Kalpana seeking to join Juddmonte luminaries on King George roll of honour
Back on home soil, Kalpana is the only filly in a field of five, with Oisin Murphy deputising in the saddle for the suspended Colin Keane.
Kalpana (right) chases home Whirl in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)
Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: 'We're all set for Saturday, I think we were hoping for a bit more rain than has actually fallen, but it is what it is and I'm sure it'll be nice ground on the day.
'It's a top-class renewal, as you would expect for such a good race, but we're looking forward to partaking in it.'
Juddmonte's Bluestocking found only Goliath too strong in last year's King George before going on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the colours of the late Khalid Abdullah, who also claimed Ascot's midsummer highlight with Dancing Brave and superstar mare Enable, the latter on three occasions.
Both of those equine greats also landed Europe's premier middle-distance contest, Enable doing so in successive years in 2017 and 2018, and a potential trip to Paris in early October has already been pencilled in for Kalpana ahead of what connections admit is a stern test this weekend.
'Rebel's Romance is such a legend of a horse and Calandagan and Jan Brueghel are obviously very, very talented,' Mahon added.
'We think going back up to a mile and a half will suit our filly and Andrew said she worked well on Wednesday morning and he's very happy with her, so we're hopeful that her first two runs have set her up nicely for this.'
The top two in the market are Jan Brueghel and Calandagan, who renew rivalry after finishing first and second in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in early June.
While Calandagan has since broken his top-level duck in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Jan Brueghel has been kept fresh by Aidan O'Brien and is interestingly fitted with cheekpieces for the first time as he bids to provide his trainer with a fifth King George success.
Jan Brueghel (right) denies Calandagan in the Coronation Cup at Epsom (Adam Davy/PA)
O'Brien, who also saddles the rank outsider and probable pacemaker Continuous, said: 'Jan Brueghel is good, everything has gone well since the last day.
'It will be an interesting race and the ground looks like it's going to be nice.
'Continuous rolls along usually and he'll go forward, but if someone else wants to go on (and make the running), he'll be happy too.'
Francis Henri-Graffard's Calandagan has already shown his liking for Ascot, dominating his rivals in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting last summer before finishing a close second to Anmaat in October's Champion Stakes.
Calandagan ➡️ @Ascot ❓
He got his Group 1 on Sunday and he could return to the UK for the King George later this month! pic.twitter.com/gvPkNFWJX0
— British Champions Day (@Champions_Day) July 2, 2025
Buoyed by his long-awaited first Group One success on home soil four weeks ago, connections are excited to be heading back to Berkshire.
Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: 'The horse is in very good form, he took his win at Saint-Cloud very well. I spoke with Mickael Barzalona who rode him in his last piece of work and he's very happy with him.
'It's a small field, but he has to take on Jan Brueghel again and obviously Rebel's Romance was impressive last time out.
'He doesn't have much ground to make up on Jan Brueghel and although they were calling the ground good to soft at Epsom, we felt it was riding softer that day. He handles softer ground so we can't use that as an excuse, but I just think maybe his acceleration is a a bit more decisive on firmer ground.
'When it becomes a heavy-duty slugging match I'm not sure that's really his game, but when he can use his acceleration on good, fast ground I think that's when he's at his best.'
William Buick celebrates winning the Hardwicke Stakes aboard Rebel's Romance (David Davies/PA)
The small but select field is completed by Rebel's Romance, who has won seven Group Ones on foreign soil and bids to break his top-level duck at home following his course-and-distance success in last month's Hardwicke Stakes.
Speaking on the Godolphin website, trainer Charlie Appleby said: 'Rebel's Romance goes into this in great order. There was plenty of strength in depth in this contest 12 months ago, when he ran a good race (finished third), and it looks a similarly strong renewal this time around.
'He is taking on younger opposition again but, wherever he finishes, the others will know that they have had a race.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
16 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Tornado goes down a storm in Munich
Although without a victory in three previous starts this season, the Too Darn Hot colt had performed admirably in finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, before chasing home subsequent Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Trinity College in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Having been sent across Europe in pursuit of top-level success, in a race Bin Suroor and Murphy won with Benbatl in 2018, Tornado Alert was never too far off the pace and quickened up smartly to lead halfway up the home straight. Map Of Stars, bidding to provide his trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with a second Group One success in as many days following Calandagan's triumph in the King George at Ascot on Saturday, came from further back to throw down his challenge under James Doyle in the Wathnan Racing silks. But try as he might he could not get on terms with Tornado Alert, who was ultimately well on top at the line. Bin Suroor said: 'He won well, the ground was heavy and he's never run before on this ground, but he handled it well. 'I said to Oisin before the race 'just keep him happy and give him a chance', but he was travelling good all the way and when he came off the bridle he saw it out well.' Tornado Alert holds big-race entries in the Juddmonte International at York and the Celebration Mile at Goodwood next month, but Bin Suroor is in no rush to firm up future plans, adding: 'We'll see how he comes back after the race and then we'll make a decision. 'He's a horse who is improving all the time. He ran well at Royal Ascot, his form is very good and he has improved every time he has run. 'Physically he looks better now than when he finished fourth in the Guineas, but with time and age that is what you would expect. 'He has plenty of speed, but I think a mile and a quarter is his best trip at the moment.'
Leader Live
16 hours ago
- Leader Live
Tornado goes down a storm in Munich
Although without a victory in three previous starts this season, the Too Darn Hot colt had performed admirably in finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, before chasing home subsequent Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Trinity College in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Having been sent across Europe in pursuit of top-level success, in a race Bin Suroor and Murphy won with Benbatl in 2018, Tornado Alert was never too far off the pace and quickened up smartly to lead halfway up the home straight. Map Of Stars, bidding to provide his trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with a second Group One success in as many days following Calandagan's triumph in the King George at Ascot on Saturday, came from further back to throw down his challenge under James Doyle in the Wathnan Racing silks. But try as he might he could not get on terms with Tornado Alert, who was ultimately well on top at the line. Bin Suroor said: 'He won well, the ground was heavy and he's never run before on this ground, but he handled it well. 'I said to Oisin before the race 'just keep him happy and give him a chance', but he was travelling good all the way and when he came off the bridle he saw it out well.' Tornado Alert holds big-race entries in the Juddmonte International at York and the Celebration Mile at Goodwood next month, but Bin Suroor is in no rush to firm up future plans, adding: 'We'll see how he comes back after the race and then we'll make a decision. 'He's a horse who is improving all the time. He ran well at Royal Ascot, his form is very good and he has improved every time he has run. 'Physically he looks better now than when he finished fourth in the Guineas, but with time and age that is what you would expect. 'He has plenty of speed, but I think a mile and a quarter is his best trip at the moment.'
North Wales Chronicle
16 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Tornado goes down a storm in Munich
Although without a victory in three previous starts this season, the Too Darn Hot colt had performed admirably in finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, before chasing home subsequent Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Trinity College in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Having been sent across Europe in pursuit of top-level success, in a race Bin Suroor and Murphy won with Benbatl in 2018, Tornado Alert was never too far off the pace and quickened up smartly to lead halfway up the home straight. Map Of Stars, bidding to provide his trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with a second Group One success in as many days following Calandagan's triumph in the King George at Ascot on Saturday, came from further back to throw down his challenge under James Doyle in the Wathnan Racing silks. But try as he might he could not get on terms with Tornado Alert, who was ultimately well on top at the line. Bin Suroor said: 'He won well, the ground was heavy and he's never run before on this ground, but he handled it well. 'I said to Oisin before the race 'just keep him happy and give him a chance', but he was travelling good all the way and when he came off the bridle he saw it out well.' Tornado Alert holds big-race entries in the Juddmonte International at York and the Celebration Mile at Goodwood next month, but Bin Suroor is in no rush to firm up future plans, adding: 'We'll see how he comes back after the race and then we'll make a decision. 'He's a horse who is improving all the time. He ran well at Royal Ascot, his form is very good and he has improved every time he has run. 'Physically he looks better now than when he finished fourth in the Guineas, but with time and age that is what you would expect. 'He has plenty of speed, but I think a mile and a quarter is his best trip at the moment.'
