Everything pointing towards big Arc effort from Kalpana Juddmonte will rely on King George heroine Kalpana in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with Sunly rerouted from the main event to the Prix de Royallieu 24 hours earlier. Kalpana has made great strides since finishing seventh behind Daryz in Paris 12 months ago and connections are confident they need only one shot at the main event this time round. After a stunning season in which the Andrew Balding-trained mare has landed two Group Ones in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks, she will go to post as one of the leading fancies a week on Sunday. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Target Confirmed “It was a tough call, but Kalpana has done nothing wrong all year and they (the owners) wanted to give her her shot at it,” said Barry Mahon, racing manager to Juddmonte. “Sunly we felt will stay the extra trip so she will tackle the Royallieu. “We obviously had to hope from four to five Kalpana retained all her ability which she has proved this year – Maybe even operating at a higher level than last year. Once we answered the question it was always going to be the owners’ intention to point her towards the Arc. “That was partly why she stayed in training, the Arc and Ascot Champions weekend which were her two main targets of the year. That and the King George. She has managed to tick the first box and we are hoping she can tick one or two more before the end of the year.” Mahon – who as expected confirmed Juddmonte International hero Item was finished for the year – insists Kalpana is a different animal to the one beaten in the race last year and believes that, having proved herself on a faster surface, goes into the race with less to answer than most. Track Versatility Strengthens Arc Prospects “She seems totally different this year. We felt last year she needed soft ground whereas this year she has kind of blown that theory apart in the King George and Royal Ascot on the two fastest grounds,” he said. “She has run her highest mark in the King George and Colin (Keane, jockey) felt that last time at York the soft ground blunted her speed a little bit. I think she has got quicker and now has an ability to handle quicker ground which obviously in France in the next week is probably a positive.”
