Andrew Balding: King of Imagination George Joy has his number one

British trainer Andrew Balding fancifully marks his King George VI and Queen Elizabeth race win at Royal Ascot as “number one” of his 2,000 registered career winners.

After finishing second 12 months ago, Kalpana halted the surge of last year’s winner Calandagan to win by a length and a half on Saturday.

The Kingsclare trainer is in no doubt where the win ranks in his 25 years in training.

“It’s probably number one and it’s an emotional win for a lot of reasons,” Balding told BBC Radio Berkshire.

“He (Kalpana) is a top-class gentleman and deserves his moment to win a race like this, it’s a big deal because he’s been with us for a long time and everyone likes him a lot.

“We actually thought the field this year was stronger than last year, so I probably would have settled for third.”

The filly beat the best by a mile and a half from around the world with the win six months after the death of Balding’s father, legendary trainer Ian Balding.

He won the prestigious race with Mill Reef in 1971 and Park House Stables in Hampshire has now produced a second King George winner.

Turning the tables on the French-trained Calandgan was especially sweet for the 53-year-old trainer.

The win, combined with York’s item win in the Group Two race, catapulted Balding into the trainers’ title race to within striking distance of leader Aiden O’Brien.

Balding won £1.3 million in just two hours, as the King George is the UK’s most valuable race of the year.

Kalpana is expected to appear at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October