Calandagan back in search of elusive Group One gold
But his step up to Group One level has so far seen a series of near-misses, with second-place finishes in the Juddmonte International, Champion Stakes, Dubai Sheema Classic and Coronation Cup.
Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: 'He worked on Tuesday morning and worked well. He took his run at Epsom very well and he's going to run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday.
'It's going to be a very hot race this year, but he's in great form and I think he'll get his ground.'
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is also set to be represented by last year's King George winner Goliath, who returned to winning ways in the Group Three La Coupe at ParisLongchamp last time out.
The six-strong possibles list is completed by Joseph O'Brien's Al Riffa, Andre Fabre's Junko, the Christophe Ferland-trained Aventure and Iresine, representing the stable of Jean-Pierre Gauvin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
10 hours ago
- Leader Live
Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh
Adrian Murray's charge has run a number of excellent races in top-class company, finishing on the podium in the Norfolk Stakes, Railway Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and at the Breeders' Cup last season, while just last month he finished a neck second to Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Also a dual Group Three winner, the Amo Racing-owned Arizona Blaze was a 9-4 joint-favourite for this Group Two assignment and having been positioned on the front end from the start David Egan, he finished off strongly to deny Ed Walker's hat-trick-seeking British raider Mgheera by two lengths. Arizona Blaze bolts up in the Group Two Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes, with David Egan giving the @AMurrayRacing colt a bold front-running ride 👏 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 19, 2025 Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian said: 'We've had a tough time at the Curragh. This guy deserved a big win, to be honest. 'He's been second in a Breeders' Cup and second in a Group One at Royal Ascot, this was a well-placed race for him. 'The ground was going a little bit softer than he'd like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well. 'He's never run a bad race really. Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) have done an amazing job with him in the past two years. 'I probably have to thank Aidan (O'Brien) for not running a horse in this race!' He added: 'The entire team at Amo, whether it's in the UK or here, needed this little boost. We've had a little bit of a tough start to the season, but it's been good. 'You're in sport and I've been in sport all my life. Unfortunately in football it happens as well. You're going up for a big Champions League game and you get a hamstring, a knock or something goes wrong. You have to cope with those kind of moments and suck it in. 'This year we've had a very big investment in Freemason Lodge and a very big investment across the globe. That investment has to still show itself. 'We've had so many injuries this year – one after the other. We had a massive setback just recently with Ghostwriter, who unfortunately had an injury.' Coral cut Arizona Blaze to 8-1 from 12-1 for the Nunthorpe at York, with Paddy Power 10-1 from 20-1 about the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Joorabchian said: 'We haven't made any plans, this is a good moment for us. 'Everyone always said every time I came to the Curragh we always seemed to not get a winner, so I'm happy he's actually broken my duck. 'I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group One somewhere.'
Rhyl Journal
10 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh
Adrian Murray's charge has run a number of excellent races in top-class company, finishing on the podium in the Norfolk Stakes, Railway Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and at the Breeders' Cup last season, while just last month he finished a neck second to Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Also a dual Group Three winner, the Amo Racing-owned Arizona Blaze was a 9-4 joint-favourite for this Group Two assignment and having been positioned on the front end from the start David Egan, he finished off strongly to deny Ed Walker's hat-trick-seeking British raider Mgheera by two lengths. Arizona Blaze bolts up in the Group Two Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes, with David Egan giving the @AMurrayRacing colt a bold front-running ride 👏 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 19, 2025 Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian said: 'We've had a tough time at the Curragh. This guy deserved a big win, to be honest. 'He's been second in a Breeders' Cup and second in a Group One at Royal Ascot, this was a well-placed race for him. 'The ground was going a little bit softer than he'd like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well. 'He's never run a bad race really. Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) have done an amazing job with him in the past two years. 'I probably have to thank Aidan (O'Brien) for not running a horse in this race!' He added: 'The entire team at Amo, whether it's in the UK or here, needed this little boost. We've had a little bit of a tough start to the season, but it's been good. 'You're in sport and I've been in sport all my life. Unfortunately in football it happens as well. You're going up for a big Champions League game and you get a hamstring, a knock or something goes wrong. You have to cope with those kind of moments and suck it in. 'This year we've had a very big investment in Freemason Lodge and a very big investment across the globe. That investment has to still show itself. 'We've had so many injuries this year – one after the other. We had a massive setback just recently with Ghostwriter, who unfortunately had an injury.' Coral cut Arizona Blaze to 8-1 from 12-1 for the Nunthorpe at York, with Paddy Power 10-1 from 20-1 about the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Joorabchian said: 'We haven't made any plans, this is a good moment for us. 'Everyone always said every time I came to the Curragh we always seemed to not get a winner, so I'm happy he's actually broken my duck. 'I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group One somewhere.'
North Wales Chronicle
16 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh
Adrian Murray's charge has run a number of excellent races in top-class company, finishing on the podium in the Norfolk Stakes, Railway Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and at the Breeders' Cup last season, while just last month he finished a neck second to Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Also a dual Group Three winner, the Amo Racing-owned Arizona Blaze was a 9-4 joint-favourite for this Group Two assignment and having been positioned on the front end from the start David Egan, he finished off strongly to deny Ed Walker's hat-trick-seeking British raider Mgheera by two lengths. Arizona Blaze bolts up in the Group Two Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes, with David Egan giving the @AMurrayRacing colt a bold front-running ride 👏 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 19, 2025 Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian said: 'We've had a tough time at the Curragh. This guy deserved a big win, to be honest. 'He's been second in a Breeders' Cup and second in a Group One at Royal Ascot, this was a well-placed race for him. 'The ground was going a little bit softer than he'd like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well. 'He's never run a bad race really. Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) have done an amazing job with him in the past two years. 'I probably have to thank Aidan (O'Brien) for not running a horse in this race!' He added: 'The entire team at Amo, whether it's in the UK or here, needed this little boost. We've had a little bit of a tough start to the season, but it's been good. 'You're in sport and I've been in sport all my life. Unfortunately in football it happens as well. You're going up for a big Champions League game and you get a hamstring, a knock or something goes wrong. You have to cope with those kind of moments and suck it in. 'This year we've had a very big investment in Freemason Lodge and a very big investment across the globe. That investment has to still show itself. 'We've had so many injuries this year – one after the other. We had a massive setback just recently with Ghostwriter, who unfortunately had an injury.' Coral cut Arizona Blaze to 8-1 from 12-1 for the Nunthorpe at York, with Paddy Power 10-1 from 20-1 about the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Joorabchian said: 'We haven't made any plans, this is a good moment for us. 'Everyone always said every time I came to the Curragh we always seemed to not get a winner, so I'm happy he's actually broken my duck. 'I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group One somewhere.'
