Calandagan Set for Sheema Classic Bid After Stellar 2024 Campaign

The outstanding Aga Khan homebred closed out the season ranked fifth in the world according to the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, a testament to his consistency and top-class performances throughout 2024

Calandagan heads to Meydan, aiming for his first G1 victory / DRC

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (By a special correspondent) – Calandagan wrapped up last season as the fifth-best horse in the world according to the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, just 3 pounds behind world champions Laurel River (Into Mischief) and City of Troy (Justify).

A son of Gleneagles and owned by the Aga Khan, the French-trained colt earned his place in the rankings after two stellar performances at a mile and a quarter, finishing second behind City of Troy and Anmaat (Awtaad), respectively.

Now, his trainer has opted to stretch him out again to the 2410 meters of the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), the same distance over which the chestnut dazzled when winning by 6 lengths at Royal Ascot last June.

“That day he surprised me, and I think he surprised a lot of people,” recalled trainer Francis Graffard during a press conference at Meydan. “He was way back at the rear and finished with tremendous power, never stopping his progression. It was an impressive performance in a high-level meeting.”

The trainer continued: “Then we decided to go to York and shorten the distance, and he also had a great race. It was his first G1 attempt, and he performed really well. I believe the first two broke the track record that day, so it’s a shame that he had to face City of Troy at that point.”

Calandagan will break from stall 2, though Graffard insisted that this time he will “learn from the mistake” and won’t ask jockey Mickaël Barzalona to take advantage of the inside draw with a horse that “needs to find his rhythm.”

“We hope he doesn’t get too far behind, but I’m not going to repeat the Ascot situation and force him to be near the pace because of the draw,” explained Graffard. “We’ll let him run his race. If he’s relaxed, we know he has a strong finish.”

Finally, Graffard revealed that there are no plans for Calandagan to race in France this season. Instead, the plan is to gain international experience, with the goal of following in the footsteps of the globetrotting Rebel’s Romance (Dubawi), a star for Godolphin.