Former winner Hamish one of those in opposition in September Stakes.
When Kalpana competes in the Unibet September Stakes on Saturday at Kempton, she will put her credentials from Qipco British Champions Day to the test.
Since her first success at Wolverhampton in January, Andrew Balding's three-year-old filly has developed a strong resume. Her most recent victories, in listed company at Hamilton and at Newmarket, are particularly noteworthy.
Taking up some seasoned competitors in this Group Three event, holding an entry for the October 19 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot is thought to be the ideal way to get ready for a first taste of Group One competition.
𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐚, third in the Ribblesdale last time, storms to Listed glory in the @BritishEBF Glasgow Stakes @HamiltonParkRC 👀
Could the Yorkshire Oaks @yorkracecourse be next? 🤔@JuddmonteFarms | @AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/lyhxVfEtWZ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2024
Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said, "She's in good shape and we just thought with half an eye on the fillies' and mares' race in Ascot on Champions Day, this might be a good prep run for that."
"She looked great in Hamilton the day before, and this is a good first step." As long as we get along, we'll consider Ascot."
William Haggas' eight-year-old Hamish, a well-liked horse who has won five times in the past two years and almost placed second in Epsom's Coronation Cup, is one of the runners obstructing Kalpana.
Owned by Haggas's father, Brian, the horse has placed first in 11 of his 21 career appearances, including this one in 2021. The handler from Somerville Lodge views this as a good chance to get back on track after a lacklustre performance in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket.
Haggas stated: "Hopefully he will be well on the all-weather course, but there wasn't a race for him. I would rather to be racing him on the soft turf at Ascot, Salisbury, or Newbury. Though, hopefully, he will be alright, he really could use some softer footing.
"The last time at Newmarket, things got a little crazy. They split up into two groups, with the two outsiders leading him. Tom (Marquand) noticed he was in the incorrect place about two furlongs up the straight. It was an error; it simply didn't happen.
"This is a good opportunity if he is at his best."
But in recent years, the Gosden enterprise has dominated this competition; in the previous ten years, top performers Jack Hobbs (2015), Enable (2018 and 2020), and Mostahdaf (2022) have all taken home the trophy for Clarehaven.
This time, the training combo of John and Thady Gosden is represented by Lion's Pride and God's Window, with the former having some smart track form.
Another expert at Kempton is George Baker's Cemhaan, who has won three races at the Sunbury racecourse and carried top weight to victory in the Rosebery Handicap in the spring.
After finishing third on turf in the Aston Park Stakes this summer, he is now headed back to his favourite all-weather track, where he will be partnered with jockey Neil Callan.
"He's heading back to the scene of his brilliant Rosebery win in the spring and we go there in good order," said Baker.
"That day, Neil Callan offered him a peach and is back on board. It is evident that he is up against extremely competitive horses, including Hamish and a few other good horses. However, the horse flourishes at Kempton, as evidenced by his excellent performance last week.
"We head there full of hope and hopefully he can shake up one or two of the big guns."
Hugo Palmer's Under The Sun and Brian Ellison's Onesmoothoperator, the Northumberland Plate winner, round out the field.
