Japan Cup next for Calandagan after gallant Champion Stakes effort

Calandagan may have had to relinquish his Qatar Racing Champion Stakes crown, but will now head back to the Far East in a bid to become the first international dual winner of the Japan Cup.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s five-year-old earned himself the status as best turf horse in the world after securing a phenomenal Group One four-timer in Tokyo last November.

Victories have been a little harder to come by this term, but he proved once again he is very much one of the elite when going down valiantly at the hands of old foe Ombudsman in the showpiece event on British Champions Day at Ascot.

“He jumped a bit slowly and on the last bend had to get round the Ballydoyle horse (Constitution River),” said Graffard.

“He came there really nicely in the straight, but Ombudsman had made a big move and he left us.

“I was upset because we didn’t enjoy the perfect trip, but I don’t think we would have beaten Ombudsman. That horse looked really powerful, he had a very good run and he kicked for home very strongly – it’s not bad to be second to a horse like him.

“He hasn’t disgraced himself and providing he is OK he’ll go to Japan, where I hope he can do it again.”

Also set for an overseas venture is third-placed Bay City Roller after George Scott’s stable star followed up his second to Daryz in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to yet again feature in one of the season’s biggest races.

The runaway winner of the Coronation Cup earlier in the year, he will continue a busy autumn by heading Stateside for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Scott said: “For a race over 10 furlongs on that ground he’s run a blinder, but we were beaten fair and square on the day.

“I would like to go to America where they’ve had rain, as he’s had a relatively light season.”

His rider Oisin Murphy added: “Huge run from him. He takes his racing very well. He travelled brilliantly, he picked up and he kept going, even when he was passed by the front two.”