Calandagan can do it again

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a day ago

French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is aiming to double the score in the £1.5 million (S$2.58 million) Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot on July 26.
The desire to cross the English Channel and plunder one of UK's better-known riches is the same, but not quite the stress levels.
Last year, the Chantilly handler had walked into the Ascot paddock, happy to fly under the radar with his charge Goliath, but quietly confident the 25-1 roughie could - unlike his namesake - turn giant-killer.
However, Graffard was not so sure when he stood in the parade ring and glanced up at the market.
"I was on my own, and Lisa my wife didn't come. I think I was 30-1 and I was like 'oh my god, I will probably look like a fool'," he said.
However, the German-bred fooled pundits by upstaging a star-studded field that included the eventual Arc winner Bluestocking, 2023 Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin and Godolphin star Rebel's Romance, among others.
"When he entered the straight, he was cruising, that was a really good thrill," said Graffard. "The way he won was fantastic and I want to go back there and win that race again."
With Calandagan this time, the odds will be a lot shorter for the recent Group 1 first-time scorer.
Four consecutive times bridesmaid at elite level, the Aga Khan-owned four-year-old gelding finally broke his duck at his last start, in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2,400m) on June 29.
The five-time winner by Gleneagles is the 7-4 favourite in ante-post betting, a well-deserved status even if he will be up against a stronger band of performers than the ones he met in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Coolmore's Jan Brueghel was his nemesis in the last of that frustrating run of four Group 1 misses, the Coronation Cup (2,400m) at Epsom on June 6.
Also entered are Epsom Derby-Irish Derby double winner Lambourn, Rebel's Romance who snapped a long run of outs for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby at Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m) on June 21, and interestingly, defending champion Goliath himself.
Graffard has, however, indicated that Goliath's new American owner, John Stewart of the world's latest big-spending player Resolute Racing, would rather aim for the Grade 1 Arlington Million (2,000m) at Colonial Downs, US, on Aug 9 instead.
Putting all his eggs in the one Calandagan basket does not seem to faze Graffard. In his eyes, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud win has put him up there with the big boys.
"It was a real pleasure to see him winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. But it's really the way he did it that pleased me," he said.
"The horse was very impressive that day. We got the job done and in a very good manner."
The bullishness also stems from Calandagan already having a proven track record at Ascot, and over the same course and distance. In 2024, he won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2,400m) at the Royal Ascot meeting, bolting up by six lengths.
"He was so impressive that day. That was really nice to watch," recalled Graffard.
The late Aga Khan's racing manager Nemone Routh shared the same enthusiasm.
"He's a very consistent horse. Things probably do have to just fall a little bit right for him to get his head in front," she said.
"But he's a very classy horse, consistent and genuine. So, we're looking forward to a good race at Ascot."
A win would not only continue the legacy of the famous green and red epaulettes, but also its breeding arm.
"We were really looking for that Group 1 win. So he's got that under his belt now," added Routh.
"It is important to run internationally, for the Aga Khan studs, for the brand, for our stallions, for bloodstock."
While such lofty expectations can weigh heavily on some trainers, they seem to strike a chord with Graffard.
"When you do this sport, you want to be competitive and be seen on the bigger stage. There is no point winning small races," he said.
"But when they asked me to train at Aiglemont (Aga Khan's stables), that's my way, I'm very competitive, I want to win big races. So, that was part of the deal."
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