length and a half, according to Sky Sports.
Calandagan, the 6-5 favourite under Mickael Barzalona, could not reel her in. Benvenuto Cellini stayed on for third under Ryan Moore, with last year’s dual Derby winner Lambourn fourth. Nine ran in what reporters called one of the strongest renewals in years.
Why does this racing result matter for Balding and Juddmonte?
The win gave Andrew Balding his first King George success, 55 years after his late father Ian saddled Mill Reef to victory in 1971. Ian Balding died in January 2026, making the Ascot triumph especially emotional for the Kingsclere yard.
Kalpana became just the seventh filly or mare to win the race and wore Juddmonte colours once carried by three-time winner Enable. Keane called it his most significant win since becoming Juddmonte’s retained rider, praising a mare who had finished second in this race and at Royal Ascot.
Balding said she trained leaner and lighter this year after a struggle to get weight off her in 2025. “She’s pretty damn good isn’t she? And she can do it on any ground as well,” he told reporters. For more alerts and coverage, visit BlasterPost’s Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
What comes next after Kalpana’s King George win?
Balding said anything is possible, including the Yorkshire Oaks in August, while the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October remains under discussion after a wide draw spoiled her Arc bid last year. Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon said Paris would be part of talks with the owners.
Francis Graffard, trainer of Calandagan, said the French horse was slightly compromised by a shorter gap after the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the heat in France. Japanese raiders Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg both struggled, finishing well beaten.
Keane summed up the mood: he was more delighted for the mare than anyone else, calling Saturday her best performance in a global Group One field.