British Champions Fillies and Mares win for Kalpana

Juddmonte homebred Kalpana carried the momentum from her Group 3 September Stakes win into the Gr.1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot where she claimed a decisive victory over Wingspan.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 20th October 2024, by Tom Frary:

Tracking the early pace under William Buick, the Andrew Balding-trained 100-30 favourite moved to Ballydoyle's Wingspan passing two out and soon had her measure en route to a two-length success, with three lengths back to Tiffany in third.

"Balding said: "I have never known a horse improve as much as Kalpana. 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."

Debuting only in January at Wolverhampton, Kalpana ran into Inisherin at Newcastle in March before winning a Newmarket handicap by 10 lengths and running second to [subsequent Gr. 1 winner] Friendly Soul (Kingman) in that track's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes in May. Third in Royal Ascot's Gr.2 Ribblesdale Stakes before winning the Listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton in July, the homebred had clearly benefitted from a subsequent break when storming back in the September to book her ticket here.

This was as straightforward as it gets at this level, a simple stalk and pounce to outclass her peers. "Just every time we started doing more with her, she's just improved and improved, from Wolverhampton to here in 10 months," her trainer added. "I very much hope she'll stay in training, that was the plan anyway unless something has changed tonight."

Buick added: "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 1 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."