Arc hopeful Kalpana & Oaks runner-up Whirl set for Pretty Polly clash

June 26, 2025

Arc hopeful Kalpana and Epsom Oaks runner-up Whirl are set for a blockbuster clash in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

Heading into Irish Derby weekend, the pair are joint-favourites at 15/8 with the top betting sites in Ireland for the €300,000 feature race.

Whirl, last seen going down by a neck to Minnie Hauk on the downs – where she emerged with just as much credit as the winner considering the run of the race – drops back in trip to what should be a more suitable ten furlongs.

The filly by Wootton Bassett was a beaten favourite on her first run of the season at the Curragh in April before bouncing back in style to win the Musidora Stakes at York in a romp four weeks later.

Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old also receives a 12lb allowance from her elders alongside Joseph O’Brien’s Wemightakedlongway who finished a commendable fourth in the Epsom Classic.

The Ballydoyle maestro hasn’t won the Pretty Polly since Magical landed the spoils behind closed doors in 2020, with his son Joseph tasting triumph with Thundering Nights a year later.

WATCH: Whirl’s runner-up finish to Minnie Hauk in the Epsom Oaks

Ryan Moore knows how to pick them

He guides Minnie Hauk to win the @betfred Oaks pic.twitter.com/S257Gpp9Qo

— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) June 6, 2025

On reappearance in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month, Kalpana earned a valiant third behind last year’s Arc bronze medalist Los Angeles who had race fitness on his side.

Her trainer Andrew Balding thinks while she will prove to be more effective over 12 furlongs, she should still be competitive at ten if conditions are right.

“We’ve been really happy with Kalpana since her last trip to Ireland.

“She is a very high-class filly and although we know she will probably improve for going a little further, she seems to me like she will be pretty effective going a mile and a quarter.

“We hope she’ll run very well and particularly if the ground stays good she should be very competitive.”

WATCH: Kalpana’s third-place finish in the Tattersalls Gold Cup

LOS ANGELES!

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore claim success in an eventful @Tattersalls_ie Gold Cup @curraghrace | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/ZnCeYRjYrj

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 25, 2025

Kalpana remains one of the market leaders for Europe’s richest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October – currently a best-price 14/1.

The stable star at Kingsclere entered the equation for the €5 million Paris showpiece with an impressive win on slow ground in the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot in October.

There is no question this filly deserves to take her chance in France later this year provided there are no hiccups along the way and there is a bit of give in the ground on the day.

Owned by leading international operation Juddmonte, who have tasted success in the race seven times, Kalpana has been earmarked to follow the same route as 2024 winner Bluestocking.

Bluestocking won the Pretty Polly before going on to be runner-up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, fourth in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York and later winning the Prix Vermeille as a final prep for the Arc.

Kalpana holds an entry in the King George too as well as the Irish Champion Stakes in September. Juddmonte’s new retained jockey Colin Keane is seeking a second Group 1 success since assuming the role earlier this month.