Kalpana took revenge on old rival Calandagan in a very strong edition of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The five-year-old mare, trained by Andrew Balding for Juddmonte and ridden by Colin Keane, had finished second to Calandagan in last year's King George and was the joint third choice in the market today.

Sweeping into the lead well over a furlong out off the back of a ferocious pace set by Ballydoyle pacemaker Action, Kalpana powered clear up the straight. The 13/2 chance was more than able to repel the challenges of favourite Calandagan (6/5) and second favourite Benvenuto Cellini (4/1) by a length and a half, and half a length.

Last year's Derby winner Lambourn was a respectable fourth, well clear of Goliath. The two Japanese runners, Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg, were never involved, while Minnie Hauk also dropped out in the straight, having raced prominently.

Keane, whose previous big race wins have included a couple of Breeders' Cup races and Irish classics, told ITV Racing: "She's a special mare. As the year goes on, you often see her improving from run to run, and I thought she'd have to give her personal best to even realistically be placed today. But to have won is amazing.

"You couldn't ask for a more straight-forward filly to ride. She was brilliant out of the gates. You can put her anywhere and she just relaxes. She makes my job easy.

"I was waiting for Calandagan to come - he always comes fast and late. But I thought we got a lovely pitch in between horses and controlled it, to some degree. I was hoping the horse in front of me [Minnie Hauk] would have have taken me a little bit further, because she'll only always do enough when she is in front, but she's very game."

Kalpana is a by Study Of Man (by Deep Impact) out of the Dansili mare, Zero Gravity, who was a listed winner in France. She is from the family of Group 1-winning stayer Zambezi Sun.

This was her third Group 1 win - all at Ascot - following two victories in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.

After winning the race for the first time, Andrew Balding said: “She’s pretty damn good isn’t she? And she can do it on any ground as well!

“It worked out perfectly today and I never need to tell Colin what to do, he always knows what he’s doing and it was a fabulous ride.

“I’ve just felt she has been better this year and it was a struggle to get weight off her last year, but this year I felt she has trained leaner and lighter and I’ve been happier with her all along.

“I don’t know what the difference is but she is so much fitter this year and it told at the finish.

“It’s a huge privilege to train for Juddmonte and these wonderful horses and it makes my job easier.

“It’s an honour to win this, it’s one of the most important races of the year and Dad (the late Ian Balding) won it of course with Mill Reef.”

“Anything is possible moving forwards and we’ll discuss it. The Arc didn’t work out last year because of the draw and that is a danger again, but anything is possible and she’s thriving on her racing, so you couldn’t even rule out the Yorkshire Oaks, she’s right at the top of her game.”

Barry Mahon, European bloodstock and racing manager for Juddmonte, said: “Colin got a lovely trip round and was just sitting there waiting coming into the straight.

“It’s one of the biggest days for me since being in my role, right up there with Bluestocking in the Arc and Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot last year. It’s a memorable one for sure

“I’m not sure what the timeline is between the Arc and Champions Day is but I’m sure Paris will be in the discussions and we’ll see what the owners want to do.

“It’s very straightforward working with Andrew and he’s having some great results for us. He’s a brilliant people person, with a brilliant team and staff around him.”