Andrew Balding and Colin Keane combined to land the feature race for the second day running at York’s Ebor Festival as Kalpana, the King George winner, bravely held the late challenge of the outsider Sparan Nua by a short-head in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks.
Sugar Island, a 100-1 outsider, galloped into a 20-length lead in the early stages of the 12-furlong contest and was still a long way clear of her pursuers at the top of the home straight.
Keane and Kalpana were first from the pack to challenge as Sugar Island’s stride began to shorten a quarter of a mile out and they hit the front just over a furlong from home, but the effort started to tell in the closing stages as Sparan Nua (25-1) and Rossa Ryan finished strongly. Jim Bolger’s filly was in front a stride after the line, but a short-head shy where it mattered.
