Calandagan seals incredible year for Francis Henri-Graffard. (Dan Abraham/focusonracing.com)
French superstar completes Group 1 hat-trick in final Challenge Series race of 2025
Breeders’ Cup Release
ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, England – Aga Khan Studs’ Calandagan (IRE) produced a career-best to defeat a star-studded field in QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day. The 4-year-old son of Gleneagles (IRE) had already secured his automatic berth into the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In when landing the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) earlier this season.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
In the feature race of the day,Calandagan, who was sent off at 15-8, was settled towards the rear of the field along with market rivals Ombudsman (IRE) and Delacroix (IRE). The Aidan O’Brien-trained Mount Kilimanjaro (FR) and Devil’s Advocate (GB) set a fierce early pace. As the field turned into the home straight, the early pacemakers paid for their early exertions and soon folded.
The Ed Walker-trained Almaqam (GB), Mickael Barzalona-ridden Calandagan, and Ombudsman were the three horses to emerge out of the chasing pack approaching the 2-furlong pole. Inside the final furlong, Calandagan had established a 1-length advantage over Ombudsman, who tried valiantly to chase him down. Calandagan maintained his advantage all the way to the line to go one place better than he did in this contest 12 months ago when runner-up to Anmaat (IRE).
After winning the race for the second time since his first victory aboard Sealiway (FR) in 2021, winning jockey Mickael Barzalona said: “I think he’s a very good horse. He deserves it. When he found his action and I was ready to go, I let him go. I could feel Ombudsman coming to me, but I was going much better than him. There is such joy when these colors go across the line, and I feel very proud to be part of the team.”
Barzalona added: “It’s been an incredible job from everyone in the yard. Everyone works very hard, and it has paid off today.”
This was the icing on the cake for trainer Francis Henri-Graffard who has enjoyed a sensational year by winning top level races such as the King George & VI Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and now the QIPCO Champion Stakes.
He said: “”Work is easy for him and I worked him with Daryz before Arc weekend because I needed to get him ready for today. He showed Daryz how it worked and to have a gallop with an Arc and Champion Stakes winner is unbelievable.”
He continued: “He’s a fantastic horse and we’re lucky to have very nice horses this year who can compete at the top level, so I was able to give him a break before preparing him for this. He arrived in top form and is a real champion.”
Calandagan covered the 1 ¼ miles in 2:03:19 over a course listed as Good.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Calandaganto start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
