Huge Royal Ascot favourite who ‘oozes class' pulled from £250,000 race in big blow to punters
HUGE Royal Ascot favourite Kalpana has been ruled out of the Group 2 Hardwicke on Saturday - in a big blow to ante-post punters.
The Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old filly - who he described as 'wonderful' - had been the strong 9-4 favourite for the 1m4f contest.
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Andrew Balding has had a cracking week at Royal Ascot but one of his stable stars Kalpana will not run on account of the ground
Credit: PA
She ran promisingly behind Los Angeles in the Irish Derby when last seen and 'oozed class' before that when claiming the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes last October.
But that was on soft ground and she hasn't looked quite the same horse when its dry underfoot.
With the going good to firm at Ascot and only set to get firmer amid the baking temperatures, owners Juddmonte have decided to pull her out of the £250,000 contest.
They also scrapped Calla Lagoon from the Golden Gates handicap during the declarations for Saturday's racing.
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Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon told the
Kalpana is currently 10-1 joint-favourite for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with some firms.
But a more immediate target may be next weekend's Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
The Study Of Man filly is also entered in July's Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and the King George back at Ascot, for which she is 20-1 and 7-2 respectively.
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With Kalpana out of the Hardwicke bookies made Godolphin's recent Yorkshire Cup winner Rebel's Romance the 9-4 fav.
Joseph O'Brien, who is having a brilliant week at Ascot, saddles Al Riffa, who is the same 5-1 price as Amo Racing's new £2million purchase Ghostwriter.
Former Nicky Henderson inmate Palladium, who is now with John & Thady Gosden is an interesting inclusion after his comeback run at Goodwood.
He is the mount of Ryan Moore and could make each-way appeal at odds of 12-1.
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