CALANDAGAN

Descending from Lagardère lines as a son of Group-placed Calayana (Sinndar), Calandagan is from the family of Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Clodovil.

The son of Gleneagles made his juvenile debut at Deauville in August, finishing third to promising Zarak colt Metropolitan despite racing wide around the track. He next start was a winning one, and an impressive one at that, as he scored by 10 lengths at Chantilly.

Calandagan returned to action in March 2024 in the Listed Prix François Mathet at Saint-Cloud, collecting his first piece of blacktype in a close-fought battle with the winner Bright Picture, the pair of them stretching clear of the field.

The following month, Calandagan made a successful reversal of form with Bright Picture, defeating him in the Gr.3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp for his first success at Stakes level. It was quickly followed up by another Group 3 win, this time in the Prix Hocquart, which set the progressive gelding up for a trip to Royal Ascot.

Calandagan fully justified his trip across the Channel, routing his rivals for a six-length win in the Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes, which provided France with their first victory of the 2024 Royal meeting.

“He is a fantastic horse–today he was perfect,” said jockey Stéphane Pasquier. “The pace was fast enough to come from behind and everything was easy. He can be a naughty boy sometimes and we have to ask him nicely, but today he wanted to do it all and when he is like this, he is a fantastic horse. I didn't do anything, I just asked him to do it by himself.”

Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who accepted the trophy on behalf of her father, added: “He has been improving over the last few months, but today he surprised all of us and has shown himself to be a very good horse. It is not one of our oldest families, but is a very consistent family. They tend to be a mile-and-a-half horses, but he has a turn of foot that is wonderful to see.”