Kalpana heads a strong-looking field for the Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day this weekend.
Andrew Balding's star has won the past two editions of the Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and bids for a hat-trick on a star-studded card this weekend.
The Juddmonte-owned Kalpana (6/4 favourite with Paddy Power) could help Andrew Balding towards a first British trainers' championship in the £500,000 Group 1 contest.
Speaking on Monday's Nick Luck Daily Podcast, Balding said: "At the moment she is [on course to run], it's always a little difficult to know. She got back from France and all she's done is canter since, so she'll do a little bit of faster work on Wednesday and we'll make the decisions then.
"But at the moment we'd be looking to go back to Ascot."
Kalpana is set to be joined in the line-up by a stablemate out to test her stamina over 12 furlongs for the first time.
"See The Fire is going to be supplemented for the Fillies & Mares as well," said Balding. "Because we're looking at our options and there isn't really any appropriate options pre-December sale. So she'll more than likely take on Kalpana and obviously she's high-class but stepping up in trip for the first time."
Aidan O'Brien is Balding's closest pursuer in the trainers' title race and could field Minnie Hauk, Amelia Earhart and Sugar Island, while Joseph O'Brien's Irish Oaks winner Joanna Walsh looks to get back on track after being well held behind Kalpana in the Yorkshire Oaks last time out.
Jim Bolger's Sparan Nua filled the runner-up spot in the York Group 1 and could also reoppose, while there is further Irish representation through the Johnny Murtagh-trained Believed.
Ed Bethell's Yorkshire raider Coedana remains firmly in the mix at the five-day entry stage, with John & Thady Gosden having a couple of options in the shape of Danielle and Symbol Of Majesty. William Haggas runs three-year-old Lilt, with Inis Mor (David Menuisier) and Tattycoram (Ralph Beckett) others still in line for the 12-furlong contest.
O'Brien was forced to rule Jan Brueghel out of Saturday's Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup but could still be represented in the event by 2/1 market leader Scandinavia as well as Queenstown, Pierre Bonnard and Amelia Earhart.
Joseph O'Brien has supplemented Betfred St Leger winner Highwayman and said: “Highwayman has been supplemented for the staying race. He’s had a good preparation. I’m happy with him and he’s trained well since Doncaster. It’s a step up to go against the older horses and up further in distance. Hopefully, he can cope with it.
“Dylan (Browne McMonagle) is back riding today, so hopefully everything goes smoothly this week and he’ll be back riding this weekend. He’s been off for a while now, so it’s great for him and for us to have him back.”
George Scott's staying star Caballo De Mar has been confirmed and the trainer said: "He’s come out of Paris very well. He’s given us all the right signs and we’ve been delighted with him.
“The key with him is keeping him fresh and happy. We’ve changed the way we ride him and train him a little bit, and he’s a horse that seems to be evolving all the time.
"I won’t lie, I was hoping to run into Jan Brueghel rather than Scandinavia again! We won the race fair and square in Paris, but Scandinavia is a top, top-class horse. I think the ground was a bit softer in Paris than it was given, and I expect him to bounce back to his best at a track where he’s been devastating before. Although we just about beat him in Paris, I think it will be very tight."
Gregory lines up for the Gosdens, Balding relies on Mount Atlas and Ralph Beckett looks set to saddle recent Salisbury winner Amiloc.
Beckett said: “The win at Salisbury was exactly the confidence boost he needed. He worked well on the grass at the weekend and I’m looking forward to running him at Ascot again, on a track where he’s shown good form in the past. I think two miles is his optimum trip, so hopefully everything goes well.”
Daiquiri Bay, Opportunity, Quickthorn and Square Necker complete the potential line-up.
The antepost betting for the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes is dominated by impressive Haydock Sprint Cup hero Almeraq, who was also successful at Royal Ascot in June and is Paddy Power's even-money favourite. His trainer Haggas also has Binhareer and three-year-old Division to call upon in the six-furlong race, with title-seeking Balding expected to send out Marvelman.
The trainer said: "Marvelman will run in the Sprint more than likely - depending on how we go on Wednesday [gallop], but he's a very decent horse when he's right and I thought he ran well in the Foret. He loves a bit of give in the ground which is likely to be the case on Saturday."
The Balmoral Stakes (Sponsored by Qatar Racing) concludes the day and 54 horses have been confirmed (max field size 20) including last year’s winner Crown Of Oaks.
Champions Day going update
The Going at Ascot is currently 'Good' with GoingStick readings taken at 10am on Monday October 12 of 8.2 on the Straight Course and 7.1 on the Round Course.
Chris Stickels, Clerk of the Course and Head of Racing at Ascot Racecourse, said: "We’re in really good shape ahead of Saturday and can confirm that we will be on the normal Flat track.
“There could be the odd shower early in the week and then some rain is forecast for Thursday night into Friday but only between 2-5mm is expected. Unless the forecast changes drastically – and I don't think it's going to – I would expect us to be similar ground to where we are now which is Good all over on both the Round and Straight Course."
British Champions Long Distance Cup odds
Paddy Power: 2/1 Scandinavia, 9/4 Caballo De Mar, 7/2 Highwayman, 6 Gregory, 7 Queenstown, 8 Amiloc, 10 Opportunity, 14 Daiquiri Bay, Mount Atlas, 40 Amelia Earhart, 66 Pierre Bonnard, Quickthorn.
British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes odds
Paddy Power: 6/4 Kalpana, 6/1 Sparan Nua, 7 Danielle, Lilt, Minnie Hauk, 8 Johanna Walsh, 12 Amelia Earhart, Believed, 16 Coedana, Tajlina, 25 Inis Mor, Tattycoram, 66 Symbol Of Majesty, 100 Sugar Island.
British Champions Sprint Stakes odds
Paddy Power: evens Almeraq, 6/1 Kind Of Blue, 7 Division, 8 Great Wish, Paborus, Samangan, 10 Coppull, 20 Binhareer, Prince Of India, 50 Into The Sky, Marvelman, Mitbaahy, 66 Poatan, 100 James’s Delight, Power Blue, 200 Jasour.
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