Kalpana leads Balding’s Ascot team in title pursuit

Kalpana will spearhead Andrew Balding’s team on British Champions Day, as he looks to narrow the gap on Aidan O’Brien in the race for the trainers’ title.

Balding is just over £600,000 adrift of the master of Ballydoyle thanks to Gewan’s Group One Dewhurst victory last weekend and with a swelling prize-fund on offer at Ascot’s flagship end-of-season meeting, he could put himself in prime position for a first ever title come Saturday evening.

The Kingsclere handler has a host of chances in most of the Group One contests on the card, but it is Kalpana who carries the biggest hopes, as she returns not only to the scene of her terrific victory in last season’s British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, but also her brave run in defeat behind Calandagan in July’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Balding said: “I think she ran better than it looked in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the draw didn’t help and she was forced wider than we wanted to be and therefore she had to cover more ground than anything else.

“Her second in the King George was an outstanding effort. It’s only two weeks since the Arc so that is the big question mark, but she seems well at home. It would be easier to know if they could talk but reading the signs she seems to have recovered well after France.

“This race was always going to be a possibility after the Arc and even when we declared her for Paris this was always in the back of our minds.

“We saved her for an autumn campaign and she’s had a light season for a horse of her age. Another week would have been perfect but we’ve got to play the hand that we’re dealt.”

Kalpana’s Champions Day success 12 months ago is the last time the daughter of Study Of Man has got her head in front, with the four-year-old consigned to minor honours during what has been a “frustrating” 2025 for connections.

She was beaten less than two lengths in each of her first four outings of the year, as she finished each race on the podium, and Balding will be disappointed if her efforts this term can finally be rewarded at the weekend.

Balding said: “It’s been frustrating and I think her second in the Pretty Polly was a brilliant effort, as was her second in the King George.

“They were two high-class performances and it’s just frustrating and sad for both me and her that she couldn’t get her head in front, albeit I think she lost little in defeat in both.

“I think she has an outstanding chance here though and I would be disappointed to be honest if she didn’t win.”

With £301,272 on offer to the winner of Kalpana’s race plus significant amounts in other races in which Balding will be represented, the prospect of a first title remains a possibility.

However, with third-placed John and Thady Gosden also holding a strong hand, as well as the defending champion O’Brien who can rely on Delacroix amongst others, Balding is content to be heading into the weekend with a place on the podium secured rather than having any real title dreams.

“There’s not just me but there’s every chance John and Thady could have three winners so that would make things pretty interesting,” said Balding, assessing his title claims.

“I’m just thrilled to have ensured I’ll finish the season in the top three and to go into Champions Day with some live chances is what we always set out to do at the beginning of the season.

“Winning the trainers’ championship is not something at the beginning of the year we say we want to do. We want winners at the big meetings and if that gets us into Champions Day with half a chance, then you can begin to think about it after the weekend.”

He went on: “I think we’ve been second twice and third once and at least we’re in the mix. All we ever set out to do is be competitive at the top-level as much as we can be.

“It’s a great testament to everyone involved at Kingsclere and we’re looking forward to Saturday immensely.