Perhaps they intend to win the 4 groups I of the “British Champions Day” meeting, but, in reality, our Anglo-Irish friends could have some worries, as the strike force of the French delegation is formidable announcement Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot…Indeed, the best French 3-year-old, Calandaganthe best tricolor miler Metropolitan (3 years), as well as stainless Iresine (7 years old), in full possession of his means, the excellent Postman Cheval (5 years), and a priori, the gifted Beauvatier (3 years old), will challenge the elite of European thoroughbreds with the highest ambitions.
Calandagan has the means to afford Economics
Leader of the French representatives, Calandagan inspires a lot of confidence in his mentor, Francis-Henri Graffard who declared: “Calandagan is in very good shape. He was able to benefit from time from York (2nd, only a length of City of Troy in the International Stakes on August 21). Provided that everything goes well until Champions Day, the horse will arrive at best for the Champion Stakes (Gr.I – 2,000 meters). He was fantastic at York, accelerating hard at the end and his last 600 meters impressed me. The main difference between York and Champions Day will likely be the pitch (editor’s note, heavy rain is forecast for Wednesday at Ascot, three days before Saturday, D-Day, where a few showers are expected by the MetOffice) but he has good outings on soft ground. We have already faced City of Troy and from now on, we are competing against another very good horse, Economics (3 ans). It will be interesting to see them together in a race where terrain could play a role.” Indeed, if the Irish Champions Stakes, which he won brilliantly, constituted the first major test ofEconomicsthese Champion Stakes could be even more difficult for the resident of William Haggas. He has never raced on soft ground at this level of competition. Departing for French training too, Iresine will be the first starter across the Channel, from his trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin, who could have played it safe by running at home but who is attempting the adventure against the best: “We could have stayed in France, run the Prix du Conseil de Paris or the Prix Royal-Oak, but the horse deserves to be at the start of a high-level Group I, and we can’t wait to live this experience in England. The distance might turn out to be short for him but he has already won (The Cup) over 2,000 meters. The most important parameter, however, will be the terrain. This is a key element. We hope it will be as flexible as possible. The horse is at the top.” Competing in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr.I), “Baratti” Metropolitanwinner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, and runner-up to Charyn in the Prix Jacques Le Marois this summer at Deauville, should love the conditions. He seems quite capable of really worrying Charyn this time because the conditions will favor him. Second behind Big Rock last year, the “Reynier” Horse Postman should also be there, he who remains in a very satisfactory third place in the Sussex Stakes (Gr.I). Beauvatier3rd in the Prix Jean Prat, Maurice de Gheest and de la Forêt, is seriously considered at the start of the Champions Sprint (Gr.I) for the training of Yann Barberot. Finally, Zarakemis entered in the Champion Stakes but could prefer the “Council of Paris”, and as for Dare To Dream (entered in the Fillies & Mares), she will not go to Ascot and will run a listed race at Longchamp the next day.
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Friday June 21, 2024 at Royal Ascot (England) – King Edward VII Stakes (Gr. II): Calandagan finally offers France a success
