Calandagan storms home to Sheema Classic glory

Calandagan showed why he is officially the best horse in the world when running down long-time front-runner West Wind Blows in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s five-year-old suffered defeat in this contest 12 months ago but would end the year top of the world standings after a winning run which began on home soil at Saint-Cloud and would then involve an Ascot double before ending the year with an historic triumph in the Japan Cup.

It was Simon and Ed Crisford’s West Wind Blows who slipped the field who raced in single file for the majority of the contest.

Rounding the bend for home Calandagan had just Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond behind him with Rossa Ryan still going strong aboard West Wind Blows. But an ice-cool Mickael Barzalona refused to panic and his mount soon began closing the distance with a sublime finishing effort.

He would pass his rival to earn a pat down the neck from his jockey, registering a three-quarters of a length success and teeing-up an exciting summer.

Graffard, celebrating his first winner in Dubai, said: “I’m relieved, the winter was long and he’s a world champion now and has a big reputation so we just needed to start and get the season going.

“It was a big race today and it’s always hard to have a horse completely ready for a race like that, I said to Mickael he might need the race. It was tactical and painful to watch but he’s a champion.

“Mickael and him get on well now but during the race he was a little on and off the bridle and on the last bend he was asking him to go. I think he needed the run and to get going, but it is now five Group Ones in a row and he’s a real champion so I’m glad Princess Zahra (owner) decided to start the season here.”

He went on: “I don’t know where we will go but he knows how to travel and enjoys his life.

“He’s a real champion and today was a big goal and my first winner in Dubai so I’m very happy.

“He’s important for the sport and a flagship horse so we won’t be afraid to travel.”

The Sheema Classic serves as a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Breeders’ Cup Turf which will this year be run at Keeneland and while accepting that could fit into Calandagan’s schedule, the one certainty seems that international competition will definitely be on the agenda.

Graffard added: “The Breeders’ Cup could be an option and I don’t see why not, but it might depend if we go back for the Japan Cup again. They are very hard races to win and American tracks are quite tight also, so it might not really suit his abilities.

“The Cox Plate could be a possible especially this year at Flemington which is a big galloping track, but we don’t want to be too greedy and we need to think about it and respect the horse.

“I said to Princess Zahra I hope your passport is OK, because we are going to travel.”