Kalpana primed to give bold account in bid to go one better in King George

Kalpana will attempt to go one better than 12 months ago when she locks horns with Calandagan again in what is sure be a red-hot King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Andrew Balding’s star mare is one of 10 remaining in contention for one of the highlights of the summer calendar, at a venue the five-year-old has often produced her best, including when twice a Group One winner on Champions Day.

Balding said: “She worked well on Saturday, I was very happy with her. She’s a very good horse on her day and loves Ascot – she’s not put in a bad turn there yet, so hopefully that will continue. I’m sure she’ll be there or thereabouts again.

“She seems fairly versatile these days with the ground, but if it does rain it might suit her a bit better than some of the others.”

Kalpana was reeled in inside the final furlong when going down by a length to a peak Calandagan 12 months ago, but Balding believes he has the daughter of Study Of Man in ruder health this time around.

A winning return at Newbury was followed by a tremendous run in defeat to Giavellotto in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Kingsclere team are optimistic of another bold display.

Balding added: “He (Calandagan) is obviously a very good horse and we couldn’t match him last year, but we’ll take him on again and who knows.

“I think she’s a little bit fitter than she was last year and we were always sort of struggling to get weight off her last year. This year she has come to hand and stayed in a good place. It just seems to have occurred that way, but we are very happy with her.”

He added: “It’s one of the most important middle-distance races of the summer and has always been a main target for her. This race and Ascot on Champions Day have always been the key races for her.”

Alongside Calandagan for France is 2024 champion Goliath, as the duo bid to give Francis-Henri Graffard a third straight success in the race, while in a truly international contest Calandagan will lock horns with Masquerade Ball, one of two Japanese challengers and the colt he beat for Japan Cup glory in November.

Also representing the Far East is Wurttemberg, who was a nose second in the Tenno Sho earlier this year.

Irish Derby hero Benvenuto Cellini will lead Aidan O’Brien’s search for a fifth win in a race he last won 10 years ago with Highland Reel and the Curragh hero is accompanied in the list of confirmations by stablemates Action, Minnie Hauk and Lambourn.

Completing the high-class list of possibles is the George Scott-trained Bay City Roller, runaway winner of the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Derby day.

Meanwhile, it has been announced next year’s race will be run for £2.5million, with this year’s the first run for £2m.