Champion Stakes calling once again for Calandagan

Calandagan will bid to continue his love affair with Ascot in the Qipco Champion Stakes next month.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the multiple Group One winner is unable to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as he is a gelding. But ParisLongchamp’s loss is Ascot’s gain.

A son of Gleneagles, he won the King Edward VII Stakes at last year’s Royal meeting and added to his tally in this year’s King George And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He also finished second in the Champion Stakes 12 months ago to Anmaat, who he is likely to meet again on October 18, along with Ombudsman and possibly Delacroix in a blockbuster renewal.

The only slight negative is the likelihood of soft ground always looming large for a meeting held in October, which Calandagan’s connections fear possibly just takes the edge off the blistering turn of foot he showed in the King George.

“You couldn’t say he didn’t handle the soft ground in the race last year as he ran such a good race, but I just think it blunts his turn of foot a bit,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France.

“He seems to love firmer ground, while he struggles a bit on softer ground but he does get through it and runs a good race. If he comes up against a horse with a real aptitude for it, that is when he might get found out.

“It’s always a good race the Champion Stakes, a smaller field than the Arc but there’s quality horses and we’re looking to run him somewhere before he goes to Japan (Japan Cup).”