The 2026 middle-distance highlight attracted an international cast of stars, with runners hailing from Britain, Ireland, France, and Japan.
Home hopes rested squarely on the shoulders of the Andrew Balding mare, Kalpana. Carrying the famous Juddmonte silks, the five-year-old had tasted Group 1 success at this track in the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. While zero from three in open Group 1 events, she ran a fine race to finish second in the 2025 edition of this.
Aidan O’Brien carried the fight for Ireland in his quest for a fifth win in the race. Irish Derby champ, Benvenuto Cellini headed the four-pronged Ballydoyle attack. Second string Minnie Hauk boasted a similar profile to Kalpana – a three-time Group 1 winner against her fellow fillies and mares, she was zero from four in top-tier events against the colts and geldings. That said, a repeat of her head second in the 2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe would bring her firmly into contention. Of the other O’Brien runners, Action needed huge improvement to challenge, but Lambourn was an interesting each-way contender if rediscovering his 2025 Epsom Derby winning form.
Successful in the past two editions of the race, Chantilly handler Francis-Henri Graffard returned with his 2024 and 2025 winners in tow. Shock 2024 champ Goliath had hit the frame in all three starts in 2026, including when an unlucky third over this course and distance in the Hardwicke Stakes. However, the clear pick of the Graffard duo was Calandagan, whose win in this race was just one of four Group 1 triumphs in 2025. Ending the year as the Longines World’s Best Racehorse, he arrived on the back of a Group 1 win in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
The Japanese duo of Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg completed the field. Wurttemberg looked up against it in such a deep field, but Masquerade Ball finished just a head behind Calandagan in a thrilling finish to the 2025 Japan Cup.
Result
- 1st – Kalpana 13/2, Jockey: Colin Keane, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 2nd – Calandagan 6/5F, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- 3rd – Benvenuto Cellini 4/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £1,134,200
- 2nd – £430,000
- 3rd – £215,200
- 4th – £107,200
- 5th – £53,800
- 6th – £27,000
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £7.50
- Tote Places – 1st – £2, 2nd – £1.15, 3rd – £1.75
- Exacta – £18
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £14.69
- Trifecta – £62.50
- Tricast – £35.84
Recap
Lambourn broke smartly when the stalls opened to gain a prominent position towards the inside, with Kalpana just behind in the centre of the track. However, it was Action, under vigorous driving from Sean Levey, who set out to make the running. Minnie Hauk sat in mid-division in the early stages with Mickael Barzalona content to hold Calandagan up at the back of the pack.
Making the turn into Swinley Bottom, Action continued to lead against the inside rail. Lambourn followed him through, with Minnie Hauk making a forward move to complete a Ballydoyle 1-2-3. Kalpana and Wurttemberg made up the next wave of two. Goliath and Benvenuto Cellini raced together in sixth and seventh with Masquerade Ball and Calandagan bringing up the rear.
There was little change in the order throughout the back straight, although an injection of pace saw Action open up a four-length advantage as the field hit the home turn. Lambourn and Minnie Hauk were side by side in second and third, with Kalpana travelling notably well in fourth. Benvenuto Cellini tracked the mare, but no move yet from the defending champ Calandagan or his stablemate Goliath. The Japanese pair looked unlikely winners at this stage, with both Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg beginning to struggle.
Lambourn and Minnie Hauk swept past the back-pedalling Action in the straight, with Benvenuto Cellini and Calandagan launching their challenges down the centre of the track. Kalpana found herself briefly stuck for room but was now moving much the best.
With Minnie Hauk wilting, Kalpana loomed up to Lambourn and kicked into the lead at the 2f pole. Benvenuto Cellini was sticking on well without making any inroads, leaving a charging Calandagan as the main threat. However, while in 2025 Calandagan ran down Kalpana, this time the mare would not be denied, galloping on relentlessly to the line to score by a length and a half.
A first King George for Andrew Balding, with this success coming 55 years after his father Ian won the race with the legendary Mill Reef. This was also a first win for Colin Keane, while Kalpana followed in the hoofprints of Dancing Brave and Enable in carrying the Juddmonte silks to victory.
Runners
- 1. Calandagan – SP: 6/5F, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
- 2. Goliath – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
- 3. Lambourn – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: William Buick
- 4. Masquerade Ball – SP: 13/2, Trainer: Takahisa Tezuka, Jockey: Christophe-Patrice Lemaire
- 5. Wurttemberg – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Hiroshi Aichan, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 6. Kalpana – SP: 13/2, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Colin Keane
- 7. Minnie Hauk – SP: 17/2, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- 8. Action – SP: 125/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Sean Levey
- 9. Benvenuto Cellini – SP: 4/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
Non-Runners
All ran.