England: Calandagan gains BC Turf berth with victory in Champion Stakes

For a gelding based in France, Calandagan is right at home at Ascot Racecourse in Britain.

On Saturday, Calandagan won for the third time in four career starts at the famous track west of London in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles. Calandagan’s only loss at Ascot was a second in the 2024 Champion Stakes.

This year, Calandagan ($6.80 in American pools) closed from the back of a field of 11 under jockey Mickael Barzalona to win the $1.9 million Champion Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over even-money favorite Ombudsman, who closed from last.

“I could feel Ombudsman coming to me, but I was, fortunately, much quicker than him,” Barzalona said. “I think Calandagan is a very good horse and he deserves this.”

With the win, Calandagan earned a fees-paid berth to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1, although there was no immediate indication that a trip to California is likely.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Calandagan was well off the pace until early stretch. With a wide move, Calandagan took the lead with a furlong remaining.

“Calandagan is a fantastic horse,” Graffard said. “The way he was working coming into this race was just incredible. He loves this track, and we know him very well. When he took his stride in the straight, it was just so beautiful to watch. Ombudsman was trying to challenge him, but Calandagan is a very good horse.”

Ombudsman moved into second in the stretch, seemingly poised to challenge for the lead, but could not catch Calandagan. Almaqam (31-1) finished third, a nose in front of 5-1 Delacroix, who raced in traffic briefly in early stretch.

Ombudsman won the Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Delacroix won the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes last month.

Calandagan, a 4-year-old by Gleneagles, races for the family of the late Aga Khan. Earlier this month, Graffard and the same owners won the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Daryz.

Graffard said on Saturday that Calandagan and Daryz worked in company before the Arc. Calandagan is a gelding and therefore ineligible to run in the Arc de Triomphe.

Calandagan won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Ascot in June 2024, and the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Ascot in July of this year.

Graffard said the Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 30 will be considered for Calandagan.

Calandagan has won 7 of 13 starts and is on a three-race winning streak beginning with the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in Paris on June 29.

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