Kalpana Loses Favoritism After Giavellotto Upset at Kempton

Kalpana, trained by Andrew Balding and once the favorite for the upcoming Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, suffered a significant defeat to Giavellotto in the Group 3 Unibet September Stakes at Kempton, resulting in her odds drifting from 6-1 to 12-1. Giavellotto, ridden by Oisin Murphy on his birthday, won by a length and a half, surprising many and causing his own odds for the Arc to shorten. While Balding indicated that Kalpana will improve from the run, her participation in the Arc is uncertain, with a potential return to Ascot for Champions Day being considered. Kalpana had previously shown strong form, including a second-place finish to Calandagan in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but struggled on the all-weather Kempton surface, which differs from her usual grass gallops. Trainer Marco Botti praised Giavellotto's performance and noted that his main target remains the Hong Kong races due to ground conditions, though the chestnut is still entered for the Arc despite doubts about its suitability. Both trainers acknowledged the quality of their horses, with the outcome impacting race strategies and betting markets for the prestigious Longchamp event.