Monday 26 May 2003
Originally aimed at the Irish 2,000 Guineas, this highly regarded Desert Prince half brother to Kalanisi was diverted to the Kempton Listed race because of unfavourably soft going at the Curragh.
Settled in midfield in a slowly run race, Kalaman accelerated impressively half way up the straight to take the lead with a furlong to go. He passed the post with plenty in hand and was a length and a half ahead of his nearest rival.
Kalaman was confirmed for the St James’s Palace Stakes immediately after the race and earned the following compliments from his trainer, Michael Stoute: “He’s a nice horse .... He’s very handsome and has got a good mind - similar to Kalanisi in temperament.”
John Gosden, trainer of the highly rated runner up Ikhtyar, was equally impressed with Kalaman’s performance, saying: “I think it was a good race and we’ve probably seen the St James’s Palace Stakes winner.”
Coincidentally Kalaman’s half brother, Kalanisi also won the Listed Heron Stakes as a three-year-old, before going on to win the Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf the following year.
