Kalpana is bidding to make history with an unprecedented hat trick in the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (G1) Oct. 17 at Ascot Racecourse, which is likely to be the final race of her career. The 5-year-old has been a wonderful servant to connections, winning this race in each of the past two seasons before adding further luster to her CV with victories in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) and Yorkshire Oaks (G1) this year.
The question on many people's minds is whether she can bounce back from her exertions in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) less than a fortnight ago, when she finished fifth to improve on last year's seventh.
Trainer Andrew Balding—who sees this race as a "must win" in his bid for the trainers' title—seems unperturbed by the quick turnaround and has pointed out that she faced exactly the same scenario before Champions day last year.
"She seems fine, has eaten well and looks very well in herself," he said. "She jogged off the ground after the race, so I'm slightly guessing, but if it's the same as last year, she's absolutely fine. She appears to have come out of France really well."
Kalpana's first win in this race came as a 3-year-old and Balding sees that age group's weight allowance as the biggest danger to Colin Keane's mount.
"The allowance is still significant enough at this time of year over that distance and, if the 3-year-olds are improving, they're pretty tough to beat if they're good enough," he said. "She's going to have to be at her best to win it. I'd rather have been drawn a little wider, but Colin has been absolutely faultless on her. I'm sure he'll work it out."
Johanna Walsh looks the chief threat among the 3-year-olds. The Joseph O'Brien-trained filly was outstanding when winning the Irish Oaks (G1) in July under Dylan Browne McMonagle, with the reopposing Inis Mor and Sparan Nua filling the places behind her.
A disappointing run behind Kalpana in the Yorkshire Oaks on softer ground than she would like may be best forgotten, as she found herself in the unwanted position of dragging the trailing pack back to the runaway leader.
"She's had a good freshen-up and a good preparation since York," O'Brien said. "The drier the ground, the better for her and we're excited to get her back to Ascot."
Lilt is another 3-year-old who could be well placed to benefit if the favorite runs below par. She finished a close second to Epsom Oaks (G1) winner Thundering On at the Curragh last month and would give William Haggas his second winner of the race after Dancing Rain in 2011.
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Godolphin's Talk of New York remains at the head of the market for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) after 11 were declared for the group 1 over Ascot's straight mile.
The Charlie Appleby-trained 3-year-old was supplemented for the race earlier in the week as he bids to follow up his win in the Joel Stakes (G2) at Newmarket Racecourse last month.
Taking him on is French raider Rayif, who was last seen landing the Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1) in August at Deauville Racecourse in a career-best effort. That extended his record to two wins from two starts at a mile, having landed the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) earlier in the season.
Fellow classic winner and 2025 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner Gstaad will line up for Aidan O'Brien after it was confirmed he would target this race instead of the Champion Stakes (G1), as he bids for a first win since landing the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) in May.
After his 50-1 triumph in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, Ten Bob Tony returns to the track in search of a first win since, while Zavateri bids to follow up his return-to-form victory in August at Goodwood Racecourse.
Zeus Olympios, Docklands, Dancing Gemini, More Thunder, and Needle Match also feature among the declarations, while Gstaad's stablemate Hawk Mountain supports the Ballydoyle challenge.
SPRINT STAKES
Almeraq's only defeat this year was when undone by an unfavorable draw in the July Cup Stakes (G1). But, drawn bang in the middle of the 16-strong field, William Haggas' speedster will have no excuses this time.
The 4-year-old has done remarkably well to come back from a crashing fall last autumn at York Racecourse to rack up group 1 wins at Royal Ascot and Haydock Park and, in theory, should be fresher than most, not having got his season underway until Salisbury in May.
The Shadwell Estate-owned colt's most recent win in the Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) was his finest, which augurs well for a follow-up.
Haggas said: "He was very good at Haydock and I think we put that down to the ground. He obviously enjoyed that very soft ground, but he did run a very good race at Ascot and I think you can put a line through the July Cup. He was drawn low and saw way too much daylight, and I'm not sure he enjoyed the track much. I think his credentials are still solid, whatever the ground."
Haggas added: "If you look at it, after he had the fall at York last year, he came back in the Cathedral Stakes (at Salisbury) and did really well to win, and then he won the sprint at Ascot. If he hadn't run in the July Cup, you'd be hailing him as one of the greats. So I don't think he's done bad, I think he's a pretty good horse."
LONG DISTANCE CUP
No 3-year-old has won the longest race on British Champions day since it was run as a group 3 at Newmarket in 2009, but St. Leger Stakes (G1) hero Highwayman might be about to end that sequence.
Handled expertly by Joseph O'Brien, the Persian King colt improved considerably on his fourth go in maiden company, finishing eighth at a mile in June at Naas, and three starts later, he landed the St. Leger under Saffie Osborne.
To go from successive duck eggs to becoming a classic winner just over three months later is a scarcely believable transformation, but Highwayman has taken huge strides forward with each step up in distance beyond a mile.
Another extra furlong appears as though it will be of little concern to the stamina-laden colt, who is reunited with stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.
"Highwayman has been training well since Doncaster," Joseph O'Brien said. "He comes here in good form, is fit and well and hopefully he can continue his progress."
The George Scott-trained Caballo de Mar could provide the sternest opposition for Highwayman. The 5-year-old landed the Prix du Cadran (G1) last year and his latest success was a career best as he took the scalp of dominant stayer Scandinavia, who was defeated by a neck, with the reopposing Queenstown back in third in this year's Cadran.
Amelia Earhart, the only other 3-year-old in the field, seems to be building up to a big run, having filled third spot in the St. Leger and the Prix de Royallieu (G1), where she shaped as if this extra distance could unlock further improvement.
