Calandagan conquers Japan Cup with hard fought win in Tokyo

Calandagan completed a remarkable campaign with victory in Sunday’s Japan Cup, setting a new record time in the Tokyo Group 1.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for owners Aga Khan Studs, and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Calandagan became the first overseas winner of the race for 20 years and did so in determined fashion, fighting tenaciously to get the better of local favourite Masquerade Ball, who was ridden by Frenchman Christophe Lemaire.

The pair were both held up in midfield but came with charging runs on the outside almost as one around a furlong and a half from the finish, before battling it out to the line.

Masquerade Ball briefly nosed ahead but Calandagan, winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George and Champion Stakes on his three previous starts, dug deepest once more to prevail by a head in the manner of a true champion.

The winner, who also broke Almond Eye’s record time in Sunday’s contest, landed a huge £2.6 million in victory, plus an additional £2.3m bonus due to winning the King George, one of the qualifying races as part of the invitation bonus scheme.

For Graffard, it completes a remarkable year of success which also included Daryz providing him with a first Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and a memorable trip to Southern California courtesy of Gezora in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

Daryz is also owned by the Aga Khan Studs, while Graffard has now won more Group 1 races in a single season than any other French trainer has managed to achieve in history.

“Incredible,” Barzalona said on the @AtTheRaces X account. “That was our final big day and it’s not easy for the European horses to win the Japan Cup, as we see it’s been 20 years since, but Calandagan proved how good he was again today.

“My worry was to just have a smooth race but I thought with a smooth race he will show his best. When I saw Christophe (on the runner-up) was just there I say ‘OK, we need to try and follow him’. Even when Christophe hit a bit of a flat spot in the straight I thought it was my time to go and we had to fight for two furlongs.

“Calandagan proved he was the best again today.

“He can go from 10 furlongs to a mile and a half, and he’s always travelled very well. He will always find something at the end.

“Today he proved he is a big fighter.”

On the magnitude of riding a Japan Cup winner, he added: “They do a lot of show before the race (in Japan) but it’s respectful and they love their horses so it’s always a big experience.”

Graffard told the Racing Post: “I was really nervous before the race. It’s one thing bringing the best horse in the world to this race, but he faced a really high-quality field. Everything seemed to go well, but I was looking for Christophe Lemaire and he seemed to get a dream run through.

“He went a head up and I thought we were beaten, but he’s tough and he battled back. He’s an exceptional horse to have put his head in front on the line.”

The Sheema Classic in Dubai was later mentioned by connections as a potential next port of call for Calandagan, with stablemate Daryz set to content major Group 1 races in Europe through 2026.