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Kalpana proved she was every inch a Group 1 filly when claiming the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.
A winner of a Wolverhampton novice race back in January, Andrew Balding's filly has gone from strength to strength since making a successful handicap debut off a mark of 78 at Newmarket in April.
After finishing third in the Ribblesdale on her sole previous visit to the Berkshire venue, the daughter of Study Of Man continued her ascendancy through the ranks, landing the Listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton before toying with her rivals in the Group 3 September Stakes on the all-weather at Kempton last month.
Although unproven on soft ground, Kalpana was sent off the 10/3 favourite to make her first outing in Group 1 company a winning one and after a sweeping run past the longtime leader Wingspan, victory never really looked in doubt for Juddmonte's latest star filly.
Aidan O'Brien's Wingspan continued to chase her up the Ascot straight, but it proved in vain, as Kalpana powered clear for an authoritative two-length triumph. The Sir Mark Prescott-trained Tiffany emerged with credit back in third.
Balding, who alongside owners Juddmonte was enjoying a first success in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, said: "She's a wonderful filly and William Buick gave her a perfect ride. I don't think she'd even done any fast work at this time last year, so it's been a pretty steep trajectory from Wolverhampton to here."
He added: "I've just never known a horse improve as much. I think I even mentioned to Barry that we might put her in a sale this time last year! Just every time we started doing more with her, she's just improved and improved – from Wolverhampton to here in 10 months. She's so relaxed. Well ability, firstly, but she's just an absolute diamond, as you can see afterwards. She has a very special temperament and by an exciting young stallion."
"Will said she didn't love [the ground], but she coped with it.
"I very much hope (she'll stay in training), that was the plan anyway unless something has changed tonight."
