9 hours ago
Kalpana bids to follow in Bluestocking's hoofprints in Pretty Polly
Kalpana will bid follow in some illustrious hoofprints by providing owner-breeders Juddmonte with back-to-back victories in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
The powerhouse operation landed the Group One feature with subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking 12 months ago – and following an excellent start to her campaign when third behind Los Angeles and Anmaat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Andrew Balding's filly looks to add her name to the roll of honour.
"It looks a great renewal, but Kalpana is in good nick, we're happy with her and she obviously ran well over the course and distance last time," said Juddmonte's European racing manager, Barry Mahon.
Having rounded off last season with Group One success on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot, Kalpana was expected to pursue the Bluestocking route this term, with Europe's premier middle-distance contest in Paris on the first Sunday in October a long-term goal.
A planned comeback in York's Middleton Stakes had to be aborted due to a dirty scope, but she showed her worth behind two top-class colts in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and having since sidestepped the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, she makes a second successive trip across the Irish Sea to take on Aidan O'Brien's Whirl, who was second to stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom three weeks ago.
Mahon added: "I think the ground was probably a little on the quick side in Ascot. We've had a bit of rain here and I'm sure the ground will be good, whereas it was 30 or 32 degrees every day in Ascot and it was just starting to get a bit quick for her.
"We decided to wait and take on our own sex in a Group One instead of going in a Group Two against colts. It's probably going to be tough to give 12lb to a filly of Whirl's calibre, but she's in good form and she's ready to run a good race."
Whirl dominated from the front in the Musidora Stakes at York before being beaten a neck by her stable companion at Epsom.
O'Brien said: "She's a three-year-old, but we always thought this was a race that would suit her and she seems to have come out of Epsom well.
"She won the Musidora over a mile and a quarter and was very impressive that day. It was a big run out of her in Epsom as well and that was a step up to a mile and a half, but looking at her in York you'd say she'll have no problem going back to a Group One over a mile and a quarter."
Joseph O'Brien's Oaks fourth Wemightakedlongway also features, as does French raider Survie, who was last seen finishing second to Arc runner-up Aventure in a Group Two at Saint-Cloud.
