Calandagan last-to-first in BC WAYI King George VI & Queen Elizabeth

The Aga Khan Studs’ homebred Calandagan deployed his trademark turn of foot in a last-to-first performance in Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) at Ascot, securing his spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar.

The French shipper was warmly favored to turn the tables on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Jan Brueghel, who bested him in the June 6 Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom. Faster ground on a more conventional track promised to bring out the best in Calandagan, especially given his sensational victory in the King Edward VII (G2) in the same conditions at Royal Ascot last summer. But few could have foreseen that the Ballydoyle tactics would also play straight into Calandagan’s hands.

The key to Jan Brueghel’s victory in the Coronation Cup was the proper role played by his pacemaker, Continuous. A searching pace on a rain-affected course suited the stamina-laden Jan Brueghel, winner of last year’s St Leger (G1). Calandagan rallied, but found it tricky to balance himself on the Epsom camber, and he ultimately got outstayed by a half-length.

In his subsequent start in the June 29 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1), Calandagan had the right scenario to excel, and he seized it to earn an overdue first Group 1 trophy. The Francis-Henri Graffard trainee kicked away by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths from Aventure, the runner-up in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Calandagan’s superior acceleration made him the one to beat in the King George. The only plausible way that Jan Brueghel could confirm the Epsom form on Ascot’s quicker ground would be to repeat the tactics that had worked in their prior clash. That’s why Continuous was expected to turn on the speed early, make it an all-out test, and hope that Jan Brueghel’s staying power could foil Calandagan’s late speed.

The entire pace map was blown up from the start, to the surprise of participants and fans alike. Continuous was the one held up in a tracking second, while Jan Brueghel led through steady fractions, in a set-up that only catered to their rivals with a lethal kick. The scenario also undermined Godolphin’s two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf star Rebel’s Romance, who got stuck in the pocket behind Jan Brueghel. 

Traveling ominously well were the two in the back of the compact quintet – Juddmonte’s filly Kalpana and Calandagan, who was anchored in last by a confident Mickael Barzalona. Kalpana was the first to strike a blow, advancing sweetly on the outside turning for home, and surging clear down the stretch.

Calandagan followed Kalpana’s trail and showed admirable determination in pursuit. Although she kept rolling, Calandagan ultimately subdued her by one length. The Gleneagles gelding negotiated 1 1/2 miles on good going in 2:29.04, reflecting the muddling early tempo, and he paid $3.40 stateside. 

Kalpana, formerly the antepost favorite for the Arc, boosted her claims for the Paris showpiece with a terrific effort in defeat. With Calandagan being ineligible for the Arc as a gelding, Kalpana promises to represent his form well.

Rebel’s Romance finally escaped his traffic jam to take third, a further 2 1/2 lengths adrift. A clean trip likely would have put him closer, but the seven-year-old would have needed a career-best to outfinish the top two. Jan Brueghel lacked the requisite change of gear in a tame fourth, trailed by Continuous. 

Calandagan’s resume now reads 12-6-5-1. That third came in his debut as a juvenile, and prompted the decision to geld him.

“We struggled to load him when it came to the race,” Graffard recalled. “He showed a lot of character during the race, and he was beaten. We had no choice to geld him – I’d rather have a very good gelding than a bad colt.”

Calandagan is indeed a very good gelding. Also successful in last season’s Prix Noailles (G3) and Prix Hocquart (G3) prior to his six-length conquest of the King Edward VII, the bay finished second in the Juddmonte International (G1), Champion (G1), Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), and Coronation Cup. He finally broke through in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and made it two in a row here.

“I’m so pleased for this horse,” said Graffard, who also won last year’s King George with longshot Goliath. “It’s a fantastic race.

“I was not expecting the tactics during the race. When I saw Continuous going very steady, so it was all different. When they turned to home, my horse was still traveling well. He lengthened so well. He’s a very good horse.

“I was very impatient when I saw Kalpana going away so well. I wanted to see my horse lengthening and getting into a rhythm, but when I saw him really coming, I started to shout and help him up to the line. He’s won two Group 1s in a row now. MB (Barzalona) knows him very well, and the ride he gave him gave me a lot of confidence.”

While Rebel’s Romance is eyeing a third Breeders’ Cup Turf, via the Oct. 4 Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine, plans for Calandagan are less clear at this stage. Graffard told attheraces.com that Japan could be an enticing year-end goal.