Kalpana out for repeat success in September Stakes

Kalpana will bid to strengthen her position as ante-post favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a first victory of the season in the Unibet September Stakes at Kempton on Saturday.

Although winless in three starts this season for trainer Andrew Balding, the Juddmonte-owned filly has performed admirably in defeat, finishing third on her Tattersalls Gold Cup reappearance before filling the runner-up spot in both the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland the King George at Ascot.

Connections considered a pre-Arc trip to Paris for this weekend’s Prix Vermeille, but ultimately decided to stay at home for a Group Three contest Kalpana won 12 months ago en-route to a first Group One success on Champions Day at Ascot.

Balding said: “Kalpana is very much on course for the September Stakes. She won the race last year, so we know that the track and trip suits her well.

“She put in a stellar performance during her last run and hopefully this will be a stepping-stone towards ParisLongchamp in October.

“We just thought she hasn’t won a race this year, and as we have taken her to Ireland twice this year, we thought finding something closer to home would be a better prep rather than running in another Group One before the Arc.

“We felt at the time that the King George took a bit more out of her than her other races and that is why we took away any temptation to run at York straight away and decided to wait for this.

“She has had a nice break since Ascot and this is very much a prep race so she will come on for the run, but she seems in great form.”

Kalpana is one of 13 entries for the September Stakes and may not have things entirely her own way, with several talent horses among the potential opposition.

Marco Botti could saddle his Hong Kong Vase-winning stable star Giavellotto, who was last seen finishing third in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in early June, while Charlie Appleby’s Arabian Crown got his career back on track with a Listed win at Windsor recently and could step back up in class.

Other potential runners include John and Thady Gosden’s pair of Military Academy and Palladium and the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde.