Kalpana makes a winning return at Newbury

Juddmonte’s homebred back-to-back Gr.1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes heroine, Kalpana, made a winning return to action in the Gr.3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury on Saturday (16th May) for Andrew Balding.

Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 17th May 2026:

Partnered to success by Colin Keane, the daughter of Study Of Man was settled at the rear of the five-runner field early, while Simon and Ed Crisford’s West Wind Blows adopted his usual front-running tactics under William Buick. Four furlongs from home, Keane appeared to be full of
running on the mare, before finding minor traffic problems, which were quickly resolved once switched to the inside rail. At this point, Buick had all but one of his rivals declaring distress signals in behind, at which Kalpana made stylish headway to challenge for the lead two furlongs from home. Quickly establishing a two-length lead inside the final furlong, Kalpana always looked in control on the run to the line, until West Wind Blows rallied with credit to go down by just a neck. Arabian Force finished third, a further 11 lengths adrift.

Now a five-year-old, yesterday’s victory marked a seventh career success for Kalpana, who has been a model of consistency throughout her career, only finishing out of the placings once, when seventh in last season’s Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Despite not being one of her most impressive performances, this was a pleasing return to action for Balding’s charge, as she was entitled to need this run at this stage of the season with bigger summer and autumn targets on her agenda.

She is out of the Listed Prix Petite Etoile winner Zero Gravity (Dansili), a full-sister to the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris-winning sire Zambezi Sun and the Listed Prix des Tourelles third Shared Account (dam of the Gr.3 Prix Imprudence winner Better Together, the Gr.3 Athenia Stakes winner Pocket Square, the Listed Chester Stakes winner Yesyes and the Listed Upavon Stakes runner-up Sand Share).