Calandagan had all the class to cruise to smart success in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and owned by Aga Khan Studs, the 15-8 French Raider was ridden by Mickael Barzalona in a quality field of 11.
John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman was the 13-8 favourite, with two horses leading in the home straight, but it was Calandagan who won by two and a quarter lengths, upgrading his second-place finish behind Anmaat last year.
Ombudsman finished second with a 28-1 length over Almaqam and three quarters to third.
More to follow…
