Calandagan starting new campaign with proud title of best horse in the world

Calandagan is the undoubted star attraction as he bids to add the Dubai Sheema Classic to his big-race haul at Meydan on Saturday.

Having been the bridesmaid in several Group One races, including this contest 12 months ago, the five-year-old finally broke his top-level duck at Saint-Cloud in the summer and has not looked back, landing the King George and the Champion Stakes at Ascot before travelling to Tokyo to become the first overseas runner in 20 years to land the Japan Cup.

Currently the world’s highest-rated racehorse, Calandagan will be long odds-on to make a successful return on World Cup night and connections are hopeful he can pick up where he left off.

After touching down in Dubai on Friday, Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, told the Press Association: “I haven’t seen Calandagan yet, but all the reports from his rider and the travelling head lad are that he travelled very well, they’re very happy with him, he’s very relaxed and eating well – he’s taking it all in his stride.

“He’s a good traveller now and he’s the one to beat for sure.

“It is his seasonal debut and we hope we’ve done enough with him as he just does what you ask him to at home. He’ll loom upsides whatever you put him with and he’s not overly exuberant in the morning, he’s just very professional.

“It could be a bit of a tactical race given it’s a small field, but you’d hope he has a very strong chance.”

Calandagan was beaten by Japanese challenger Danon Decile in last year’s Sheema Classic, but Routh feels he is in a “different place” this time around.

“He’s a stronger horse now and also last year’s Sheema Classic was the first time Mickael Barzalona has ridden him since he was a two-year-old, so he didn’t know the horse as well and he does take a little bit of getting to know,” she added.

“He knows him very well now and obviously he’s had his winning streak, so I think mentally he’s in a different place.”

Ethical Diamond is a fascinating contender for Willie Mullins on what will be his first appearance since his surprise success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar in November. Danny Tudhope deputises in the saddle for the sidelined Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “We’re not used to being in Meydan in March, but Willie has gone over. We’ve bought our ticket and we’re in the race.

“I’m not going as I was riding on Thursday and I’m riding on Sunday, so I would have landed at 1am on Saturday morning and would have had to leave again at 6am on Sunday. We’ve got a busy couple of weeks ahead, so I said we’d let Willie go gallivanting and I’d stay at home!

“It’s going to be a very different set of circumstances compared to Del Mar as it’s a small field and I’m not sure there’s much of a pace.

“Obviously the ground is going to be riding slower and it’s kind of an unknown. He’s definitely better on fast ground, but I suppose everyone is in the same boat.

“It will let us know where we’re measuring up for future races.”

Marco Botti saddles stable star Giavellotto, who may have a fitness advantage over the top two on the market having finished third in the H.H The Amir Trophy in Qatar in February.

The seven-year-old had previously been a close second to Sosie when defending his crown in the Hong Kong Vase and was fifth in this race last season, but Botti has concerns about underfoot conditions.

“He’s in good shape and travelled well and everything has gone nicely since he got there, except all the rain – the amount of rain they’ve had is just unbelievable. I can’t remember the last time it was as bad as it’s been this week,” said Botti.

“That is not good news for us as he really likes fast ground. They had a really bad storm on Thursday, hopefully tonight and tomorrow should be dry, but it’s definitely going to be on the easy side. That is the only disappointment.

“The field has cut up to six runners so it will be a very tactical race. James (Doyle) is riding him for the first time, but he was able to ride the horse last week before he left for Dubai so we’ll see where he wants to be – we’ll leave it to him.

“Fitness I would say is in our favour and he’s a stronger, older horse.”

With his globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance an absentee, Charlie Appleby relies on Royal Power and By The Book.