Kalpana (GB)
b f Study Of Man - Zero Gravity (Dansili)
Andrew Balding
Kalpana made a winning debut in January of her three-year-old season. Despite being a little green she got up to win by a neck in a Wolverhampton Novice race.
The Andrew Balding-trained filly went on to win again in a Newmarket handicap race in April before finishing second in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes and then third in the Gr.2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
She went into the Listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton Park in July as favourite under jockey P J McDonald. She was in a tightly grouped bunch on the run to the straight but when asked to go with two furlongs remaining she quickened clear and won by four and a half lengths. Her next race was the Gr.3 September Stakes at Kempton Park where she was installed as an even-money favourite. The market's faith was justified as she powered away from the field in the final furlong to win by four and three quarter lengths.
Kalpana went into the Gr.1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot at the top of the market. Her draw from stall 12 saw her racing three-wide throughout the race, coming under pressure as they turned into the home straight. She responded to jockey William Buick's urgings willingly and asserted her dominance in no uncertain terms to win by two lengths.
Kalpana is out of the Listed Prix Petite Etoile winner Zero Gravity (Dansili), a full-sister to the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris victor and sire Zambezi Sun. Their grandam is the Gr.2 (then) Prix Maurice de Gheest winner and Gr.1 1000 Guineas-placed Interval.