Calandagan finally breaks Group One duck
However, returned to home soil he proved a cut above the opposition in what appeared a stacked contest on paper, storming three and a half lengths clear of Christophe Ferland's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Aventure.
Calandagan is now 3-1 joint-favourite with his Epsom conqueror Jan Brueghel with Coral for a King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes rematch at Ascot on July 26.
CALANDAGAN WINS THE GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3lkNSVN8xr
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 29, 2025
Graffard said: 'Well, he's not ungenuine. The race went really well for him and I thought he was travelling much more into the rhythm of the race this time.
Mickael (Barzalona, jockey) said he still had to ask him to keep up sometimes during the race but then in the straight, when there is rhythm and he can follow the pace, he can really lengthen and quicken really strongly. I thought he was really impressive.
'After Epsom my first conclusion was that he needed the run probably against that horse on that ground that day. I thought he came on a lot for that and I think he's gaining experience with his jockey knowing him better also.
'He's never run a bad race and he's either been beaten by a champion or circumstances. Today everything went his way and we saw how good he could be.
'I will obviously discuss the King George with connections, but he is entitled to go to Ascot, it is a place he has won before and I would like to take him there 100 per cent.'
What a talent he is! 🙌
Daryz makes it four wins from four with a cosy success in the Prix Eugene Adam!@mickaelbarzalon | @GraffardRacing pic.twitter.com/guWhvMxXp0
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 29, 2025
Calandagan's victory capped a fine afternoon for Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs team as they earlier watched Daryz remain unbeaten with an impressive display in the Prix Eugene Adam.
George Scott's Bay City Roller can count himself unfortunate to bump into the exciting son of Sea The Stars, who after being shortened to just 14-1 for the Arc, could take a trip to York for the Juddmonte International Stakes later in the summer.
'We'll take it step by step with Calandagan and the next race (at Ascot) is a big one. But if you want to talk about the Juddmonte International then that is a race I will put forwards for Daryz,' Graffard added to Sky Sports Racing.
'I will discuss with Princess Zahra where she would like to go, but I will probably make an entry for Daryz at York and he is a horse I like a lot. I need to make him tougher and give him experience and I think he will get that if he goes abroad.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Novak Djokovic showed true colours with message to Kate Middleton at Wimbledon
The Princess of Wales gave out the trophies after the Wimbledon men's final last year between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in one of her first public engagements since her cancer diagnosis Novak Djokovic sent a heartfelt message of support to Kate Middleton after meeting the Princess of Wales at Wimbledon. Having lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the men's final for the second year in succession in July 2024, Djokovic was presented with the runner-up trophy by the princess, who is a patron of the All England Club. It was just her second public engagement since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March that year. Kate, who was undergoing chemotherapy at the time, had attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London the previous month. After losing in straight sets to Alcaraz, Djokovic was buoyed to see Her Royal Highness looking so well. He also spoke of his respect for the Royal Family and their support of tennis. 'Yes, it was of course a privilege to be in her presence again,' said Djokovic when asked what he had said to Kate. 'I've said to her that it is very nice to see her in good health. She seems to be in good health. 'That's obviously very positive news for everyone in this country but also for Wimbledon, for Championships to have Her Royal Highness here, of course with her family members. It's amazing. 'It's incredible support they've been giving over the years to this tournament. I know that she and her sister [Pippa] have played tennis for a very long time. 'So they truly respect, admire the game. They also understand tennis, which is great. It's wonderful to have that kind of support from the Royal Family.' Djokovic will have been delighted to hear in January that Kate was in remission from cancer. Since then, she has been making a gradual return to public duties. Kate recently missed Royal Ascot for the second successive year as she sought the right balance following her treatment. Her appearances have increased in recent weeks. She has attended three high-profile events, including Trooping the Colour, the annual Order of the Garter service and a visit to a V&A storage facility in London. Meanwhile, Djokovic remains in the hunt for his eighth Wimbledon title and 25th Grand Slam crown after seeing off Briton Dan Evans in straight sets in the second round. Despite being 38, the Serbian icon isn't thinking about joining former 'big three' rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in retirement. 'I don't pause to reflect, to be honest. I don't have time,' said Djokovic, who faces fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic on third round on Saturday. 'I would like to. But I think that's going to come probably when I set the racket aside and then sip margaritas on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect on our rivalry and everything. 'If I play like today, I feel like I have a very good chance against anybody, really, on the Centre Court of Wimbledon, a place where I maybe feel the most comfortable on any court. 'I felt great physically, mentally sharp. Game-wise, I'm playing as well as I can, really, on grass. So hopefully I can keep it up. My aspirations and objectives are very high – to go all the way.'
Leader Live
13 hours ago
- Leader Live
Unsatisfactory scope scuppers Giavellotto's Newmarket defence
Marco Botti's stable star was a decisive winner of the Group Two feature on the opening day of the July Festival last season and rounded off his campaign with top-level success in the Hong Kong Vase. Having finished a creditable third in last month's Coronation Cup at Epsom, Giavellotto was being readied to defend his crown on the July Course before being scratched on Friday morning. Explaining his absence, Botti said: 'We scoped this morning, he had a few coughs and we weren't happy with the scope. Tomorrow (Saturday) he was meant to be doing a piece of work and we felt he wasn't going to be 100 per cent. 'It's disappointing because this race has been in my mind for a long time and there's not many left in the race, but on the other hand the horse's welfare comes first and if we feel he's not going to be 100 per cent, there is no point in going to the races. 'These things normally just take a few days and then they are OK and it's just unfortunate that we're so close to the race and were meant to gallop the horse tomorrow. We just felt it's not the right thing for the horse to gallop with a little bit of infection, but I'm sure it will clear up soon.' Botti is unsure where Giavellotto will make his next appearance, with a return to Sha Tin in early December top of his agenda. The trainer added: 'We have made an entry in a Group One in Germany in August and long-term we would obviously like to run him in Hong Kong, so we'll work backwards from that. 'As the season goes on into the autumn another thing we have to bear in mind is the ground, because he doesn't want it soft. 'He has an entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but we made that entry a long time ago and I would say at this stage it's not a race we'll probably go for. All the other options will be considered and Hong Kong would be the priority basically.' A small field is guaranteed for the Princess of Wales's Stakes, with Charlie Appleby leaving in Arabian Crown and El Cordobes and John and Thady Gosden confirming both Military Academy and Palladium. The other contenders are James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye and the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who was last seen finishing third behind Godolphin's globetrotting star Rebel's Romance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Six entries have been made for the Group Three Bahrain Trophy, including Aidan O'Brien's pair of Galveston and Scandinavia, with the former of particular interest after finishing third in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting. Andrew Balding's Furthur, who came even closer to Ascot success with a close-up second in the Queen's Vase, also features. Nine juveniles are in the mix for what looks a strong renewal of Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes. Appleby could saddle Norfolk runner-up Wise Approach and the unbeaten Maximized, while Ed Walker's Do Or Do Not also brings strong form the table having finished second in the Coventry Stakes. O'Brien's sole representative is Curragh maiden winner Brussels, with Eve Johnson Houghton's Salisbury scorer Zavateri, Paul and Oliver Cole's impressive Goodwood victor Jel Pepper and Hugo Palmer's dual winner Tricky Tel others of interest.
South Wales Guardian
15 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Unsatisfactory scope scuppers Giavellotto's Newmarket defence
Marco Botti's stable star was a decisive winner of the Group Two feature on the opening day of the July Festival last season and rounded off his campaign with top-level success in the Hong Kong Vase. Having finished a creditable third in last month's Coronation Cup at Epsom, Giavellotto was being readied to defend his crown on the July Course before being scratched on Friday morning. Explaining his absence, Botti said: 'We scoped this morning, he had a few coughs and we weren't happy with the scope. Tomorrow (Saturday) he was meant to be doing a piece of work and we felt he wasn't going to be 100 per cent. 'It's disappointing because this race has been in my mind for a long time and there's not many left in the race, but on the other hand the horse's welfare comes first and if we feel he's not going to be 100 per cent, there is no point in going to the races. 'These things normally just take a few days and then they are OK and it's just unfortunate that we're so close to the race and were meant to gallop the horse tomorrow. We just felt it's not the right thing for the horse to gallop with a little bit of infection, but I'm sure it will clear up soon.' Botti is unsure where Giavellotto will make his next appearance, with a return to Sha Tin in early December top of his agenda. The trainer added: 'We have made an entry in a Group One in Germany in August and long-term we would obviously like to run him in Hong Kong, so we'll work backwards from that. 'As the season goes on into the autumn another thing we have to bear in mind is the ground, because he doesn't want it soft. 'He has an entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but we made that entry a long time ago and I would say at this stage it's not a race we'll probably go for. All the other options will be considered and Hong Kong would be the priority basically.' A small field is guaranteed for the Princess of Wales's Stakes, with Charlie Appleby leaving in Arabian Crown and El Cordobes and John and Thady Gosden confirming both Military Academy and Palladium. The other contenders are James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye and the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who was last seen finishing third behind Godolphin's globetrotting star Rebel's Romance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Six entries have been made for the Group Three Bahrain Trophy, including Aidan O'Brien's pair of Galveston and Scandinavia, with the former of particular interest after finishing third in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting. Andrew Balding's Furthur, who came even closer to Ascot success with a close-up second in the Queen's Vase, also features. Nine juveniles are in the mix for what looks a strong renewal of Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes. Appleby could saddle Norfolk runner-up Wise Approach and the unbeaten Maximized, while Ed Walker's Do Or Do Not also brings strong form the table having finished second in the Coventry Stakes. O'Brien's sole representative is Curragh maiden winner Brussels, with Eve Johnson Houghton's Salisbury scorer Zavateri, Paul and Oliver Cole's impressive Goodwood victor Jel Pepper and Hugo Palmer's dual winner Tricky Tel others of interest.
