Calandagan, the best in the world, showcased his immense talent at Meydan
- Turf Diario
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
The Aga Khan Studs runner closed from way back to get his revenge in the Dubai Sheema Classic
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario).— There are horses that win. And then there are others who, even amidst risk, suspense, and uncertainty, ultimately impose their law. Calandagan clearly belongs to that second group.
The world champion proved it once again in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1-2,400m, turf), where he added a new conquest to his collection and extended his top-level winning streak to five.
But this time, it was not simple. For a large part of the trip, the race seemed to be slipping away. West Wind Blows(Teofilo) took the lead and, in an unexpectedly slow pace, managed to establish an advantage of over 10 lengths, creating an uncomfortable feeling for everyone… except for Mickael Barzalona.
The French rider never lost his cool. True to the style he has built alongside Francis-Henri Graffard's pupil, he let the race unfold without panicking, even when he still had 4 lengths to make up with 400 meters to go.
And then, quite simply, he let him roll. What followed was a demonstration of pure class. In just a few strides, Calandagan went from suspense to absolute dominance, catching and passing West Wind Blows to win by three-quarters of a length without the need for extreme urging.
Once again, the best horse in the world did what he does best.
“It was terrible to watch,” Princess Zahra Aga Khan confessed with a laugh. “In the home straight, we really suffered… but he has something special. In the final meters, he gives everything, his whole soul.”
For Graffard, the tension was part of the process: “It was a very tactical, very difficult race. There is a lot of pressure when you run a horse like this. But the difference is that Mickael knows him perfectly.”
And that knowledge was decisive. Barzalona, who took over as the retained jockey for Aga Khan Studs in 2025, has found an ideal partner in Calandagan: “He is an incredible horse, with his own character. He always responds. I just have to trust him.”
Trust, in fact, seems to be the key to a partnership that today looks unbeatable.
Winner of the Japan Cup (G1), dominant in Europe, and now a hero at Meydan, Calandagan doesn’t just collect titles: he is building an era.
And while his connections consider a rest before new challenges—possibly with Royal Ascot and, once again, Japanon the horizon— one certainty begins to take hold. Knocking him off the throne will be no easy task. Because today, in world racing, Calandagan doesn't just win. He makes the difference.
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