Fascinating Pretty Polly Pits Kalpana vs. 3-Year-Olds

The June 28 Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) at the Curragh brings an intriguing clash of the generations as Whirl (IRE) and Wemightakedlongway (IRE), second and fourth in the Epsom Oaks (G1), do battle with their elders, headed by the high-class Kalpana (GB). The 4-year-old Kalpana represents Juddmonte, the same owner/breeder who took last year's race with subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Bluestocking (GB). The Andrew Balding-trained filly could be a similar type based on her rapid progress last season, which culminated in a huge performance to land the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot by two lengths from Wingspan (IRE) on soft ground. Kalpana started this campaign in encouraging fashion when third at this track in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) last month, beaten a length and a half by Los Angeles (IRE) with Anmaat (IRE) splitting the pair. That appeals as excellent form after Anmaat was runner-up again in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, with Los Angeles having excuses in fifth. Kalpana wasn't blessed with fortune in the Tattersalls Gold Cup as she was caught in a pocket after the two-furlong pole and wasn't able to extend fully until Los Angeles and Anmaat had stolen a march, but it was a seasonal debut full of promise. While she handles soft ground, she has plenty of form on livelier going and has to go very close. However, she will have to be at the top of her game to give 12 pounds to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Whirl, who arrives off a huge effort in the Oaks when just giving way late on to stablemate Minnie Hauk (IRE). She traveled powerfully at Epsom and showed an excellent attitude throughout a prolonged battle with Minnie Hauk, staying the mile and a half well, but she should have little issue dropping back in trip to 1 1/4 miles based on her demolition job at York Racecourse the time before when she bolted 5 1/2 lengths clear of Serenity Prayer (IRE) in the Musidora Stakes (G3). Experience won't be an excuse against her elders as she has had only two fewer starts than Kalpana. She is clearly a high-class filly who goes on any ground and has strong claims of becoming the first 3-year-old since Iridessa (IRE) in 2019 to land this group 1. O'Brien has form in sending out 3-year-olds to win, having scored with Peeping Fawn (2007), Misty For Me (IRE) (2011), Diamondsandrubies (IRE) (2015), and the hugely talented Minding (IRE) (2016). Iridessa's trainer Joseph O'Brien relies on Wemightakedlongway, who has improved notably as a 3-year-old, landing the Salsabil Stakes (G3) prior to her fourth at Epsom, and the drop in trip looks a good move as she seemed to be coming to the end of her tether late in the Oaks. She showed plenty of speed when quickening away from the front over this trip in the Salsabil at Navan and any rain would aid her claims. Rain would also be in favor of Higher Leaves (IRE), who has some excellent form in France having landed a listed race at Longchamp and a group 3 at Toulouse last season. She ran a decent race when sixth in a strong Prix Ganay (G1) in April and has the form to get involved. French raider Survie (IRE) ran well when seventh in last year's Arc and last month's runner-up effort in the Prix Corrida (G2) puts her in the mix, while Jancis (IRE) should really enjoy this extra distance after a good run when fifth in the Lanwades Stud Stakes (G2) over a mile last time behind Porta Fortuna (IRE).