King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Group 1, Ascot 16:10
£1,500,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus,
1m 3f 211y, Class 1   
Saturday 26th July 2025

SureWIn

1 Calandagan 11/10F
2 Kalpana 15/2
3 Rebel's Romance 5/1
5 ran Distances: 1l, 2½l, nk
Time: 2m 29.74s (slow by 0.04s)

On a day built for theatre, it was the French challenger Calandagan who took centre stage at Ascot, producing a surging late run under Mickael Barzalona—sealing back-to-back wins for Francis-Henri Graffard’s Chantilly stable in one of the sport’s most storied prizes.

There was no shortage of intrigue beforehand. A rematch with Jan Brueghel, who narrowly edged him in the Coronation Cup, loomed large on paper. But it was Kalpana, bold and brave in the hands of Rossa Ryan, who took the race by the scruff in the straight and very nearly slipped the field.

What followed was classic Ascot drama. Barzalona, motionless with poise, bided his time aboard the well-backed 11-10 favourite, letting the race unfold in front of him. And as Kalpana turned for home and committed fully, Calandagan began to wind up.

Stride by relentless stride, the Aga Khan silks lengthened into view—green and red once carried by legends, now thundering again with purpose. In the final 100 yards, Calandagan swept past the gallant front-runner to win by a length, etching his name alongside the likes of Shergar, whose triumph in the same colours still echoes across the turf.

Graffard, who trained last year’s winner Goliath, was quick to pay tribute:
“I’m just so pleased for the horse. It was a strong race, but he was always travelling beautifully. When Kalpana kicked, I knew he’d need to dig deep—but I also knew what was under the bonnet. Once he lengthens, he’s a serious horse.”

Tactically, the race played out differently than expected. Continuous set a steady gallop, and the pack stacked up behind, requiring patience—and then precision. Barzalona delivered both.

“I just wanted to see him find his rhythm,” Graffard added. “When he did, and started to lengthen, I knew we had our chance. Mickael knows him so well now, and the confidence he showed out there was immense.”

This was a second Group One on the bounce for Calandagan, and attention now turns to future targets. A return to York for the Juddmonte International—where he chased home City Of Troy last year—is firmly on the radar.

“We’ll see how he comes out of the race,” said Graffard. “A mile and a half is perfect, but he ran a huge race over ten furlongs last year, so it’s very much an option. There’s even the Japan Cup to think about. He’ll have a big assignment somewhere.”

For Barzalona, the win carried personal resonance.

“This one means a lot,” he said, glowing in the aftermath. “It took time to land that first Group One, but now he’s done it twice and to win the King George—it’s very special. He’s a dream to ride. You put him in the right spot, and he takes care of the rest.”

A regal race. A royal performance. And a horse now firmly among Europe’s elite.

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes
(Sponsored By Qipco) (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£1,500,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 3f 211y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (4    Calandagan 4 9-9 F-H Graffard Mickael Barzalona 11/10F
2 (5) 1 Kalpana 2 4 9-6 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 15/2
3 (1) 2½ Rebel's Romance 7 9-9 Charlie Appleby William Buick 5/1
3 (2) nk Jan Brueghel 4 9-9 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 5/2
2 (3) 14 Continuous 5 9-9 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 40/1

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