Calandagan Made History Once Again at Saint-Cloud and Realigns His Sights on the King George

The Aga Khan’s champion put his unexpected setback at Epsom firmly in the rearview mirror, unleashing a devastating late turn of foot to become the first back-to-back winner of the prestigious Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) since 2002

SAINT-CLOUD, France (Special for Turf Diario).— Following his unexpected setback in the Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom, many racing enthusiasts questioned whether Calandagan would remain the same global phenomenon that captivated the sport during 2025. The definitive answer arrived this Sunday at Saint-Cloud, where the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee roared back to his brilliant best, delivering a spectacular performance that vividly reminded the racing world why he earned accolades as the top-rated horse on the planet.

Defending his crown in the prestigious Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) over 2,400 meters, the son of Gleneaglesonce again showcased the relentless, sweeping late run that has become his undisputed trademark. Anchoring the field in last for the majority of the journey, he began to effortlessly shave down the deficit upon straightening for home. Displaying a sustained, grinding acceleration rather than a momentary burst, he collared a game Cualificar (Lope de Vega) right on the wire to prevail by a mere neck, while his stablemate Sunly (Night of Thunder) completed the trifecta three-quarters of a length adrift.

Beyond the narrow margin of victory, the teletimer truly reflected the sheer magnitude of the performance. Calandagan blazed through his final 600 meters in a phenomenal 32.67 seconds, an extraordinary fractional time on a very firm turf course that firmly validated his rare ability to produce sprinter-like speed over a classic distance.

"We gave him three full weeks after Epsom to ensure he had completely moved past that negative experience. Over the last fortnight, he was back to his usual self, and if I had harbored the slightest shred of doubt, he wouldn’t have lined up today," explained a visibly relieved Graffard. "The post position did him no favors, forcing him to come from well off the pace, but he is simply an extraordinary racehorse. Once he clicks into gear, he just keeps on sustaining that run."

The master conditioner also admitted that seeing his stable star sweating and appearing somewhat anxious prior to the gates opening caused some initial concern. "He has traveled all over the world and had no real reason to get tense. I think he was still mentally carrying a bit of residue from what transpired at Epsom. But he is a true superstar, and this victory will do wonders for his confidence moving forward."

Princess Zahra Aga Khan highlighted one of the champion's greatest competitive virtues following the classic triumph. "With 600 meters left to run, I got the distinct feeling that he had decided it was time to go win the race. Frequently, horses coming from that far back end up hitting the board in second or third. He, on the other hand, always finds a way to get the job done."

With this historic conquest, Calandagan became the first horse since 2002 to capture back-to-back renewals of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The brilliant victory immediately establishes him once again as the horse to beat for the upcoming King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot, where he will attempt to defend another of the most coveted top-flight titles of his extraordinary career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8esN_7qqic