Colin Keane is banking on history repeating itself with Kalpana after she finished an honourable fifth in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

Andrew Balding’s multiple Group One winner managed only seventh in Paris 12 months ago but bounced back just a fortnight later to win at Ascot on British Champions Day.

She is due to head there once more, where she will be bidding to win the Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes for a third time.

“She’s finished fifth, she hasn’t run badly at all but I was never really comfortable, for a filly like her one thing she does is jump and travel,” Keane told Tattersalls.

“Even though we didn’t go overly mad, I was as close as could be kind of the whole way and I plugged away up straight to be fifth.

“Hopefully it’s like last year and it will leave her right for the Fillies & Mares at Ascot.”

Keane was on the scoreboard in Paris, winning a second Group One of the weekend for his Juddmonte retainers after Blue Bolt when Amusingly beat the boys in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere.

“Amusingly was very good,” said Keane.

“She was a filly who had a lovely run the last day and just did things a little bit wrong, but is was a fair call by Francis (Graffard, trainer) and Barry (Mahon, Juddmonte racing manager) to drop her back to seven to take on the boys.

“Going back to seven wasn’t the question for me, it was more taking on the boys because it looked a strong field. But she showed her class.

“She couldn’t have been any better. She came from last first in a matter of his strides. She’s a filly with a lot of class and a lot of pace.”

By Racing TV

Photo: Healy Racing