Here is Calandagan winning the Japan Cup. It is an amazing race
I have nothing but praise for this wonderful horse who has done what no overseas horse has done in 20 years. Calandagan has won the Japan Cup and our QEII cup in consecutive months. It is a wonderful thing this horse has done!
Thanks to Racing Post for the photo and report
Calandagan became the first overseas winner of the Japan Cup in 20 years after fending off local favourite Masquerade Ball in a thrilling finish.
The four-year-old surged home in the straight to strike in a photo-finish, making it four consecutive top-level wins in a row after wins in the Grand Prix Saint-Cloud, King George and Champion Stakes.
He scoops a whopping £2.6 million for the victory in prize-money and an additional £2.3 million bonus, having won the King George, one of the qualifying races in the invitation bonus scheme.
Mickael Barzalona positioned him in midfield and he surged home in Tokyo’s wide straight to break Almond Eye’s record time.
Barzalona and the jockey of eventual runner-up Christophe Lemaire shook hands shortly after passing the post together, with the two French riders pulling clear of the field. But Lemaire was one of two riders to unseat shortly after the line, with Keita Tosaki also unshipped on Danon Decile on his first start since the Juddmonte International.
Victory continues a brilliant season for connections after Daryz struck in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for Barzalona and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.
Calandagan was the first visitor to prevail since the Luca Cumani-trained Alkaased prevailed under Frankie Dettori in 2005, while the wait for the last French-trained winner stretches to Le Glorieux in 1987.
How Calandagan was described prior to the race. It has been a long time since Europe let alone France had the best horse in the world
The win comes shortly after a brilliant display at Ascot
It is a small world! Ascot is on the doorstop of Eton – where I am today. Tokyo and Japan seem far away but for Calandagan they are just race tracks where he shows his immaculate talent.
When the video is available, I will post it here. I am not a racing man, I’m just a fan of this great sport and delighted that the Labour Government spared racing from the taxes that will hurt other areas of gambling.
Whether Japan, the American Breeders Cup or Britain, Ireland and Frances’s wonderful tracks, horse racing is a wonderful sport which we promote properly. You could have watched the race this morning at 6.30 am on Sky Sports!
It’s a multi-channel thing – wherever you look Canandagan is champ!
