Calandagan was claiming a sixth win from 12 career starts
In a compelling display, French contender Calandagan surged from behind to overtake Kalpana and secure victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Under the guidance of jockey Mickael Barzalona, Calandagan’s triumph marked a second consecutive win for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, following Goliath’s success the previous year.
The 11-10 favorite faced scrutiny after narrowly missing out to Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last month, but emphatically silenced any doubts with a decisive performance this time.
“I’m so pleased for this horse,” remarked Graffard after Calandagan, adorned in the Aga Khan’s green and red colors, secured the win by a length.
Jan Brueghel, trained by Aidan O’Brien, initially set a steady pace before eventual runner-up Kalpana seized the lead approaching the final furlong.
Rebel’s Romance, hampered along the rail, ultimately finished third in the five-horse race.
Calandagan’s victory follows a recent win in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, preceded by four consecutive second-place finishes in top-tier Group One races.
“I wanted to see my horse getting into his rhythm and lengthening his stride, when I really saw him coming I started to shout,” Graffard explained.
“He won nicely again today, he’s a good horse, that’s two in row now in Group Ones.”
Despite the defeat, Andrew Balding’s Kalpana has emerged as a leading contender for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, currently holding odds of 8-1.
The King George remains a highlight of the Flat racing season, with organizers announcing on Saturday that it will become Britain’s richest race next year, boasting a prize fund of £2 million.
With a purse of £1.5 million this year, on par with the Derby at Epsom, its prestigious list of past winners includes legendary names such as Nijinsky, Shergar, Dancing Brave, and Galileo.
The 2025 King George marked the 75th running of the race, also commemorating 50 years since Grundy’s victory over Bustino in a contest famously dubbed ‘the race of the century’.
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