Kalpana returns to form to retain Ascot title

Kalpana successfully defended her Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes title with a neat victory at Ascot for Andrew Balding.

A two-length winner last year, she was the 11-8 favourite to retain the trophy under Colin Keane in a field of 10 despite finishing only seventh in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last time out.

She raced prominently and was always handily placed on an inside line, eventually pushing clear on the turn for home and prevailing comfortably by two and a half lengths from Estrange, with Quisisana a further three-quarters of a length back in third.