Calandagan surges to victory in Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
If ever a horse lacking a Group 1 win deserved one, it was Calandagan. Second-best in four straight Group 1 races, Calandagan was second to none Sunday in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Calandagan, a 4-year-old Aga Khan homebred trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, had finished second last summer in the Juddmonte International, second last fall in the Champion Stakes, second this spring in the Sheema Classic, and second June 6 in the Coronation Cup.
Not only bettors, who sent Calandagan off at odds of 1-2, but jockey Mickael Barzalona were convinced that Sunday was the day.
Five ran in the 1 1/2-mile Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and they spent a good portion of the race going in a straight line, Junko at the head, Iresine at the tail. Barzalona settled Calandagan in fourth and didn’t move a muscle until 500 meters remained. He took Calandagan outside coming into the home straight, started moving his hands on his mount's withers and neck, and got an immediate response, as Calandagan cruised into contention. The challenge came from the filly Aventure, second last fall in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but Calandagan quickly repelled her and was going away at the wire while posting a 3 1/2-length victory.
Aventure finished a clear second over Junko. Goliath, wearing the blue and black silks of co-owner Resolute Racing, stopped badly in upper stretch and was distanced.
Calandagan is by Gleneagles out of Calayana, by Sinndar, and he could show up next in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Wherever he runs, Calandagan, instead of trying to break his string of Group 1 seconds, will be seeking his second win in a row.
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