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Calandagan Seeks Redemption at Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
4 Jul
Summary
- Calandagan aims to defend his Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud title after a rare poor performance.
- The horse faced difficulties on rain-softened ground at Epsom, marking his first non-podium finish.
- Future plans include a potential King George win, contingent on Sunday's performance.
Calandagan is set to defend his Grand Prix de Saint-Claude title on Sunday, seeking to put a rare poor performance at Epsom behind him. Last year, the horse achieved significant Group One victories, including the King George and Champion Stakes, before winning the Japan Cup. His strong form continued with a Dubai win, cementing his status as a top-rated racehorse.
However, Calandagan finished a distant fourth at Epsom, his first race without a podium finish in 16 starts, attributed to rain-softened ground. His racing manager expressed confidence in his current morning workouts and track familiarity. A strong showing on Sunday could lead to a bid for back-to-back King George wins at Ascot on July 25.
The competition will be fierce, with top mare Aventure, a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up, posing a significant threat. Aventure's connections opted to skip an Irish race due to extreme temperatures. Other contenders include Sunly, Eydon, Pride Of Arras, Lambourn, Leffard, and Cualificar.
