“I haven’t really been able to understand the power of these Aga Khan green colour,” said Mi. Mickael Barzalona in claiming victory on Calandagan in the QIPCO Champion Stakes.
“I know they are followed by everyone and I think that is true as there is such joy when they see these colours go across the line, and I am very proud to be part of the team.”
Calandagan atoned for his narrow defeat in last year’s Champion Stakes, as he stormed to a 2¼ length success over arch rival Ombudsman in 1m2f showpiece at Ascot racecourse.
Ombudsman in being the World’s Best Ranked Racehorse threw down the challenge to Calandagan at final furlong but could not go on, with Almaqam a 1¾ lengths third.
“Calandagan was a bit far back early on, and we were on different ground today, but when he found his action, he got ready to go,” as Mickael Barzalona continued saying.
“I could feel Ombudsman coming to me but I was, fortunately, much quicker than him. I think Calandagan is a very good horse and deserves this, as the cream rose to the top.”
In fact, Calandagan is the only horse since Brigadier Gearard, who in 1972 claimed both the Champion Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes race double.
In August he claimed the Grand-Prix de St-Cloud over 2400m, the same as the King George, to make it three-on-end in this his 5yo season, and second in Coronation Cup at Epsom.
An excited Princess Zahra Aga Khan was over joyed saying “Calandagan is a very good horse and really coming into his own now., and once he had his space, he was unstoppable.”
“It was great to see. We can keep on racing him, within reason. There is always a risk within that and we want to be careful, but he can go international.”
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who also trained Daryz to win Arc, said “Calandagan is a fantastic horse, and his work coming into this race was just incredible and he loves this track.”
“We know him very well, and 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.”
Home bred by the Aga Khan Studs, the gelded son of dual 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles is from the Lagardere lines, a son of Group-placed winning Sinndar mare Calayana.
In fact, he’s the fourth French-trained winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes since it moved to Ascot, following Cirrus des Aigles in 2011, Almanzor 2016 and Sealiway 2021.
“Ombudsman has run a wonderful race. He did get slightly shuffled back to last and he has tried to come from last, “said trainer John Gosden, “but take nothing away from the winner.”
“It is a great win for Princess Zahra and I’m thrilled for them, and the pacemakers set a proper pace and our pacemaker was only collared with a furlong and a half to go – full marks.”
Ombudsman’s jockey William Buick added “Ombudsman has had some season and ran a super race, with the pace so solid throughout it was going to be me and with Calandagan.”
Ed Walker with the third placed Almaqam stated “Very, very proud of him. The toughest Group One for decades. They’re all tough, but everyone turned up for that.”
“To be fair, I would have taken third or fourth beforehand. You come here to win, you want to win, but Kieran Shoemark gave him an absolute peach of a ride, doing everything right.”
