Tag Archive for: Calandagan

Monday Musings: UK Prizemoney has a mountain to climb

Eighty-six horses, many of whose connections feared that heavy ground at Ascot would render their task hopeless, gathered on Saturday aiming to take a slice of the – for the UK anyway – lavish prizemoney on offer, writes Tony Stafford. It was British Champions Day, for four Group 1 races, a Group 2 and a one-mile handicap making up what from the stands seemed a motley six-race card and, in the end, the ground wasn’t too bad looking at the race times.

The UK administrators have clearly been beaten to the punch though by the Irish, and by their two-day feast at Leopardstown and the Curragh in September. Obviously, the French could never be budged from their also two-day sacrosanct Arc extravaganza over the first weekend of October.

So here we were again, switched from the outside flat track to the inner hurdles circuit. As I approached in the late morning, the sun finally having broken through, I passed the one-mile round start. The grass looked lush and verdant green, almost waiting for a herd of cows to come along and start munching.

Apart from Kyprios in the opener, there was no other established superstar on show although Roger Varian’s Charyn deserves to be elevated to the elite level after snaffling the day’s second biggest prize, the one-mile Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, with authority.

Saturday’s top pot, money-wise, the Champion Stakes, had been expected to be a match between the smart French-trained Calandagan and William Haggas’s improving Irish Champion Stakes winner, Economics. But in a rough race, Economics had a dreadful passage (and also reportedly bled), and it looked as though his fellow three-year-old Calandagan was home and dry, having squeezed through a gap at the rail.

But Jim Crowley on the lightly raced six-year-old Anmaat, at 40/1, also managed to thread a passage through in the dying strides to deny the younger horse and give trainer Owen Burrows a massive boost. Most of the crowd were scratching their heads, apart from my mate Steve Howard who fluked a tenner each-way and paid (with help of two of his friends) for a superb Chinese meal for nine of us on the proceeds.

To my mind, the Champion Stakes has never been the same, not benefiting at all from the switch in 2011 from Newmarket and its far less weather-susceptible surface, even conceding Frankel on his career finale the following year.

Saturday’s racing was eventful, Kyprios making it seven from seven on the season with one of his most commanding performances when collecting the G2 Long Distance Cup by an untroubled couple of lengths. What do the boys do now, we thought? Keep on collecting the same half dozen races as in 2022 and this year – 2023 was an injury-marred aberration – or retire him to stud? Not a bit of it, Aidan O’Brien said after the race, he’ll be having the winter off, coming back in the spring for the customary Navan then Leopardstown path to, hopefully, a third Gold Cup – and the rest.

The Stayers are given short shrift by the powers that be, the winner’s cheque £255,000 good enough for a non-elite race but below the other treasures on offer. £283k was the main prize for the sprinters and fillies and mares, while more than double that goes to the milers and ten-furlong stars. Takeaways for the two top prizes were respectively £737k for Anmaat and £655 grand for Charyn. Second home in the Champion Stakes was worth £279k for Calandagan while another French horse, Facteur Cheval, received £248k for his second to Charyn, both uncomfortably close to Kyprios’s take-home pay.

Calandagan had already earned eleven grand more than Saturday on his previous trip to the UK, following home City of Troy in the £703k to the winner Juddmonte International at York.  When Ambiente Friendly ran on into second behind City Of Troy in the Derby two and a half months previously, he collected £334k for the Gredley family and James Fanshawe against the winner’s prize of £882,000, best in the entire UK programme.

Thus, the top reward for a runner-up spot in UK racing in 2024 has been Ambiente Friendly’s £334,000. So what? you may ask. So what, indeed. On the other side of the world, at Randwick racecourse in Sydney, Australia earlier the same day, a horse called I Wish I Win collected £337,331 for finishing last of 11! That’s 43 thousand more than Ambiente Friendly’s best second prize of the entire UK race programme and, as near as damn it, £100k more than Calandagan picked up in the Champion Stakes later that day.

The six-year-old was competing in the Everest Stakes over six furlongs. If he had finished seventh, the money would have been just the same for this six-year-old who had previously won six of his 18 races. His total earnings to date have been a touch short of £7 million.

The year-older mare Bella Nipotina won the race, and her earnings leapfrogged Saturday’s tail-ender by dint of the £3.74 million to the winner – up to £8.78 million. She has won seven of 52 career starts and is trained by Ciaron Maher. Kyprios, with 15 wins from 19 starts and only a year younger than Bella Nicolina, has earnings of £2,635,000.

Until recently, Maher shared the training billing with Englishman David Eustace, son of James and brother to Harry, who has quickly built up a strong stable in their hometown of Newmarket. David has now moved to Hong Kong, another place where the prizemoney levels must burn into the hearts of those David has left behind in his native land.

Not content with knocking off the big one, Maher also collected more than a million for third and, for good measure, added another £1.5 million for the victory of Duke De Sessa in the Caulfield Cup. Caulfield, near Geelong in Victoria, is a mere 886 kilometres south, and a nine-hour drive, from Randwick. The race is usually a stepping stone to the Melbourne Cup, run at Flemington on Tuesday, November 5.

A nice touch on the last race of the Randwick card was the £1.58 million-to-the-winner King Charles III Stakes as the King and Queen embark on their tour of Australia. Maher was second here, threequarters of a length behind winner Ceolwulf, with the favourite Pride Of Jenni.

Reverting to the Everest, and its 20 million Australian dollar (just over £10 million) total prize fund, it threw up some other amazing facts. The 11 competitors after the race had each won more than £1 million in their careers to date, several of them from only a handful of runs, especially a trio of three-year-olds. Among these was a Justify colt owned by Coolmore called Storm Boy, who finished eighth behind the winner yet beaten only two lengths.

The total career earnings for the eleven, stands at a notch over £40 million from a total of 180 runs, which I make more than £22,000 per run. When Duke De Sessa was trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, he won around €100k for two Group 3 wins and one Listed victory.

The clue? The title name Everest is preceded by the letters TAB, the off-course near monopoly system which fuels the astonishing power of the prize money in that country. No wonder owners here beseech their horses to win nice races as three-year-olds and await the calls of the top trainers, of which Maher is no exception.

We’ve been saying it for half a century. Maybe the Prime Minister’s wife, who likes racing, might get her hubby and his party to rush through a bill to effect an off-course pool monopoly here. Actually, no rush, you have five years to do it!  We’d still have one or two bookmakers on the course for colour, although when it happens, don’t try to get a hefty bet on when you go racing, having paid all the excessive costs – for everything!

*

Last week at Newmarket, Book 2 of Tattersalls sales in Newmarket was also operating at more than 100,000 guineas per horse over the first two days – of course nothing like the drama of Book 1. Maybe if the buyers had been sending their precious acquisitions of the previous week straight to Australia you could start to understand how it could happen.  It won’t be the case; the Aussies are mostly too canny for that and wait to see what they can do on the track before biting.

At the other end of the scale, Book 4, starting late on Friday when most people had gone home, originally catalogued 81 yearlings. Of those, 20, probably wisely, didn’t show and of the remainder that did, 28 didn’t make their reserve prices.

In the event, 33 were sold through the ring, although others, probably out of desperation by their vendors will have found new owners later. The total official aggregate of the 33 that did change hands was £111k, for an average of just over three grand and a median of two thousand, both figures around one per cent of the Book 1 figures.

Ten found new buyers at the minimum bid of 1,000 guineas including a strong-looking Rumble Inthejungle colt bought by Henry Candy. Henry, one of the most-admired veterans of his profession, has been saying that he has no wish to retire, and that he has worked hard all his life and intends to continue to do so. I’d love that colt to win a race or two for him.

As for the hapless vendors who have nurtured their young stock with the same care as the posh studs who made all the big money, you must be totally sympathetic. To be in Book 4 is like a leper’s curse. Surely Tattersalls can either include them in a slightly enlarged Book 3 where they could have a chance as buyers are still around, or be more stringent on which horses they accept for the sale.

- TS

 



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Graffard proud but rueful as Calandagan is pipped to Champion Stakes post

Francis-Henri Graffard was left wondering what could have been after Calandagan narrowly failed to add to his Royal Ascot victory in the Qipco Champion Stakes.

The French raider thrived at the Berkshire track on summer ground when dazzling in the King Edward VII Stakes and then put up an almighty performance in defeat when second to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

He was sent off the 6-4 favourite for this mouthwatering clash with Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics, but with soft ground and an unhelpful draw to contend with, Stephane Pasquier had to cutely weave his way to the front with half a furlong to run.

Calandagan was a taking winner at Royal Ascot
Calandagan was a taking winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

However, connections were soon left disappointed and could only watch on as – with what appeared the hard work done – glory was snatched away by Jim Crowley aboard Owen Burrows’ 40-1 scorer Anmaat in the dying strides.

Calandagan’s trainer was proud of his charge’s performance, but was left rueing not only the troubled passage through the race, but also the testing conditions on British Champions Day.

Graffard said: “It was a very good effort and he was stumbling a few times on that ground and as Stephane said, he had to keep asking him to keep going in that ground and it didn’t suit him much.

“Second again – I am so upset. We had a very difficult draw, and in that ground this horse puts in too much effort.

“But we had a very good race, he quickened clear and I thought the race was for us. Then he got caught on the line, so that’s it.

“We didn’t see the winner coming and he met some trouble in running. He probably prefers a mile and a half and being in his own bubble where he can quicken very strongly. Today it was out of his pace and he then had trouble when starting to come with a run and then made his effort, it’s tough.

“He’s a very good horse and this year he has been winning or second all the time, I think he’s a very talented horse. We will give him a nice break now over the winter and hopefully we see him again next year. He deserves a nice break now.”

For William Haggas it is a case of back to the drawing board with Economics after the 2-1 second favourite failed to recreate his Irish Champion Stakes heroics.

Economics failed to fire in the Qipco Champion Stakes
Economics failed to fire in the Qipco Champion Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

Prior to the race Haggas conceded testing conditions were both an unknown and a worry, but refused to use the ground as an excuse. It was reported by the veterinary officer that the colt – who finished sixth – had bled from the nose during the race.

Haggas said: “He was a bit disappointing obviously, Tom (Marquand, jockey) felt the ground was a bit soft for him but I said I wasn’t going to use that as an excuse, so I’m not going to.

“He seems fine. There was a little bit of blood in his nose so we will sort that out and regroup.”

Marquand was in agreement that his mount was unsuited by the underfoot conditions, but hopes this is just a minor blip in the horse’s career.

The Economics team will have to regroup
The Economics team will have to regroup (Healy Racing/PA Wire)

He said: “It was obviously not the result we wanted it to be, but when you are contending with an unknown like the ground, it is tough. He’s been very good on good to firm ground, but today it just didn’t work out for us.

“Obviously the blood in the nose is a concern, but William and (wife) Maureen are the ones who see the horse every day and I just get on him at the races.

“They know him better than anyone and if there is a problem, they will be fixing it. Hopefully it is nothing serious that is going to impede him being the best horse he can be.”

He went on: “As a jockey you want Group One horses to stay with you and he is top horse, he showed that in the Irish Champion and I’m praying he stays around.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Calandagan and Economics primed for Champion Stakes battle

Calandagan and Economics will engage in what promises to be a captivating clash for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

It is a measure of the strength of the final all-aged Group One of the British Flat season that Irish Derby hero and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe third Los Angeles is only third best in a market dominated by Francis-Henri Graffard’s French raider and a horse William Haggas holds in the highest regard.

Calandagan edges it on official ratings, having backed up his brilliant victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot by finishing best of the rest behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International.

The Aga Khan-owned gelding has enjoyed a short break since that late-August effort and Graffard is delighted with his condition as he looks to follow in the hoofprints of recent French-trained Champion Stakes victors Cirrus Des Aigles (2011), Almanzor (2016) and Sealiway (2021).

Calandagan (left) chases home City Of Troy at York
Calandagan (left) chases home City Of Troy at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m very happy with Calandagan, he’s in very good form and ready to defend his chance on Saturday,” said Graffard

“The soft ground shouldn’t be an issue for him and I couldn’t be happier with him, so now we need a bit of luck in running.”

Calandagan is owned by the Aga Khan, who has previously won the race with Vayrann (1981) and Kalanisi (2000).

“We’re looking forward to it and Calandagan is very well,” said Georges Rimaud, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France.

“It’s good to give them a break and I believe he has come back well and has worked very well, so we are very happy and we’ll see what will happen.

“I understand they have moved the course to the track with the smaller straight, so it’s going to be acceptable ground I believe.

“Of course, Economics is a very good horse, but it’s a Champion Stakes and you’ve got to be a champion (to win it), so it’s a good thing that there are good horses in there.”

Behind City Of Troy, Economics has been the breakout star of the 2024 Flat season.

Unbeaten in all four runs, he has won the Dante, a Group Two in France and confirmed his place at the top table when beating Auguste Rodin and Los Angeles in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Haggas resisted the temptation to run him in the Derby, despite his six-length win in the key trial at York, and in landing the Irish Champion Stakes – sponsored by the owner of Economics – it is hard to say the decision has not been vindicated.

The trainer said: “I think he’ll be OK on the ground because I think he’s very versatile, but it will be on the top of the list of excuses if it all goes wrong, I suppose.

“As hard as it is to miss the Derby, the relief of winning the Bahrain race on Champions Day in Ireland meant that possibly we had made the right decision.

“It was a very tough race and a very strong race. It’s a very complicated track is Leopardstown and I thought Tom (Marquand) was exceptional. He came in and said he’s a tough horse, as it was very messy. He asked a lot of him at various times and the horse didn’t let him down.”

While the Newmarket handler has no doubt his new stable star will stay a mile and a half in time, there was no great urge to run him in this year’s Arc.

“Only a fool would run him over anything else at the moment,” he said. “He’s run four times (this season) and three times over 10 furlongs – and he’s done very well.

“I think everyone who has watched him has come to the conclusion he might be just as effective over a mile and a half in time, he’ll go over that next year.

“Calandagan is obviously a very good horse and will be a danger to everyone. He has won over a mile and a half and I think he’ll need every inch of the trip, I think it will be very interesting.

“He’s a very smart horse, let’s hope they both get there and what will be, will be. He was very impressive at Ascot. I fancied our horse (Space Legend) in that race very much and he was binoculars away in second.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Marquand hoping to see Economics show his ‘class’ once again

Big-race jockey Tom Marquand is banking on Economics displaying the class he showed in Ireland last time out when he lines up for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

He is on course to face Calandagan, who gave City Of Troy a real fright in the Juddmonte International at York, after 17 horses stood their ground at Monday’s confirmation stage.

The William Haggas-trained Economics has been the breakout star of the season, winning all four of his races, and confirmed he was a real top-notcher when winning the Irish Champion Stakes out from Auguste Rodin.

Marquand is the lucky man on top and is also looking for his second win in the race.

He said: “I had another spin on Economics a couple of weeks ago and he felt fantastic. He’ll have to contend with slower ground than in Ireland, but we are hopeful he’s versatile in that respect and that he’ll be just as effective.

“Winning the Irish Champion Stakes on him was a massive thrill. He had to fight for it, but he showed how good he is, and we are hoping he’ll show that class again and win the Ascot version.

“I was lucky to win it before on Addeybb, and although he wasn’t quite my first English Group One, it’s a big day and a big race to win.”

Francis-Henri Graffard’s Calandagan shot to prominence with a six-length win in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Calandagan was a hugely impressive winner at Royal Ascot
Calandagan was a hugely impressive winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

The gelding went on to prove he belonged at the highest level at York, and the clash between the pair is eagerly anticipated.

He will still be ridden by Stephane Pasquier, even though Mickael Barzalona has signed as retained rider for owner the Aga Khan in 2025.

“I’m definitely riding him at Ascot, and that’s good news for him and good news for me also. I rode him in work last week and he was very good. He is a fantastic horse and he’s in good form. When I rode him last week he was perfect,” said Pasquier.

“It’s a strong race, but Calandagan did something so special at Ascot and again at York. He has a very good turn of foot and it would need something very special to beat him. It would need City Of Troy to beat him!”

Adding further strength in depth are the likes of Anmaat, Al Riffa, Continuous, Los Angeles and King’s Gambit.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Calandagan all set for Champion Stakes clash with Economics

Calandagan’s trainer Francis Graffard is relishing the prospect of a Qipco Champion Stakes clash with Economics.

The Aga Khan-owned gelding heads to Ascot on October 19 having won three of his five starts in 2024, including a six-length romp in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting back in June.

Subsequently beaten just a length by City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International at York, Calandagan – who as a gelding was unable to contest the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – arrives in Berkshire fresh from a break, with his trainer unconcerned by the possibility of testing conditions and eager to take on Irish Champion Stakes victor Economics.

Calandagan (left) ran City Of Troy close at York
Calandagan (left) ran City Of Troy close at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Graffard said: “Everything is well with Calandagan and he looks in very good shape. He has had a bit of time since York and, provided all goes well between now and Champions Day, he will be spot on for the Champion Stakes.

“I thought it was a fantastic run at York. He accelerated strongly and his final three furlongs were impressive. The main difference between York and Champions Day will likely be the ground, but he has form on soft ground earlier in the year.

“We have already met City Of Troy and now we take on another very strong opponent in Economics. It will be interesting to see how it pans out, and ground conditions could be a factor, but we know that Calandagan is a very good horse and look forward to the race.”

Iresine wins the Prix Foy
Iresine wins the Prix Foy (ScoopDyga/France Galop)

Fellow French-trained runner Iresine is also due to tackle the Champion Stakes, having won the Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp last month.

Trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin, who has yet to saddle a runner in Britain, said: “We could have stayed in France for the Prix du Conseil de Paris or the Prix Royal-Oak, but the Royal-Oak has moved to Saint-Cloud, a track where Iresine performs worse than at Longchamp.

“The horse deserves to run in Group One races and we all collectively really want to experience this English adventure with the different co-owners, including my children.

“The distance may be short for him, but he has already won a Group race, the La Coupe, over 2,000 metres (10 furlongs). The distance is not the most important factor for him. With Iresine, the key is the ground. We hope it will be as soft as possible.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Calandagan heading for big clash with Economics

Francis-Henri Graffard reports Calandagan to be in “top form” as he builds up towards a mouthwatering clash with Economics in the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month.

So impressive when winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot by six lengths, the son of Gleneagles was last seen powering up the York straight to finish a clear second behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International.

Being a gelding, Calandagan is ineligible to run on home soil in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, therefore making Qipco British Champions Day on October 19 the obvious destination.

Graffard said: “Calandagan in top form and is training to go to Ascot.”

The three-year-old is the 2-1 second-favourite for the Champion Stakes with Paddy Power, who make the William Haggas-trained Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics their 6-4 favourite.

Another Graffard inmate with an upcoming top-level target is the regally-bred Zarigana, who took her career record to two from two with a dominant display in the Group Three Prix d’Aumale.

A granddaughter of the unbeaten Arc heroine Zarkava, the Siyouni filly is being readied for a return to ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.

“Zarigana is a lovely filly and won nicely and she will be targeted at the Prix Marcel Boussac,” Graffard added.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Champion Stakes high on the list of targets for Calandagan

Connections are favouring the Qipco Champion Stakes for Calandagan after his valiant second to a “true champion” in the Juddmonte International at York.

The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained bay has had a superb season so far, scoring a Group-race hat-trick that began with success in the Prix Noailles and led to victories in the Prix Hocquart and then the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The latter run was a brilliant six-length triumph and booked the gelding’s place in the Juddmonte International at York last week for a first test at Group One level for owner-breeder the Aga Khan.

There he was a 13-2 chance under Stephane Pasquier when stepping down in trip, and though left in mid-division by the fast early pace the three-year-old was always travelling well as City Of Troy made the running.

On the turn for home Calandagan began to progress on the outside and in the straight he showed a very smart turn of foot to pass the majority of the field and give chase to the leader.

Stephane Pasquier celebrates aboard Calandagan at Royal Ascot
Stephane Pasquier celebrates aboard Calandagan at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

City Of Troy held on to a one-length win with Calandagan behind him, and the third-placed Ghostwriter was a further three and a half lengths back as the first two home broke the track record set by the great Sea The Stars in 2009.

Options for Calandagan’s next outing are narrowed down by the fact that he is a gelding and therefore not eligible for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with connections currently favouring Ascot in October instead.

“He came out of the race really well, I am very pleased to see how he took that race – even better than the race at Ascot,” said Graffard.

“We dropped back in distance so it was hard to get closer to the pace, but he finished really strongly and he was beaten by a true champion so we were very pleased with his run.

“We haven’t made a decision yet, but at the moment we are leaning towards the Champion Stakes at Ascot for his next run.”

There will be suitable races overseas once the European season reaches an end, but it is yet to be decided whether Calandagan will stay in action that long or will be wound down for a winter break before returning next year.

Graffard added: “He has opportunities abroad, but it depends if we decide to wait for next year or if we keep going this season, that will be decided with the owner.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Calandagan delights Graffard in Juddmonte International defeat

Francis-Henri Graffard was proud of Calandagan in defeat after the French raider found only the brilliant City Of Troy too strong in an epic Juddmonte International at York.

Calandagan was on a roll after completing a hat-trick for the season with a stunning display in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he was a 13-2 shot to continue his winning streak in what looked the race of the season on the Knavesmire.

There was no hanging around from the much-heralded Derby hero City Of Troy, who galloped his rivals into submission from the front to claim victory in a course record time – and it was Graffard’s charge who gave him most to think about.

Stephane Pasquier’s mount ate up the ground in the home straight and will briefly have had City Of Troy’s supporters sweating after moving onto his tail. He could not quite get on terms, but his trainer felt he lost little in coming up only a length short.

“It was a fantastic run. They jumped very fast and then they took a pull and that didn’t suit us, as we found ourselves quite far from the lead,” said Graffard.

“He tried my horse, the way he quickened in the straight, it was fantastic to watch. I shouted as I was thinking we were coming to get him (City Of Troy), but he kept pushing and he is a champion.

“I’m very proud of our horse. It is the first time he has run in a Group One and we didn’t have any Group One form before, so there were still a lot of question marks – but the way he accelerated in the straight was fantastic and he is a very good horse.”

While in no rush to firm up future plans, Graffard raised a return to Ascot for the Qipco Champion Stakes in October as a possibility.

He added: “Obviously we will see how he comes back. He can come back to Ascot for the Champion Stakes, we will speak to the entourage obviously, but we know he doesn’t mind soft ground.

“There are plenty of options. As you know, he’s a gelding. We’ll see how he comes back because I think he gave a lot of his heart on the racecourse today.

“He definitely could (travel abroad), but I think he’s a horse that wants a big, galloping track.”

Having finished third behind City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month, Clive Cox’s 33-1 shot Ghostwriter again picked up the bronze medal to emerge best of the home team.

Ghostwriter (second right) finishing third in the Juddmonte International
Ghostwriter (second right) finishing third in the Juddmonte International (Mike Egerton/PA)

Cox said: “I’m extremely proud. It was definitely the race of the year and I’m very proud of how my horse has acquitted himself impeccably, enjoying the drier surface.

“Full marks to Richard Kingscote for the ride he gave him from stall 13 and I’m highly delighted with the run and proud to be part of it.

“It was a career-best without a shadow of a doubt. We’ve always believed in him, he was an incredible two-year-old, these dreams always felt possible and thankfully he’s confirming those possibilities.

“I think a mile and a quarter is his trip and I don’t think we’ll be searching to take him further.”

Bluestocking winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh
Bluestocking winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)

Bluestocking has enjoyed a fine season for trainer Ralph Beckett and owners Juddmonte, landing the Middleton Stakes over this course and distance in the spring before breaking her Group One duck in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland and then finishing second to Goliath in the King George.

Solid market support led to her going off the 5-1 second-favourite for her latest top-level assignment and while she was far from disgraced in fourth, connections felt the run exposed her limitations against the best of the boys.

“She’s run a huge race, to be fair. The first three home are very good horses and to be best of the rest in what looked like the race of the year was a huge run,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“Today was to find out whether she was up to an Arc or if she is a filly for the Prix de l’Opera or the Fillies & Mares on Champions Day. I think today we found out we’ve got a very good filly, but she’s probably better sticking to her own sex.

“We’re very, very happy with her and Rossa (Ryan) said the trip makes no difference (mile and a quarter or a mile and a half).

“Obviously we’ve had two course records today, so the ground is quick and Rossa felt she might be a little bit better on softer ground, but we were comprehensively beaten, so we’ll go back against our own sex and try to win another (Group One) before the year is out.

“All year she hasn’t let us down. I know you’re always disappointed to finish fourth, but that was a huge run.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Calandagan and Zarakem offering French resistance to City Of Troy

Francis-Henri Graffard hopes his Royal Ascot winner Calandagan is ready to step forward when he takes his chance in the Juddmonte International at York.

The Gleneagles gelding faces a star-studded line-up on the Knavesmire, with Derby and Eclipse winner City Of Troy and Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly part of the record 13-strong field for York’s richest-ever race.

Calandagan has impressed this year and was a three-quarter-length second on his seasonal reappearance in a Listed event at Saint-Cloud.

He then won the Group Three Prix Noailles and Prix Hocquart at ParisLongchamp, with all three of those races coming on soft or heavy ground.

Calandagan displayed his versatility when he won the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on good to firm, and Graffard is confident he is ready to move up to the highest level for the first time, in an event which is part of the Qipco British Champions Series.

Graffard said: “He’s in very good form. We gave him time after his win at Ascot and he’s back to his best form and ready to take his chance. He’s ready for the next level and we’ll see where we stand.

“The opposition is very strong, but I think York will suit him as it’s a big, galloping track with a long straight compared to somewhere like Deauville.

Francis-Henri Graffard
Francis-Henri Graffard has enjoyed Group race success in England this season (John Walton/PA)

“He was very difficult as a two-year-old and we were struggling to get the best out of him, so we had no choice (to geld him), but he’s a completely different horse now.”

Zarakem is another French raider, with trainer Jerome Reynier seeing the race as the perfect preparation for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe later in the year.

The four-year-old disappointed on his first attempt at Group One level in the Prix Ganay, but it was a different story in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes when only beaten three-quarters of a length in second by Auguste Rodin at 33-1.

Jerome Reynier
Jerome Reynier will bring Zarakem across the English Channel (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“They are talking about the hottest race of the year. We are not very far from it. It is going to be a very strong test,” Reynier said.

“Obviously, he ran a really good race at Royal Ascot and he showed he was able to deal with the fast ground at the highest level. We are going to wait at the back for some pace and hopefully we will be finishing as fast as the other day.

“It was a long trip (to Ascot) and he had to recover from it. He looks amazing and he’s been training very well. We are really looking forward to seeing him again in England and his final target will be the Arc in early October and we thought this was the perfect race to use as a trial.

“We are going to try our best to be the most competitive we can. There’s a long straight and he’s been handling Longchamp heavy ground and fast ground at Ascot, so he’s shown he’s very versatile and there shouldn’t be any issue with the racetrack.”

Ghostwriter winning the Royal Lodge Stakes last year
Ghostwriter winning the Royal Lodge Stakes last year (Tim Goode/PA)

Clive Cox is confident of a strong run from Eclipse third Ghostwriter, despite a less than ideal draw.

Cox said: “As we expected, it is one of the most competitive races of the year. It was always going to be highly competitive and we’re really looking forward to it.

“He ran really well at Sandown and the form has been franked with the second horse winning in Germany (Al Riffa in the Grosser Preis von Berlin), so we’re happy. I would have chosen a different draw (13) given a choice, but I’m very happy that we’re going there in good form.

“We’re looking forward to this week and that will guide us accordingly (for future plans this season). We’d prefer a drier build-up than a wet one.”

Durezza is another from overseas taking his chance, with the Japanese St Leger winner making his UK debut.

“He has won the Japanese St Leger, but his other four wins have been around 10 furlongs,” said Yusuke Sai, racing manager for Japan’s Northern Farm, who bred the international contender.

“He is not a thorough stayer, he has a bit of class. He can stay, but we think 10 furlongs to a mile and a half is his best distance.”

Alflaila
Alflaila has won three times at Group level at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Owen Burrows-trained Alflaila is a course specialist, having won the Group Three Strensall Stakes and Group Two York Stakes twice.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “He’s another older horse, he’s there to try to win what he can, we are taking on the very best so nobody’s saying he’s going to go and win it.

“But I’m sure if he runs his race he’ll be there or thereabouts. He’s got a great mind on him, lovely attitude and loves his work.

“Our horse is a regular Group Two verging Group One class and who knows, he might not be good enough, that’s fine, but I’m sure he will be give a good account of himself.”

Maljoom (right) chases home Notable Speech (left) at Goodwood
Maljoom (right) chases home Notable Speech (left) at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

William Haggas’ Maljoom ran a big race when second to Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and jockey Tom Marquand believes he will handle the step up in trip.

He said: “It was a massive run at Goodwood, where he was second to a Guineas winner and an exceptional horse, and everyone was in agreement afterwards that the step up to a mile and a quarter would help him and was the next logical step.”

Israr steps up to Group One level after winning the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot and Richard Hills, assistant racing manager for Shadwell, said: “He’s in there on his own merits.

“Sheikha Hissa took the view that he deserves his chance. He loves fast ground; York will suit him really well and I think he’ll run a big race. He’s in good nick.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

‘He’s ready to go’ – Goliath taking on King George giants

Francis-Henri Graffard’s Goliath will return to Ascot on Saturday for a tilt at the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.

The Adlerflug gelding travelled from his home in France in June to contest the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting, where he was second to Isle Of Jura over the King George trip of a mile and a half.

Having fared well since that performance, a repeat journey back to English shores now beckons and he will step up to Group One level over the same course and distance at the weekend.

Christophe Soumillon will get the leg-up, and Graffard is hopeful the pace will be quick in what he expects to be a hot renewal.

“He is in very good form, he came out of his race at Ascot in great shape,” said Graffard.

“We have freshened him up, he’s back to 100 per cent and he’s ready to go again.

“He’s running again on Saturday in the King George, Christophe Soumillon takes the ride.

“It would be nice if there was a little bit more pace, it seems to be a very strong renewal of the race so we’ll see how he gets on.”

Calandagan (green) was a brilliant winner at Royal Ascot
Calandagan (green) was a brilliant winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Graffard may have hit the crossbar at Royal Ascot with Goliath, but his stablemate Calandagan did not miss, running out a superb six-length winner of the King Edward VII Stakes.

He could also be headed for England as he holds an entry for the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, although Deauville is also a possibility with the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano on the table.

Graffard added: “He’s in great shape, the plan has not quite been made yet for the future. He has York and Deauville as options.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Graffard in no rush to map out Calandagan plan

Francis-Henri Graffard is set to give impressive Royal Ascot winner Calandagan a break after his exploits in Berkshire.

The King Edward VII Stakes winner is ineligible for some big Group One races in France after being gelded and Graffard is likely to give the son of Gleneagles a rest before deciding what his next assignment will be.

Calandangan won a pair of Group Three races at ParisLongchamp on soft and heavy ground before charging home by six lengths in the hands of Stephane Pasquier at Group Two level to show he can go on any surface.

Graffard said: “We know how hard it is to be competitive and win at Ascot, so we are delighted with this win of course.

“He can’t run in the Grand Prix de Paris and Arc de Triomphe. We will see where we go next. He came out of the race well but he probably needs a little bit of a break now.”

Francis-Henri Graffard
Francis-Henri Graffard is likely to give his Royal Ascot hero a break (John Walton/PA)

One horse that could make a return to Britain is Goliath, who ran impressively to finish second behind Isle Of Jura in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes.

Graffard hinted that the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes back at Ascot could be an option for the four-year-old.

He said: “Goliath is a horse I’ve always liked. He’s quite difficult to manage during the race. He pulled too much again on Saturday but he was a comfortable second.

Goliath (yellow cap) chased home Isle Of Jura in the Hardwicke Stakes
Goliath (yellow cap) chased home Isle Of Jura in the Hardwicke Stakes (John Walton/PA)

“He came out well and can even return in the King George. It’s a thing we can look at with the owner but he’s a nice horse and we are pleased with the track.”

However, the trainer was baffled by Rouhiya’s poor run in the Coronation Stakes.

The Lope De Vega filly won the French 1000 Guineas but ran no race at Ascot, trailing home last of the nine runners and six lengths adrift of the field.

Graffard said: “We have to find out what went wrong. I have my idea behind my back, in my head, but she didn’t run a minute – too bad to be true.

“I don’t know where she will go next. I want to find out what went wrong.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Calandagan cruises to King Edward victory

Calandagan delivered an impressive blow for the French raiders at Royal Ascot, as he routed his opponents in the King Edward VII Stakes.

The French contingent looked blessed with plenty of live chances prior to the meeting, but they had to wait until the penultimate race on day four to get on the board via the Aga Khan-owned son of Gleneagles.

Keen to set a stiff stamina test for 2-1 favourite Diego Velazquez, the remaining Aidan O’Brien-trained team forced the pace in the early stages, with Chief Little Rock the one to go on in an attempt to stretch the field.

Having travelled alongside the well-regarded second favourite Space Legend into the straight, Diego Velazquez struggled to make his presence felt, and just as James Doyle began to get busy aboard one of Wathnan Racing’s big-money buys, the eye was drawn to Calandagan who was storming into contention.

Winning trainer Francis Graffard in the Ascot winner's enclosure
Winning trainer Francis Graffard in the Ascot winner’s enclosure (John Walton/PA)

Stephane Pasquier delivered the 11-2 shot with just over a furlong to run and he soon stretched clear of Space Legend for the most taking of victories.

It was trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s second winner at the Royal meeting having first tasted success with Watch Me in the Coronation Stakes back in 2019.

He said: “With the draw we had we found ourselves a little bit out the back, but we decided to ride him by himself as he’s not used to a big field like that.

“It was very straightforward. It’s a pleasure to come, we’ve had a tough week so it’s good to finish on a nice winner.”

Calandagan hails from the family of Classic winner Clodovil but was gelded at the end of his juvenile campaign.

Graffard added: “First time out at Deauville he was very difficult, he wouldn’t load so we had no choice (but to geld him). I’m sure the Princess (Zahra Aga Khan) will tell me she is upset we gelded him, again! Every win she is telling me, she is not happy, not happy!

“It’s brilliant, I am delighted for her.”

Princess Zahra Aga Khan was at Ascot
Princess Zahra Aga Khan was at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Princess Zahra added: “He has always been a very good horse and he has shown himself to be improving. Today he has shown himself to be a very good horse.

“They’re all homebred and this family is not one of our oldest families, but it’s good to see them do well as they’re a very consistent family. They tend to be mile-and-a-half horses but he has a turn of foot and it’s wonderful to see.

“He is a special one and he is one we can keep, he will have a really interesting career.”

Ezeliya was a Classic winner in the Aga Khan colours when landed the Oaks last month, but Princess Zahra missed the race due to travel issues.

She added: “That was a once-in-a-lifetime race, the fact that I wasn’t there – I was crying in my mum’s kitchen! It was really bad!”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns