Calandagan Eyes Qipco Champion Stakes After Impressive York Performance

Following a remarkable second-place finish in the Juddmonte International at York, Calandagan's connections are leaning towards targeting the prestigious Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot for the gelding’s next outing. The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained three-year-old has enjoyed a stellar season, securing a hat-trick of Group race victories and proving his class at the highest level.

Calandagan’s season began with a victory in the Prix Noailles, followed by triumphs in the Prix Hocquart and the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he delivered a breathtaking six-length win. That dominant performance at Ascot earned him a shot at Group One glory in the Juddmonte International, where he faced a formidable field, including the eventual winner, City Of Troy.

Sent off at 13-2 under jockey Stephane Pasquier, Calandagan was positioned in mid-division as City Of Troy set a blistering early pace. Despite the challenging conditions of stepping down in trip, Calandagan showed his quality by advancing smoothly on the outside as the race progressed. In the home straight, he unleashed a powerful turn of foot to pass much of the field and mount a serious challenge to the leader.

City Of Troy, however, proved too strong, holding on to win by a length, with Calandagan finishing a valiant second. The pair's performance was extraordinary, as they both broke the track record set by the legendary Sea The Stars in 2009, leaving the third-placed Ghostwriter trailing by three and a half lengths.

Despite the defeat, Graffard expressed immense satisfaction with Calandagan’s run. “He came out of the race really well, I am very pleased to see how he took that race – even better than the race at Ascot,” Graffard said. “We dropped back in distance so it was hard to get closer to the pace, but he finished really strongly and he was beaten by a true champion, so we were very pleased with his run.”

With Calandagan being ineligible for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe due to his gelding status, the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 19 is emerging as the preferred option for his next appearance. “We haven’t made a decision yet, but at the moment we are leaning towards the Champion Stakes at Ascot for his next run,” Graffard confirmed.

Looking beyond Ascot, Graffard acknowledged that Calandagan has opportunities to race overseas once the European season concludes. However, whether the gelding will continue his campaign or take a break before returning next year is still under discussion with his owner, the Aga Khan.

“He has opportunities abroad, but it depends if we decide to wait for next year or if we keep going this season, that will be decided with the owner,” Graffard added.

As Calandagan continues to build on his impressive record, the Qipco Champion Stakes could offer him the chance to cap off an exceptional season with a major victory on British soil.