Much-deserved: the honest Calandagan finally enjoyed his big moment at Saint-Cloud

After four consecutive runner-up finishes at the top level, Francis-Henri Graffard’s trainee earned his well-deserved victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1)

Calandagan finally earned that long-awaited G1 victory he had worked so hard for / COOLMORE

SAINT-CLOUD, Francia (Special for Turf Diario).- Consistency and class were finally rewarded for Calandagan, who capped his career to date with a well-deserved victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) on Sunday, Europe’s weekend highlight for stayers and a natural stepping stone towards the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

The son of Gleneagles, bred and raced by the Aga Khan, had finished second in four consecutive Group 1 events but at last broke that string of near-misses with an imposing performance. Under a perfectly judged ride from Mickaël Barzalona, the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee travelled comfortably throughout, and after a smooth final turn, quickened decisively to draw clear in the straight for a commanding 3 1/2-length victory over Aventure (Sea the Stars). Junko (Intello) finished a further 2 1/2 lengths back in third, underscoring Calandagan’s dominance.

“The race set up perfectly for him, and I think today we saw him settle into the group’s rhythm in a more fluent, composed way,” a satisfied Graffard commented. “After Epsom, we realised he probably needed that run – both the track and the rival were factors. Today he showed how much he’s progressed and that he’s gaining experience, as is his jockey, who knows him better each time out.”

He added: “He has never run a bad race. When he was beaten, it was down to circumstances or facing champions. Today, everything went to plan and he showed his true quality.”

The Grand Prix was the first Group 1 triumph for Calandagan, who had already proven his affinity for Ascot’s 2400 metres last year with an impressive win in the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. That performance left no doubt about his suitability for the English course, and his name is once again surfacing as a major contender for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1).

“Obviously we’ll discuss it with the owners, but Ascot is a place where he has already won, and I’d love to bring him back there at his best,” Graffard concluded.

Now four and consistently competitive at the highest level, Calandagan is shaping up as a key figure among Europe’s staying division this season. Finally, his abundant talent found the top-level reward it so richly deserved.