King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1

KALPANA (Andrew Balding/Colin Keane) landed the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, beating favourite Calandagan (Francis-Henri Graffard/Mickael Barzalona) and Benvenuto Cellini (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) by a length and a hal,f and half a length, in the performance of her life.

The 13/2 winner has excellent form over course and distance and was second to Calandagan in this race last year, but she looked better than ever as she stayed on powerfully in the straight to provide Balding with a double on the card and an emotional success in the race his father won with Mill Reef over 50 years ago.

Calandagan loomed up as a threat two furlongs out but the telling turn of foot he showed 12 months ago was not in evidence and he seemed to have no excuses, with the winner simply too strong at the line. The win clearly affected Balding, who needed time to compose himself before speaking to the press.

“I can’t say we were expecting it to happen, but we were hoping,” he said. “She’s a very special mare and Colin did a beautiful job out there. It was a fabulous ride on a fabulous mare and well done to all the team at home.

“I felt she was better this year. Last year it was a struggle to get weight off her and this year she’s trained leaner and lighter and we’ve just been so happy with her all along. I don’t know what the difference is this year but that was probably the telling change to last year.

“A race like this defines a career. It’s a race we’ve grown up with and the first ever winner of this race was trained by Evan Williams at Kingsclere, so it’s lovely to bring it back all these years later. It’s a huge privilege and a big deal. We’re so lucky to have Juddmonte in the yard and it’s a huge team effort.”

MOONRISE (Oisin Murphy) started a memorable day well for Andrew Balding when landing the Group 3 Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes.

The daughter of Churchill tracked the pace before leading a furlong out and held on well under pressure to beat Dee’s Funny Girl (Donnacha O’Brien/Ryan Moore) by a neck, with Velozee (Paddy Twomey/Billy Lee) three-quarters of a length away in third.

The 11/2 chance was paying a compliment to King Of Cloughan, who beat her half a length in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, and she could be seen again at York next month.

Andrew Balding said: “Moonrise was on the front end at Royal Ascot, so she just got tired late on but today she got a nice lead into it, which helped, and was strong at the end. She’s in the Lowther and that looks like the next logical step.”

Kon Tiki progresses

Kon Tiki (Jane Chapple-Hyam/Ryan Moore) took the Group 3 Valiant Stakes under a canny ride, confirming the promise of her run in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Ascot, where she was not disgraced despite finishing only fourth to Blue Bolt.

Moore was taking over from Billy Loughnane on the 7/2 shot and always had his mount well positioned behind the keen-going Pina Sonata in a steadily run contest.

Kon Tiki moved to the front two furlongs from home before quickening clear inside the final furlong to defeat Esna (Brian Meehan/Mickael Barzalona) by a length and a quarter, with Skydance (Willie McCreery/Oisin Murphy) a further length away in third. Favourite Touleen was just denied a place having been uneasy in the market.

Winner of the Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ Stakes at York last season, the Peter Harris-owned Kon Tiki was a decisive winner here and while she has no big entries at present, her trainer has big ambitions for her, saying: “That meant a lot. It’s good to be on the stage here at Ascot and I’m just thrilled Kon Tiki won it dominantly.

“I was nervous this morning because I knew she’d run a big race. I was a little bit worried about the pace because Mr Harris likes his horses dropped in with cover, but when there’s no pace you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.

“I think we’ll stay as we are in Group 3s and 2s for the time being and maybe run under a penalty in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown next. I’d love to have a go at the Sun Chariot but it’s a few months away and we’ll see.”

Amazing win

Amazing Journey (Jamie/Saffie Osborne) won the Moët & Chandon International Handicap, beating Two Tribes (Richard Spencer/David Egan) by a length and a quarter, having been well backed into an SP of 4/1.

The winner travelled into the race smoothly, hit the front over a furlong out and kept on despite hanging left in the closing stages, proving his stamina for seven furlongs in the process.

This opens up plenty of doors for the son of Starspangledbanner, who holds an entry in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood on Saturday, but looks the ideal type for these big Ascot handicaps.

THE big race at York on Saturday was the York Stakes over the same trip as the Juddmonte International and sponsored again by Sky Bet.

Item (Andrew Balding/Rob Hornby) made up for his flop in the Derby by beating last year’s Dante victor Pride Of Arras (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan) by two and three-quarter lengths, with Damysus (John & Thady Gosden/James Doyle) half a length further away in third.

Sent off at 3/1 having been easy to back, Juddmonte’s homebred was confirming the form of his impressive Danter Stakes win over course and distance, having been all at sea on soft ground at Epsom subsequently.

Speaking from Ascot, Balding said: “I only saw it on a little screen, but it looked good. I’m thrilled and it’s nice to have him back on track.

“We need to discuss what’s next but today was a relief and it was a good performance. We’ll see what our options are.”

Favourite Stratusnine (Hugo Palmer/James Doyle) took the Sky Bet Dash, keeping on gamely to beat Coul Angel (Michael Appleby/Clifford Lee) by half a length.

Returned at an SP of 100/30, the Far Above gelding was prominent throughout, led two furlongs out and had enough in reserve as the closers pressed late in the day.

It marked a third career win for the four-year-old, who is owned by Stratus9 Consulting Ltd.