Calandagan and Rebel's Romance headline Dubai Sheema Classic

The Aga Khan’s hombres son of Gleneagles owed his lofty position to running two huge performances in defeat to City Of Troy and Annmat, both over 2000m

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Calandagan ended last year as joint-fifth highestrated in the end-of-year Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, just 3lb behind world champions Laurel River and City Of Troy.

The Aga Khan's hombres son of Gleneagles owed his lofty position to running two huge performances in defeat to City Of Troy and Annmat, both over 2000m.

Now trainer Francis Graffard has elected to step Calandagan back up to the 2410m of the Sheema Classic, the same trip as when roaring away to a six-length success at Royal Ascot last June.

"He did surprise me and I think he surprised a lot of people that day," Graffard told a media conference at Meydan.

"He slept at the back of the field and quickened very strongly before keeping going. It was a very strong performance at a very strong meeting.

Graffard added: "We decided to go to York and to drop back in distance and it was a fabulous run that day.

"It was his first attempt in a Group I and it was a very strong performance. I think the first and second broke the track record that day so it's a shame that City Of Troy was there."