Ka Ying Rising (NZ) might be the world’s best sprinting gelding, but at the other end of the scale the Aga Khan Stud homebred Calandagan takes the prize as the best staying gelding.
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings given their lack of opportunity at the elite level in Europe, but one that they do is five year-old Calandagan.
Trained by Francis Henri Graffard, he returned to winning form overnight in France to win the Group I Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (1m4f) for the second year in a row in spectacular fashion.
Only fourth at his previous start in the Group I Coronation Cup at Epsom on a bottomless wet track, Calandagan bounced back on firmer footing for Mickael Barzalona, zooming home from last to score by a neck over the Godolphin runner Cualficar.
“I was upset with myself after Epsom. Today I thought Calandagan was sweating a little bit too much and I could see he was a little bit worried, so I was worried too,” said Francis-Henri Graffard.
“At the end of the orders, I said to Mickael [Barzalona], 'Forget everything we said. Just ride him for himself. It doesn't matter if he's beaten, he just needs to get his confidence back.'
“That's what he did. But he's such a good horse. As soon as he hit the front, like he did in Dubai, he just relaxed. Mickael said his acceleration is so long and he can keep accelerating for so long.
“He's an unbelievable horse and I think mentally he'll be very pleased with himself. The plan is to go back to the King George. Obviously we'll see how he comes out of the race and do what's right by the horse, but it's the obvious race for him. He loves Ascot.”
The 2025 European Horse of the Year, Calandagan has the overall record of 10 wins and six placings from 17 starts with Aga Khan Stud’s Princess Zahra offering some good insight into her champion.
Could he become the first gelding in history to win the Arc next year when the conditions are changed allowing geldings to enter.
Calandagan is a half-brother to current season stakes-winner Calasita and Group III placed Calamandra being the best of four winners from four foals to race from Group III placed Sinndar mare Calayana with third dam Clodovina, a stakes-placed three-quarter sister to Group I winner Clodovil.
Calandagan is the best offspring of Galileo’s Group I winning son Gleneagles who stands at Coolmore at a fee of €20,000.
