Top of the world: Calandagan soars to the head of global rankings as preparations gear up for Japan Cup mission

Calandagan will be the sole international challenger for the Japan Cup at the end of the month and is reported to be in rude health ahead of his trip to Tokyo. 

Calandagan's trainer Francis Graffard has withdrawn Goliath from the race, while Los Angeles and Queenstown, Aidan O'Brien's possible runners, have also been taken out. 

The King George and Champion Stakes winner came through a racecourse gallop on the Chantilly all-weather under Mickael Barzalona in exemplary manner on Wednesday, and on Thursday officially rose to the top of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings thanks to the 130 rating he posted in winning the Champion Stakes, replacing Ombudsman, who he beat at Ascot, at the top of the global list. 

"He worked on the Chantilly Polytrack on Wednesday with a couple of companions and we were very happy with him," said Nemone Routh, racing manager to the Aga Khan Studs in France.

"He was very professional, as he always is, and Mickael asked him to go past. While he didn’t clear right away, he probably ‘won’ by two or three lengths. He’ll do what you ask him to do, and he moved well and seemed very happy with himself." 

Routh added: "He’ll have one more piece of work and will then begin his journey on November 19."

Mickael Barzalona after Calandagan's King George victoryCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Calandagan began his 2025 campaign when chasing home Danon Decile in the Dubai Sheema Classic on April 5, but Routh pointed out that he had been raced with the specific idea of having a go at another major prize outside Europe at the end of the year.

"He’s a top-class horse and is in very good form and, while I wouldn’t say travelling is a question mark, it is a difficult trip," said Routh. "It’s been a long year in the sense that he had to get fit for the first week in April, and now he’ll be running in the last week of November. 

"We didn’t exactly give him a break after the King George, but we did back him off a bit so that we could entertain running him in an international race at the end of the year. 

"It’s been a long season, but it will be only his sixth run and he has taken his recent race well."

Calandagan's new rating of 130 puts him 2lb clear of Ombudsman and 3lb ahead of stablemate Daryz and Field Of Gold. 

Croix Du Nord (orange cap): won the Tokyo Yushun over the same course and distance as the Japan CupCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

Of the other horses to have produced performances of global significance since the October rankings were published, Forever Young failed to improve on the 127 of his Saudi Cup win when landing the Breeders' Cup Classic, while Ka Ying Rising remains on 126 after his success in The Everest. 

No European horse has won the Japan Cup since the Luca Cumani-trained Alkaased in 2005, and the home defence looks set to be bolstered with the news that Croix Du Nord – winner of the Japanese Derby and Prix du Prince d'Orange but a disappointment when drawn wide in the Arc – has returned to full training with Takashi Saito and is being aimed at the big race at Tokyo.

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