Kalpana edges out Sparan Nua in Yorkshire Oaks thriller
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 20 Aug 2026
King George heroine Kalpana just held on to land the Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks at York after a mighty scare from Sparan Nua.
Aidan O’Brien’s outsider Sugar Island was immediately sent to the front and Ronan Whelan quickly distanced himself from the field, extending the advantage to 20 lengths turning for home.
But as the main players began to eat into that lead, Colin Keane sent Kalpana to give chase over three furlongs out, hitting top gear two furlongs from home, only for Jim Bolger’s Sparan Nua – who got a little squeezed at one stage – to make up plenty of ground and close the gap.
The line just came in time for the 10-11 favourite to hold on by a short head, giving Keane, Andrew Balding and owners Juddmonte a second Group One in the space of 24 hours, after Item had landed the showpiece Juddmonte International on Wednesday.
More to follow.
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