Calandagan bounces back in style at Saint-Cloud

Calandagan went from last to first to win the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for the second year in a row.

Officially the highest-rated horse in the world last year, the Gleneagles gelding – who clearly disliked conditions when disappointing in the Coronation Cup at Epsom – was settled at the back, 12 lengths off the pace set by Lambourn as Mickael Barzalona was happy to bide his time.

Barzalona made his move on the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained five-year-old two and a half furlongs out and stylishly picked off the field down the outside to win by a cosy neck from Cualificar and stablemate Sunly.

Graffard told Sky Sports Racing: “Delighted with that. I was upset with myself at Epsom and today he was sweating a little bit too much and I can see he was a little bit worried, so I was worried and then at the end of the orders I said to Mickael forget everything we said – just ride him for himself.

“It doesn’t matter if he’s beaten, we just need to get his confidence back so just ride him for himself and trust in him and that’s what he did. But he’s such a good horse.

“He’s like a greyhound. If you put a rabbit in front of him he’d try to catch it! As soon as he hit the front, like he did in Dubai he just relaxed and like Mickael said his acceleration is so long and he can keep going, accelerating like that for so long. He’s an unbelievable horse.

“He’s got that will to win, that’s very important for these horses, especially at the top level. Mentally I like them to enjoy themselves and I think it was really good for him and hopefully he comes back well, but I think mentally he will be very pleased with himself.”

Bookmaker reaction was positive, with Coral cutting Calandagan to 7-4 favourite to successfully defend his crown in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 25.

Graffard added: “The plan was to go back to the King George and we are closer. It’s very hot today so we will see how he comes out of it, but it’s the obvious race for him – he loves Ascot, he loves a mile and a half. Today’s a good day.”

Owner Princess Zahra Aga Khan added: “It’s wonderful to see him back where he is. It’s wonderful to see him find himself again. He’s a horse who has his own running style. He doesn’t shoot out of the starting gate. He takes his time, but he’s so dominant he just wants to get in front. If there’s another horse in front of him he’ll do anything he can.

“He’s a battle-hardened horse. He’s of an age where there was a worry it (Epsom) might have knocked his confidence, but he’s raced around the world and he’s had up days and down days, he’s not won, he’s won, so I personally wasn’t too worried.”

Princess Zahra believes the proposal from France Galop to allow geldings to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe from 2027 was good for racing but would not commit to Calandagan taking his chance in the race.

She added: “I think that not being able to run in the Arc made us think outside the box and I think he had a very good year and I’m agnostic about that decision. Personally I don’t have a preference.

“It’s not a Classic, it’s a fantastic race but it’s not a Classic. I think ultimately it was the right decision, when you go through the eight or 12 geldings this year who have proved themselves to be top of the market, it’s a good decision. Are we going to run Calandagan in the Arc in 2027? I don’t know.”