Kalpana and Colin Keane (pink cap) winning The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. (Ascot 24.6.26 Pic Sue Orpwood-focusonracing.com)
Breeders’ Cup Press
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 25, 2026) – A year ago, Juddmonte homebred Kalpana (GB) had to settle for the runner-up spot when she competed against males in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), beaten a length by Calandagan (IRE).
When the 2026 edition was held July 25 at Ascot Racecourse, she avenged herself properly with an eye-catching win over Calandagan and a star-studded field. Her victory solidly placed the 5-year-old mare as one of the leading favourites for the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, for which she earned an automatic berth from the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, the winners of which receive automatic starting positions with fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held at Keeneland Oct. 30-31.
Year in and year out, the Longines Turf offers an international cast of top runners. The King George field defeated by Kalpana Saturday was of that world-class caliber with French-based Calandagan, named 2025 Longines World’s Best Racehorse, leading 3-year-old Benvenuto Cellini (IRE), and Japanese raiders Masquerade Ball (JPN) and Wurttemberg (JPN) in the field, among others.
That quality of competition is what makes the 5-year-old Study Of Man (IRE) mare, trained by Andrew Balding, such a serious contender should she travel for the Longines Turf, contested at the same 1 1/2-mile distance as the King George.
Jockey Colin Keane had the mare out of the gates in good order before making the decision to back off the pace and tracking from fourth. After keeping his mare relaxed, Keane searched for room at the top of the stretch and was able to navigate to the clear inside of Benvenuto Cellini. She outpaced that younger rival and took command with about 2 furlongs to go.
Calandagan, who had raced at the tail of the nine-horse field early, was mounting his charge in the center of the track. He looked as though he posed a serious threat, but Kalpana gave Keane a burst of energy once he finally asked her for run. She spurted away to a 1 1/2-length win over Calandagan, Benvenuto Cellini finishing third, while finishing in 2:27.72.
Although no stranger to running against the boys throughout her career, the King George marked Kalpana’s first Group 1 triumph over males as her previous two came in races restricted to fillies and mares. By taking down Calandagan, she has placed herself in the conversation as one of the best grass horses in the world, and certainly among the best mares.
Moonrise on the Rise with Princess Margaret Win
That’s a reputation that the connections of Moonrise (IRE) hope their 2-year-old filly aspires to as she checked off her first Group victory Saturday at Ascot a few races earlier in the Princess Margaret Stakes (G3).
Also trained by Balding, but this time for owner and breeder Ahmad Alkhallafi, the daughter of Churchill (IRE) booked a trip to Keeneland herself for the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) through the Challenge Series.
Moonrise continued her path of positive development as she continues to rise up the ranks. She won her debut over a synthetic track at Kempton Park in late May, and then stepped up to run a close second, beaten just a half-length, in a 25-horse Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot last month.
That past experience paid off with a smart win Saturday as Oisin Murphy kept her in the clear just off the pace in the early stages of the straight 6-furlong contest. She separated herself in the final furlong, and held off a closing Dee’s Funny Girl (IRE) by a neck to win in 1:14.18. Velozee (IRE) finished third.
Through her first three starts, Moonrise has aced the steps in class she’s taken. The next challenge will be stepping up in distance as all three starts came over 6 furlongs. The John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf will be contested at 1 mile.
Challenge Series action continues Saturday night in California as top sprinters will compete in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar for a Win and You’re In berth to the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Post time is at 6:40 p.m. PT.
