---
title: "Calandagan Saint-Cloud Repeat Puts King George Call Back On Agenda"
canonical: "https://readhorseracing.com/2026/07/05/calandagan-saint-cloud-repeat-king-george-call/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "News"
published: "2026-07-05T19:46:45Z"
modified: "2026-07-06T08:06:48Z"
---

# Calandagan Saint-Cloud Repeat Puts King George Call Back On Agenda

**Calandagan retained the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, July 5, beating Cualificar by a neck under Mickael Barzalona and putting a King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes decision back on Francis Graffard’s table.**

The Aga Khan Studs homebred had been asked to respond after a below-par run in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, and he did so in the same 12-furlong race he won last year.

Held up at the rear by Barzalona, the five-year-old swept from last at the 500-metre point to lead at the furlong pole, according to [Thoroughbred Daily News](https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/calandagan-swoops-for-grand-prix-de-saint-cloud-repeat/).

## Ascot Option Still In Play

Graffard said afterwards that Calandagan had been on edge before the race, but the trainer again praised the gelding’s ability to hunt down a target when ridden to suit.

The next call is whether to return to Ascot for the King George, a race that now comes up quickly after this Saint-Cloud defence.

Cualificar gave Godolphin and the Fabre team a strong second, while Graffard also had Sunly in third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up. Aventure, Lambourn, Leffard, Eydon and Pride Of Arras completed the field, with Calandagan stopping the clock in 2:27.27.

For Graffard, the result matters because it restored momentum at Group 1 level. For the wider middle-distance division, it keeps one of Europe’s most reliable closers firmly in the summer championship picture.

[CALANDAGAN RETAINS HIS GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD CROWN! 👑 | Flat superstar returns to winning ways! (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/R8esN_7qqic?feature=oembed)