SportHorse racingAscot racecourseAndrew Balding punched the air in delight as Kalpana gained the ultimate reward for her consistency in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the royal course17:33, 25 Jul 2026Trainer Andrew Balding has revealed he could have another first once the team have celebrated the brilliant King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes win by Kalpana.‌The mare charged clear of Calandagan, the horse that defeated her the year before, to land the huge midsummer prize at Ascot.‌Balding cheered with his son Jonno as Kalpana held off the French-trained favourite and third-placed Benvenuto Cellini, one of four runners for Aidan O'Brien.‌And in an interview following the £2million event, Balding said the post-race celebrations might go on a little longer."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," he said on Sky Sports Racing. "I hope she is not going to hold me to that!"He added: “It worked out perfectly today. I don’t need to tell Colin (Keane, jockey) what to do as he knows what to do. It was a fabulous ride and a great performance.‌"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."Kalpana, in the first three in 15 of her 16 races beforehand, breezed past front-runner Lambourn with two furlongs to go, with Benvenuto Cellini, the mount of Ryan Moore on Calandagan on her outside.‌However, the chasing pair had to settle for minor roles as Kalpana kept going for a length-and-a-half supremacy on the good to firm turf.Balding was adding to his name to a roll of honour which includes his late father Ian, successful in the 1971 renewal with Mill Reef."As well as winning it he had a couple of near misses with Mrs Penny and Diamond Shoal," he said.Article continues below“It is a race we have grown up with. I think the first ever winner of the race was trained at Kingsclere by Evan Williams so it is lovely to bring it back all these years later.“I honestly thought we were just a lively outsider. I would have settled for third if you had asked me this morning."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌King GeorgeEvan WilliamsAidan O'BrienRoyal FamilyAscot racecourse