Anmaat creates a surprise in front of Calandagan

Beauvatier made us dream, Horse Postman made us scream and Calandagan made us cry. Starting quite slowly from his rope stall, Stéphane Pasquier subsequently had to use all his know-how to find the passage between the starters from Ballydoyle who had set the pace, as well as Royal Rhyme who would also finish third. In the lead not far from the finishing post, we thought the favorite had the race won but that was without counting on the outsider Measurecame out like a devil from his box, to beat him by half a length. It was hard to see this beautiful and famous coat bow again, but its owner Princess Zahra Aga Khan showed great sportsmanship: “The horse did everything we asked of him today. He demonstrated his peak speed, despite the terrain, despite the ace on the rope, despite coming back 2,000 meters. We are very happy with his race here, it’s magnificent. And he still beats very good horses, so he runs very well.” They say that second place is the most difficult to accept, and Francis-Henri Graffard adds: “It’s a superb race Calandagan. He may be putting a lot of effort into this terrain and he is certainly better over 2,400 meters. We thought he was going to win, but the other one came, that’s how it was. But we are proud of him.” The other is therefore Measurea 6 year old trained by Owen Burrows and ridden by Jim Crowley on behalf of Shadwell. In France, last year, he won the Prix d’Ispahan and his trainer reacted: “We always thought he had talent. After his Group I win in France, I next wanted to race him in the Eclipse Stakes, but he picked up a foot injury and was slow to come back. Two weeks ago in the Dollar Prize, it didn’t work out well for him. Jim (Crowley) is the first to admit that maybe he didn’t ride it as well as usual. He had traffic problems again today, but this time it worked.” Iresinethe other Frenchman at the start of this group I, was also a victim of trafficking, but finished in a very good fourth place. His partner Marie Vélon was satisfied: “Going into the straight I thought it was going to settle down a little, but that wasn’t the case. I tried to run away Calandagan as much as possible. I’m a little frustrated with my fourth place, I think he would have deserved his third place. But I am very happy with his behavior. He loves the soft and he was exemplary.” Note that if the French had to be content with second places at Ascot on Saturday, Christophe Soumillon (the most French of the Belgians) still came home with a victory in his pocket, since he won the Balmoral Handicap in the saddle on Carrytheonecoached by Michael Bell. The big disappointment of the meeting was obviously the sixth place ofEconomics and his coach William Haggas stated: “It was obviously disappointing. Tom (Marquand) thought the terrain was a little too soft for him, but I said I wasn’t going to use the terrain as an excuse. He’s fine. There’s a little blood in his nose, so we’ll see.”

Also read about Champions Day 2024 at Ascot:

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot (England): Kyprios winner of the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot – Long Distance Cup (Gr. II): Kyprios remains undefeated in seven outings this season

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot (England): Beauvatier fourth in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Gr. I)

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot – Champions Sprint Stakes (Gr.I): Another good performance from Beauvatier

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot (England): Facteur Cheval second in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot (England) – Champion Stakes (Gr. I): Calandagan second and Iresine fourth

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr.I): Charyn and Facteur Cheval, authors of the most beautiful fight

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot (England) – Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Gr. I): Kalpana continues to impress

Saturday October 19, 2024 at Ascot – Champion Stakes (Gr.I): Anmaat creates a surprise

Saturday October 19, 2024 in England: Goldikova inducted into the “Hall of Fame”