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Kalpana exacts King George revenge on Calandagan
Andrew Balding’s mare surged past Calandagan late to win by 1.5 lengths, giving Colin Keane his biggest victory since joining Juddmonte.
On Saturday, the Andrew Balding-trained mare Kalpana won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, defeating last year's winner Calandagan by one and a half lengths under jockey Colin Keane.
Trainer Andrew Balding credited a "leaner and lighter" version of Kalpana for her improvement, 55 years after his father Ian Balding won the same race with Mill Reef.
The victory earned connections £1.13 million, with jockey Colin Keane describing the performance as "a privilege to ride in these colours" against international competitors.
Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said, "We'll have to sit down and see what the owners want to do," with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe under consideration for future targets.
Elsewhere, Moonrise won the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes, while Item bounced back from a Derby flop to win the Group 2 York Stakes under jockey Rob Hornby.