Calandagan Wins King George Stakes, Secures Second Consecutive French Trainer Victory

Calandagan, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, won the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, becoming the fourth French-trained winner of the race this century. The 4-year-old gelding overtook Kalpana in the final furlong to secure a one-length victory, marking back-to-back King George wins for Graffard following Goliath's triumph last year. Despite earlier near misses, including a second place in the Coronation Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic, Calandagan demonstrated superior class and timing on a turf rated good. The race included strong competitors such as Kalpana, Rebel's Romance, and Jan Brueghel, with Calandagan strategically biding his time before making a decisive late move. This victory also earned Calandagan an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar. The win reinforces the Dubai Racing Carnival's reputation as a launchpad for global racing champions.