Kalpana loses Arc favouritism after shock odds-on defeat to Giavellotto

Kalpana’s odds-on defeat in the September Stakes turned the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe market on its head, with neither the filly nor winner Giavellotto certain to line up at Longchamp next month.

Juddmonte's newest middle-distance star was sent off 1-2 favourite to follow up last year’s powerful success, but for the fourth time this season she came up short.

Is Kalpana a busted flush for the Arc or would you still back her?

Having showcased her Arc credentials with gallant placed efforts in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Pretty Polly Stakes and King George, she once again failed to get her head in front and was forced to give best to Giavellotto.

Kalpana had been given a short break since Ascot, but an even greater absence proved no obstacle to success for last year’s Hong Kong Vase winner, who had not been sighted since finishing third in the Coronation Cup in June.

Giavellotto took up the running from the Juddmonte pacemaker Satavia at the top of the home straight and, while the two Group 1 winners soon quickened clear, it was the second-favourite who found more, with a minor bump in the final furlong having no impact on the result.

"We're disappointed not to win but the horse who beat us is very good," said Kalpana's trainer Andrew Balding. "She's having a proper blow now, so hopefully that will put her spot on for what we're doing. We didn't want it to be a falsely run race and it wasn't – she had every chance and she'll come on for the run.

Winning connections of Giavellotto after the September StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"We need to discuss plans. She's in the Arc and the Fillies & Mares and it's up to where the powers that be want to go. This was a prep and the Arc was always the plan, but we'll just have to see how the fields develop.

"She'd had a couple of easy weeks after the King George. I felt like we'd done enough work but the trouble is we're not using grass gallops at the moment, the all-weather is much easier and it's more difficult to get work into horses like that."

Colin Keane and Andrew Balding at Kempton on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Bookmakers reacted by doubling Kalpana's odds for the Arc to 12-1, while Giavellotto's price was halved to 33-1, but the Marco Botti-trained six-year-old is unlikely to be at Longchamp, with a bid for another Hong Kong Vase more likely.

"I thought Kalpana would be in front of us and we'd follow her," Botti said. "Oisin thought the pace was only even. He said when they turned into the straight he was just winding him up. Giavellotto responded really well and every time the filly got to him he just found another gear and he just idles a bit in front. It was a great performance.

"Sadly, there wouldn't be many options for him in Europe. Soft ground isn’t for him, so I don’t see much in those couple of months before Hong Kong and we don’t want to jeopardise our chances there.

"He has an entry in the Arc and I’m sure the owners will say, ‘Well, we beat the favourite, why don’t we take our chance?’ But I think the ground would be too soft for him. I would only run him on good ground, but that’s very unlikely to happen."

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (October 5, Longchamp)
Paddy Power: 5 Minnie Hauk, 6 Whirl, 10 Aventure, 11 Croix Du Nord, 12 Kalpana, 16 Sosie, 20 Alohi Alii, Leffard, 25 Almaqam, Byzantine Dream, Estrange, Gezora, Los Angeles, 33 Delacroix, Giavellotto, Regaleira, White Birch, 40 bar.

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