‘Extra special’ Kalpana to call time on racing

Kalpana's wins included an epic victory in the King George at Ascot in July for trainer Andrew Balding. Pic: Richard Sellers/the Press Association.

Kalpana was hailed as “extra special” after her retirement was confirmed by owner-breeders Juddmonte on Monday.

The five-year-old will head for the breeding shed having won four times in Group One company for trainer Andrew Balding, including an epic victory against the boys in the King George at Ascot in July.

She added the Yorkshire Oaks to her top-level tally the following month, but came up short for the second year in a row in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and was unable to complete a Champions Day hat-trick on what proved to be her final career start at Ascot on Saturday.

“She’s been a star, to be fair,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“I think her genuineness and her soundness for the last three seasons have been her main attribute. She tries so hard and has never given us any lameness trouble during her whole career and she had that will to win which meant she went down fighting every time.

“Unfortunately Saturday was just a race too many after a long, tough season. She was able to do it the year before, but as we saw with Minnie Hauk winning on Saturday there’s a big difference between a four-year-old and a five-year-old — there’s maybe just less running in their legs when they’re that year older.

“It was a very special day when she won the King George, beating Calandagan — that was a big performance. To follow it then and win it York, it capped a special week for us with Item winning the Juddmonte International.”

Kalpana retires to Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud as one of the team’s most accomplished homebred mares, with only Midday and Enable having more European Group One victories to their names.

“They were two unbelievably talented mares and this one was on their coattails,” Mahon added.

“She had such a good temperament and was so kind to have anything to do with — she was extra special and she’ll be hard to replace, that’s for sure.

“Hopefully she’ll go on now and be a good mother and breed the next champion for Juddmonte.”

Juddmonte said mating plans for Kalpana will be decided in the coming weeks.