Calandagan Storms Home To Take Crown At Ascot

Back-to-back wins in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes for trainer Graffard

- 

ASCOT – Calandagan became France's second successive winner of Britain's summer showpiece when he claimed the £1.5 million (S$2.58 million) Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot on July 26.

Last year, French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard sent out 25-1 outsider Goliath to land the 74th running of the Group 1 event at Ascot. The German-bred upstaged a star-studded field, beating eventual Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) winner Bluestocking by 2¼ lengths, while Godolphin star Rebel's Romance finished third.

With regular partner William Buick in the saddle, the Charlie Appleby-trained seven-year-old aimed to go two better this time, but he had to settle for third again, albeit behind another French runner, Calandagan, from Graffard's yard.

Shortly after breaking from gate 4, jockey Mickael Barzalona had Calandagan – sporting the colours of the Aga Khan Studs – anchored at the back of the small five-horse field, while the Aidan O'Brien-trained Jan Brueghel (Ryan Moore) set a fast pace up front.

O'Brien's second runner, Continuous (Wayne Lordan) sat outside his stablemate in second, with Rebel's Romance tucked away on the rails in third.