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Calandagan would not want a ‘big slog’ in Coronation rematch
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 2 Jun 2026
Connections of Calandagan will keep a close eye on ground conditions at Epsom before deciding on his participation in Saturday’s Coolmore Coronation Cup.
Following rainfall totalling 25 millimetres overnight and during the morning, the official going on the Derby course on the Surrey Downs was changed to good, good to soft in places on Tuesday and further rain is forecast for the rest of the week.
Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, admits the situation is “not ideal” for the world’s highest-rated turf horse, who is unbeaten in five Group One outings since being narrowly denied by Jan Brueghel in the corresponding race 12 months ago.
“The horse worked yesterday and is in great form, but we have always said we didn’t really want to run him in this race if the ground got too soft,” Routh told the Press Association.
“It’s not because he doesn’t handle soft ground, but it would become a real test of stamina and I think that track would really find him out.
“Francis-Henri (Graffard) is going to wait to see what is going to happen over the next 24 hours and call the track. There is obviously no decision yet and we’ll have to see how much rain falls.
“The horse has been trained for this race and he’s in very good form. He doesn’t travel until Thursday night, so I think Francis will just monitor what happens between now and then.
“We want to run, but if it gets a very testing it’s not going to suit him as a big slog is not how he runs his races.”
If Calandagan is given the green light to return to Epsom, he is set to renew rivalry with Jan Brueghel, whose trainer Aidan O’Brien could also saddle dual Derby winner Lambourn as well as possible pacemaker Illinois.
Routh added: “They (O’Brien horses) will make it a true test, that is what they did last year. Although officially they called it good to soft ground that day, our jockey (Mickael Barzalona) walked the track and thought it was testing, but then they had a lot of rain close to the race.
“I’m sure Francis will be speaking to Princess Zahra, who is due to travel to Epsom. It’s not ideal and not the scenario we wanted.”
Andrew Cooper, clerk of the course at Epsom, is hopeful the ground will be no worse than good to soft on Friday but admitted further showers make firm predictions difficult.
“The Derby-Oaks-Coronation Cup course at the moment is a mix of good and good to soft and probably pretty even between the two and the longer it stays dry the more good there will be,” he said.
“But I would probably tell you more towards good to soft. I would say it is likely to be no worse than good to soft but it is not one of those forecasts you could be too confident of the volumes (of rain) we might get.”
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