Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe |
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| Grade 1, ParisLongchamp 15:20 €5,000,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1  |
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If history is any guide, Kalpana is stepping into some well-worn hoofprints on her journey to Paris — and the echoes of Juddmonte’s success last year are growing louder by the furlong.
Second in a strongly-run renewal of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, Andrew Balding’s filly lost little in defeat behind the French-trained Calandagan. It was a run brimming with determination, and one that mirrored Juddmonte’s Bluestocking 12 months ago — who, after a similar placing, went on to land both the Prix Vermeille and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Now Kalpana looks primed to follow that same path, with a brief mid-season breather pencilled in before the focus turns to autumn and an Arc campaign that is very much on the radar.
“She ran a huge race and the handicapper confirmed it with another career-best rating,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager. “She’s so honest — gives everything every time — and Andrew will freshen her up now with an autumn plan in mind.”
That plan could take two familiar routes. The Prix Vermeille, a traditional Arc prep and a natural fit for a filly of her class, is firmly in the mix. So too is Kempton’s September Stakes — a race won by Kalpana herself last year, and used to lethal effect by Enable ahead of her second Arc triumph in 2018.
“Both races are tried and trusted lead-ups to the Arc for us,” Mahon continued. “It’ll be a case of sitting down with Andrew in a few weeks and mapping out the best route.”
Kalpana’s summer campaign has seen her more than hold her own at the top level. A slightly unlucky third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and then a valiant runner-up in a strong Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh showed that she’s been operating at full throttle — even if things haven’t always fallen her way.
But with the expected ease in the ground later in the year and a return to her optimum trip of a mile and a half, there’s every reason to believe there’s still more in the locker.
“She’s shown top-class form on fast ground,” Mahon added, “but we think she’ll improve again on softer going, which we’re likely to get in the autumn. That’s what makes it exciting. She’s favourite for the Arc in a few places, and while that doesn’t mean much in August, it shows the regard she’s held in. These are the races Juddmonte want to be in — and she’s earned her place among them.”
There’s no doubting the engine under the bonnet, but New Ground will have to park the revs if he’s to stay on the Juddmonte road map toward ParisLongchamp this autumn.
An eyecatching fourth in the Derby at Epsom where he travelled well but didn’t quite see it out, and then a strong-finishing third in the Grand Prix de Paris last time, Henri-François Devin’s colt has shown all the raw ability—but just as much restlessness. And it’s that over-eagerness, that tendency to race a touch too freely in the early stages, which connections now know they must tame.
“He’s a high-class colt—no doubt,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte. “That Grand Prix de Paris run was a big effort. But he’s pulling far too hard—he did it again like he did at Epsom. It’s not something we see at home, which makes it all the more frustrating. So it’s back to the drawing board a bit, mentally. Henri’s got a few ideas we’re going to try.”
The son of New Bay certainly hasn’t lacked for profile or potential, but in Group One company, the margins are as tight as the straight at Chester—and one gear too high early can be the difference between first and fourth.
“He’s got all the talent,” Mahon continued, “but if he doesn’t learn to relax, he’s going to keep making life difficult for himself. These top-level races don’t forgive that.”
New Ground is priced up as short as 20-1 for the Arc in some places, and the trials will tell us more. Among the likely stepping stones is the Prix Niel, traditionally the litmus test for Arc contenders, although the Grand Prix de Deauville also features among his potential options in the next few weeks.
“There are around four stakes races that Henri has pencilled in from late August into September,” Mahon confirmed. “He’s tentatively on the Arc path—but he’ll have to earn his place. We’ll give him a proper target, see how he shapes up, and go from there.”
For now, New Ground is a colt with all the tools—but one key lesson left to learn.
Qatar Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe
€5,000,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
79 entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Aug 18)
1 32-312 Almaqam 4 9-5 Ed Walker
2 0-3421 Al Riffa 5 9-5 Joseph O'Brien
3 11116- Economics 4 9-5 William Haggas
4 112-11 Redentor 4 9-5 Tetsuya Kimura
5 21-122 Illinois 4 9-5 A P O'Brien
6 216-73 Cold Heart 5 9-5 P Schiergen
7 302-17 Shin Emperor 4 9-5 Yoshito Yahagi
8 1023-82 Narrativo 4 9-5 Marcel Weiss
9 13-725 Ancient Wisdom 4 9-5 Charlie Appleby
10 11-212 Ombudsman 4 9-5 John & Thady Gosden
11 424-68 Deira Mile 4 9-5 Owen Burrows
2 0-3544 Sunway 4 9-5 David Menuisier
13 131-53 Giavellotto 6 9-5 Marco Botti
14 52-332 Sevenna's Knight 5 9-5 A Fabre
15 111-24 White Birch 5 9-5 John Joseph Murphy
16 3-1111 Arrow Eagle 4 9-5 J-C Rouget
17 -11242 Map Of Stars 4 9-5 F-H Graffard
18 5-1262 Internaute 4 9-5 Christopher Head
19 114-16 Sosie 4 9-5 A Fabre
20 11-214 Jan Brueghel 4 9-5 A P O'Brien
21 9-1154 Los Angeles 4 9-5 A P O'Brien
22 65-612 Byzantine Dream 4 9-5 Tomoyasu Sakaguchi
23 3431-8 Nakheel 4 9-2 Owen Burrows
24 10-606 Doha 5 9-2 Ralph Beckett
25 171-11 Estrange 4 9-2 David O'Meara
26 177-23 Survie 4 9-2 N Clement & F Hermans
27 1115-4 Erle 4 9-2 Maxim Pecheur
28 12132- Tiffany 5 9-2 Sir Mark Prescott Bt
29 11296- Lava Stream 4 9-2 David O'Meara
30 1/6-23 Tasmania 5 9-2 Sir Mark Prescott Bt
31 11-322 Kalpana 4 9-2 Andrew Balding
32 9-9516 Dare To Dream 4 9-2 Gavin Hernon
33 113-27 Tamfana 4 9-2 David Menuisier
34 17111- Friendly Soul 4 9-2 John & Thady Gosden
35 5551-0 Regaleira 4 9-2 Tetsuya Kimura
36 214-12 Shaha 4 9-2 John & Thady Gosden
37 4127-7 You Got To Me 4 9-2 Ralph Beckett
38 22-112 Aventure 4 9-2 C Ferland
39 1-245 Azimpour 3 8-13 F-H Graffard
40 1111 Daryz 3 8-13 F-H Graffard
41 1-1563 Ridari 3 8-13 M Delzangles
42 1110 Midak 3 8-13 F-H Graffard
43 -18064 Sea Scout 3 8-13 Simon & Ed Crisford
44 11-70 Tuscan Hills 3 8-13 Raphael E Freire
45 1-100 Pride Of Arras 3 8-13 Ralph Beckett
46 12-99 Expanded 3 8-13 A P O'Brien
47 2-1191 Delacroix 3 8-13 A P O'Brien
48 1-2320 Al Aali 3 8-13 Mme L Pontoir
49 11201 Leffard 3 8-13 J-C Rouget
50 3-1133 Ruling Court 3 8-13 Charlie Appleby
51 4-1112 Cualificar 3 8-13 A Fabre
52 1-225 Purview 3 8-13 D K Weld
53 1-3343 New Ground 3 8-13 H-F Devin
54 521213 Dioptase 3 8-13 J-C Rouget
55 1-1 Gethin 3 8-13 Owen Burrows
56 1-6030 The Lion In Winter 3 8-13 A P O'Brien
57 11- Twain 3 8-13 A P O'Brien
58 12-155 Stanhope Gardens 3 8-13 Ralph Beckett
59 211- Starzintheireyes 3 8-13 Ralph Beckett
60 3-1106 Parachutiste 3 8-13 F-H Graffard
61 1 Akido 3 8-13 Henk Grewe
62 11-354 Hotazhell 3 8-13 Mrs John Harrington
63 11-P Lifetimes 3 8-13 P Schiergen
64 111-21 Croix Du Nord 3 8-13 Takashi Saito
65 1-238 Alohi Alii 3 8-13 Hiroyasu Tanaka
66 1-2314 Camille Pissarro 3 8-13 A P O'Brien
67 1-3201 Damysus 3 8-13 John & Thady Gosden
68 1-210 Nitoi 3 8-13 A Fabre
69 123 Oracle 3 8-13 A Fabre
70 6213 Phineas 3 8-13 A Fabre
71 1-2134 Uther 3 8-13 C Ferland
72 21-334 Tennessee Stud 3 8-13 Joseph O'Brien
73 1-275 Frankly Good Cen 3 8-13 Mme Victoria Head
74 12-112 Zarigana 3 8-9 F-H Graffard
75 13-229 Shes Perfect 3 8-9 Charlie Fellowes
76 1-151 Safia 3 8-9 F Chappet
77 3-124 Jones 3 8-9 S Cerulis
78 221 Pearla 3 8-9 William Haggas
79 121-31 Gezora 112 3 8-9 F-H Graffard
