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Kalpana has Irish alternative after scope scuppers Middleton plan
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 13 May 2025
Kalpana is likely to head to the Tattersalls Gold Cup after a dirty scope ruled the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe favourite out of her intended return in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes at York on Thursday.
Andrew Balding’s Group One winner was scheduled to start her campaign on the Knavesmire before marching on to the Curragh’s Pretty Polly Stakes in June, but she will no longer be following the ‘Bluestocking route’ to Paris following the small setback on Tuesday morning.
“Andrew just wasn’t happy with her scope this morning and there was a little bit of mucus there. The vet said he would like to treat her for a couple of days so we couldn’t declare her for York,” explained Barry Mahon, European racing manager of Kalpana’s owners Juddmonte.
“It’s unfortunate but it is nothing sinister and hopefully we will get her back in a couple of weeks.”
Kalpana dazzled during her three-year-old season, placing in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot before winning three on the bounce and ending the year with a top-level success back at Ascot on British Champions Day.
With the Arc set as her long-term aim, she is as short as 10-1 to replicate her owners’ success with Bluestocking last October and holds a host of big-race entries in the early part of the current season.
Connections are hopeful there will only be a small delay to the start of her campaign, with an earlier than anticipated trip to the Curragh now earmarked for a possible reintroduction on May 25.
Mahon added: “We could look towards the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and if the treatment clears her up and Andrew is happy with her I would say that would look the most obvious next target. After that you are rolling into Epsom (for the Coronation Cup).”
“They didn’t think it is anything overly sinister and she probably just needs a few days of antibiotics and should be OK. Hopefully that could still leave her on track for the Tattersalls Gold Cup all being well.”
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