British trainer Andrew Balding has described Kalpana's victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot as the greatest achievement among the more than 2,000 winners of his training career.
Twelve months after finishing runner-up in the prestigious Group One contest, Kalpana returned to claim a memorable victory, holding off a late challenge from defending champion Calandagan to win by a length and a half on Saturday.
The success marked a career-defining moment for the Kingsclere-based trainer, who has spent 25 years at the helm of Park House Stables.
"This is probably number one. It is an emotional win for lots of reasons," Balding told BBC Radio Berkshire.
"She's a high-class filly and deserved her moment to win a race like this. It's a big deal because she's been with us a long time and everyone is so fond of her.
"We actually thought the field this year was stronger than last year, so I'd probably have settled for third."
Kalpana's victory carried extra significance as it came just six months after the death of Balding's father, the legendary Ian Balding, who trained Mill Reef to victory in the King George in 1971.
More than five decades later, Park House Stables has produced another winner of Britain's premier middle-distance race, with Kalpana defeating an international field over a mile and a half to continue the family's remarkable legacy.
The triumph was made even sweeter by reversing last year's result against French-trained Calandagan, who had denied Kalpana in the 2025 edition.
Balding capped a remarkable afternoon when Item landed the Group Two York Stakes, with the two victories earning the stable approximately £1.3 million in prize money in less than two hours.
The lucrative double has also propelled Balding firmly into contention for the British trainers' championship, closing the gap on reigning leader Aidan O'Brien.
Kalpana is now expected to target Europe's most prestigious middle-distance race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October, where she will bid to add another major Group One title to her growing résumé.
