Juddmonte three-year-old Kalpana (10/3F) continued her progression with a dominant victory in the Gr1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
The Andrew Balding-trained favourite could be called the winner a long way out, travelling sweetly under a confident William Buick, who unleashed the daughter of Study Of Man approaching the final two furlongs.
Kalpana wins the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Pic – Megan Coggin)
Kalpana quickly put the race to bed and galloped out strongly to beat Wingspan (12/1) by two lengths, with Tiffany (13/2) three lengths further back in third.
This was a third straight victory for Kalpana, following similarly impressive wins in the Listed Glasgow Stakes and Gr3 September Stakes.
Balding said: “I have never known a horse improve as much as Kalpana. I think I even mentioned to Barry [Mahon, Juddmonte] that we might put her in a sale this time last year! Just every time we started doing more with her, she’s just improved and improved, from Wolverhampton to here in 10 months.
“I don’t think she’d even done any fast work at this time last year, so it has been a pretty steep trajectory from Wolverhampton to here. I very much hope she’ll stay in training, that was the plan anyway unless something has changed tonight.
“She is just an absolute diamond, as you can see afterwards. She has a very special temperament and is by an exciting young stallion. She’s from the first crop of Study Of Man, so it’s pretty exciting for them as well.
“He is a great guy William, a brilliant jockey, and when Oisin [Murphy] couldn’t ride, Barry Mahon was very keen to have William and, given the history, I was very, very happy with that. He gave her a perfect ride.”
Buick said: “Kalpana has an incredible mind and is a jockey’s dream. I parked her up three wide with no cover but she was always comfortable, never wasted any energy and saved the whole way in that ground.
“It is a very special moment because it is my first Group One winner for Andrew. I started with Andrew, and Andrew and his whole family have played a huge part in my career so thank you to him and, obviously, Kalpana; what she did there was very good and she’s only going to improve.”
Aidan O’Brien said of Wingspan: “She looks to have got the trip well, and I’m delighted with the run. It isn’t decided yet whether she will stay in training, but it’s definitely possible.”
Tiffany’s trainer Sir Mark Prescott said: “She ran very well. We had every chance, I thought. She was in a lovely position all the way. She’s done everything, except win a Group One. She’s been placed in one, so she has to run in Group Ones, and it is up to the trainer to be as devious and Machiavellian as possible to find the right Group One to run her in. But that’s what she has to do. She may go to Germany – I think it is November 10 [in Munich]. We won the race with Alpinista. So if she is alright after this, we will go there.”
Luke Morris added: “Tiffany ran a brave race. She got a perfect trip throughout and she’s got some very valuable Group One black type. Fingers crossed we might be able to win a Group One with her.”
QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)
1 Kalpana (Juddmonte) Andrew Balding 3-9-01 William Buick 10/3F
2 Wingspan (Westerberg, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-01 Sean Levey
3 Tiffany (Elite Racing Club) Sir Mark Prescott 4-9-07 Luke Morris 13/2
14 ran
Andrew Balding – 2nd winner on QIPCO British Champions Day
William Buick – 3rd winner on QIPCO British Champions Day
