Calandagan completes ‘incredible chapter’ with Longines award win

Princess Zahra Aga Khan reflected on an “incredible chapter” after seeing Calandagan officially crowned as the world’s best racehorse at the Longines World Racing Awards in London on Tuesday.

The five-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2025, belatedly breaking his Group One duck in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud before landing the King George and Champion Stakes at Ascot and then travelling to Tokyo to become the first overseas runner in 20 years to land the Japan Cup.

During a glittering ceremony at the Savoy Hotel, Francis-Henri Graffard’s charge was given a season-ending rating of 130, putting him 2lb clear of the rest.

Princess Zahra of Aga Khan Studs said: “I would like to thank all of our team, who make this happen. Everyone from the breeding sheds to the racecourse, we’ve had an amazing year.

“This is the result of amazing training, amazing riding, amazing care of the horse and fantastic work in the stable yard.

“When you get to the racecourse it is over in three minutes, but it takes four or five years of work. In fact longer, from when we’re sitting in the office making those decisions.

“It’s been an incredible chapter. My father and great-grandfather bought the original mares, they’ve done very, very well and Calandagan is a great example of the speed and strength of these families – I think a lot of my father.”

Five horses sit 2lb behind Calandagan in the rankings, including John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman, who having won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International during the summer, finished second to Graffard’s charge in the Champion Stakes.

The four other horses rated 128 are Japanese Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Forever Young, Hong Kong sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising, Japan Cup runner-up Masquerade Ball and the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Sovereignty.

Looking back at Calandagan’s historic season-ending success in Tokyo, Graffard said: “It brings so much emotion, but it was a very stressful day for me.

“When you are out in Japan you realise what an honour it is to be invited to this race, you realise how important this race is globally and how difficult it is to win.

“I felt a lot of pressure and during the home straight I thought we were going to win, then I thought we were beaten.

“Thankfully on the line we were in front. That is what racing is all about and why I love my job.”

The Calandagan story is far from over, with the son of Gleneagles being readied for a possible return to Meydan and a tilt at the Dubai Sheema Classic, a race in which he finished second to Japan’s Danon Decile last March.

“We haven’t discussed an exact plan yet but he is in very good shape, I am delighted with him,” Graffard added.

“He is such an intelligent horse with a lot of ability and talent, he loves his job and we are so blessed to have him in the yard.

“I think we will start in Dubai and then we will probably stay in Europe in the summer, then maybe a challenge in the Japan Cup will be on the agenda also.”

Mickael Barzalona, who was ever-present in the saddle aboard Calandagan last year, said: “It is a privilege to be part of this team. Calandagan is a horse you just need to trust and once you trust him, he always gives you his best.”