Kalpana Turns Ascot Upside Down with Dazzling Display as Andrew Balding Delivers Shocking Statement Ahead of King George Stakes
In one of the most electrifying weekends in recent memory, British racing was left shaken as Kalpana stormed through the final stretch at Ascot, leaving seasoned competitors like Calandagan and Jan Brueghel in her wake. The undefeated filly, whose rise has been nothing short of meteoric, delivered a blistering performance that not only lit up the turf but ignited a wildfire of reactions across the horse racing world. The buzz, however, wasn’t limited to her triumph on the track—it was what came after that truly sent shockwaves across the sport.
Trainer Andrew Balding, usually a man of measured words, dropped a jaw-dropping statement following Kalpana’s victory. “She’s a living dream,” he said, before pausing and delivering twelve words that would ripple through every stable from Newmarket to Chantilly: “If she runs like this, nobody touches her at King George.” The boldness of that claim—made in front of an international media scrum—underscored not only his confidence in the filly but also his intent to take on the best of the best at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes.
Kalpana’s performance was one of composure, calculated aggression, and explosive finishing speed. Sitting just off the pace for most of the race, jockey David Probert timed the run to perfection, giving her daylight at the furlong pole, where she responded with a devastating turn of foot. Calandagan, the French Group 1 winner, could only manage a laboring second, while Jan Brueghel, heavily backed before the race, faded late to finish third. For many, it was the ease with which Kalpana dismantled proven Group-level talent that made the win feel prophetic.
Social media exploded with speculation immediately after the race. Racing Twitter was ablaze with questions: Could she truly be the next Enable? Is Balding overstating her ability, or is this the rise of a generational champion? Even some of the sharpest minds in the game, including rival trainer William Haggas, weighed in. “There’s something special about her,” he admitted in a brief clip that quickly went viral.
But behind the headlines and the hype is a horse that’s barely scratched the surface of her potential. Still lightly raced, Kalpana has shown maturity beyond her years, handling pressure and expectation with the calmness of a seasoned campaigner. While critics point out that she has yet to face older fillies or colts of the highest calibre, supporters argue that raw talent like this doesn’t need years of seasoning—it announces itself with thunder, and Ascot just heard it loud and clear.
Looking ahead to the King George, anticipation is already building. With defending champion Hukum expected to return, and global contenders such as Japan’s Equinox and Ireland’s Auguste Rodin in the mix, Kalpana’s entry promises a showdown of generational proportions. Yet, as of now, she stands at the eye of the storm, undefeated, untested at the deepest waters, and utterly compelling.
Whether Andrew Balding’s bold words were a calculated gamble or the prophetic voice of a trainer witnessing greatness, one thing is certain: Kalpana has arrived. And if her next run is anything like what Ascot just witnessed, the King George Stakes could become a coronation, not a contest.
