Brief Introduction of Calandagan
Calandagan is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who has taken the international racing world by storm. A bay gelding foaled in 2021, he is owned and bred by the prestigious Aga Khan Studs and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard. Calandagan rose to global prominence during a spectacular 2025 season, where he captured four consecutive Group 1 races across three different countries. His victories in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Champion Stakes, and culminating in a historic win at the Japan Cup cemented his status as a true champion. His remarkable performances led to him being crowned the 2025 Cartier Horse of the Year and recognized as the world’s top-rated racehorse, celebrated for his incredible stamina, powerful turn of foot, and courageous spirit in the heat of competition.
Calandagan Overview
| Full Name | Calandagan |
| Date of Birth | January 27, 2021 |
| Age(as of 2025) | 4 |
| Birthplace | Ireland |
| Profession | Thoroughbred Racehorse |
| Husband/Wife | Not Applicable |
| Family | Sire: Gleneagles, Dam: Calayana (by Sinndar) |
| Relationship/Affairs(GF/BF) | Not Applicable |
| Net Worth | Estimated over £10 million in career earnings |
Early Life and Education of Calandagan
Calandagan was foaled on January 27, 2021, in Ireland, a product of the esteemed breeding program of His Highness the Aga Khan IV. His lineage is impressive; he was sired by Gleneagles, a dual Guineas winner and European champion, out of the dam Calayana, a Group-placed daughter of the legendary Arc and Derby winner Sinndar. This pedigree descends from Lagardère lines, specifically from the family of the Classic winner Clodovil, promising a blend of speed and stamina. From the beginning, Calandagan was part of the Aga Khan Studs operation, an institution renowned for producing generations of top-class racehorses. His early life was spent at the Aga Khan’s farm, where he was raised before being sent to France to be trained by the highly respected Francis-Henri Graffard in Chantilly. During his juvenile season, Calandagan showed immense promise but also a difficult temperament. He made his debut in August 2023 at Deauville, finishing a respectable third. However, his behavior was challenging; he was difficult to load into the starting gates and did not seem willing to fully exert himself. This difficult nature prompted his connections to make the crucial decision to have him gelded. The procedure meant he would be ineligible for certain classic races, most notably the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but it proved to be a turning point, allowing him to focus his energy and mature into the formidable racehorse he would become.
Calandagan’s Career
Calandagan’s racing career began with a promising, if complicated, juvenile season in 2023. After a third-place finish on his debut at Deauville, he returned in late October at Chantilly, where, following his gelding, he demonstrated his true potential by winning a race by an astonishing ten lengths. This dominant performance was a clear sign of his latent ability.
The 2024 season saw him step up into stakes company. He started with a close second in the Listed Prix François Mathet before capturing his first Group race, the Group 3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. He followed this with another Group 3 victory in the Prix Hocquart. These successes set him up for a trip to Royal Ascot, where he delivered a breathtaking performance in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes. Ridden by Stéphane Pasquier, he routed a quality field by six lengths, marking France’s first victory at the prestigious 2024 Royal meeting. He continued to test himself at the highest level, finishing second in the Group 1 International Stakes at York, where he pushed the Derby winner City Of Troy to break a track record. He also narrowly missed out on victory in the 2024 Champion Stakes at Ascot, getting caught just before the finish line.
It was in 2025 that Calandagan truly blossomed into a global superstar. Now a mature four-year-old, he embarked on one of the most impressive campaigns in recent memory. After finishing second in the prestigious Dubai Sheema Classic and the Coronation Cup, he finally earned his first Group 1 victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the end of June, winning decisively. This victory opened the floodgates. A month later, he returned to his beloved Ascot and captured the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, one of Europe’s most prestigious all-aged middle-distance races. In October, he returned to Ascot for the Champion Stakes, avenging his narrow defeat from the previous year with a storming 2 1/4-length victory over a world-class field. His season culminated in a daring trip to Tokyo for the Japan Cup in November. As the sole international challenger, he faced a formidable home defense. In a thrilling, nail-biting finish, Calandagan, under jockey Mickael Barzalona, edged out the local favorite Masquerade Ball by a head, becoming the first foreign-trained horse to win the race in 20 years. In doing so, he also shattered the track record previously held by the legendary Almond Eye, stopping the clock at a phenomenal 2:20.3 for the 2,400 meters.
Calandagan Personal Life & Family
As a Thoroughbred racehorse, Calandagan’s life revolves around his training, racing, and care, rather than a “personal life” in the human sense. His family is his esteemed pedigree. He is a son of the stallion Gleneagles and the mare Calayana. Calandagan is a homebred product of the Aga Khan Studs, and races in the iconic green silks with red epaulets that have been carried by some of the greatest horses in racing history. The operation was founded by the Aga Khan III and was later led by His Highness the Aga Khan IV, who passed away in early 2025. The racing operations are now overseen by his daughter, Princess Zahra Aga Khan. Calandagan is a key part of the stable of French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who has masterfully managed his career. He is regularly ridden by top jockeys Mickael Barzalona and Stéphane Pasquier, who have both praised his incredible talent and occasional “naughty” streak. His success in 2025 was particularly poignant for the Aga Khan Studs, serving as a tribute to the late Aga Khan IV’s enduring legacy in the sport.
Awards and Achievements of Calandagan
- Cartier Horse of the Year (2025)
- Longines World’s Best Racehorse (2025)
- Winner – Japan Cup (Group 1) (2025)
- Winner – Champion Stakes (Group 1) (2025)
- Winner – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) (2025)
- Winner – Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) (2025)
- Winner – King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) (2024)
- Winner – Prix Hocquart (Group 3) (2024)
- Winner – Prix Noailles (Group 3) (2024)
- Set a new track and world record of 2:20.3 for 2,400 meters in the Japan Cup
Calandagan Net Worth and Income
While a precise net worth is not calculated for a racehorse, Calandagan’s career earnings are substantial, placing him among the highest-earning Thoroughbreds in the world. His victory in the 2025 Japan Cup alone netted his connections a massive payday of approximately £4.9 million, which included the £2.6 million winner’s purse plus a £2.3 million bonus for having also won a qualifying race, the King George. By August 2025, after his King George victory, his career earnings already stood at €3.35 million. His subsequent victories in the Champion Stakes and the lucrative Japan Cup have pushed his total earnings for the 2025 season alone to near £10 million. As a gelding, he has no future value as a stallion, so his worth is derived entirely from prize money. His continued success on the track in 2026 could see his earnings increase even further.
Legacy and Influence
Calandagan’s legacy is defined by his extraordinary achievements in 2025, which resonated across the global racing community. His most significant impact was breaking a 20-year drought for foreign-trained horses in the Japan Cup, one of the world’s most prestigious and difficult races for international contenders to win. This historic victory not only showcased his own exceptional ability but also reasserted the competitiveness of European middle-distance horses on the world stage. Furthermore, winning the race in world-record time for the distance etched his name into the history books. His unique four-timer of Group 1 wins in France, the UK, and Japan demonstrated remarkable durability, versatility, and masterful training by Francis-Henri Graffard. For his owner, the Aga Khan Studs, Calandagan’s success in a year marked by the passing of the Aga Khan IV was a poignant and fitting tribute to a monumental legacy in horse breeding and racing. His career also highlights the success that can be achieved with geldings at the highest level, even if it excludes them from certain prestigious races like the Arc.
Interesting Facts about Calandagan
- He was gelded after his first two races due to a difficult and “naughty” temperament.
- As a gelding, he is permanently barred from competing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s most famous horse race.
- His victory in the 2025 Japan Cup was the first by a foreign horse in 20 years, since Alkaased in 2005.
- He broke the 2,400-meter track record at Tokyo Racecourse in the Japan Cup, a record previously held by the iconic Japanese mare Almond Eye.
- His victory in the Champion Stakes made him the first horse since the legendary Brigadier Gerard in 1972 to win both the King George and the Champion Stakes in the same year.
- His name may be inspired by Calandagan Island, located in Palawan, Philippines.
- His trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard, broke the record for most Group 1 wins in a calendar year for a French-based trainer with Calandagan’s Japan Cup victory.
Controversies
Calandagan has not been involved in any controversies. The primary point of discussion surrounding his career is not a controversy but a matter of racing rules: his ineligibility as a gelding to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. His stellar performances, particularly his dominant win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, have fueled debate within the racing community about whether the rules should be changed to allow top-class geldings to compete in the historic French race. However, this is a long-standing debate and not a controversy specific to the horse himself.
Social Media Presence
As a horse, Calandagan does not have personal social media accounts. His career, news, and updates are extensively covered on the official channels of his owner and breeder, the Aga Khan Studs, as well as by major horse racing news outlets and social media platforms.
- Instagram – Not publicly available
- Twitter – Not publicly available
- YouTube – Not publicly available
Final Words about Calandagan
Calandagan’s biography is a testament to talent, patience, and masterful management. From a promising but difficult juvenile to the undisputed world’s best racehorse, his journey has been remarkable. His 2025 season will be remembered as one of the finest in modern racing history, a campaign of international conquest that saw him win four of the world’s most challenging middle-distance races in succession. His thrilling, record-breaking victory in the Japan Cup was a crowning achievement, a display of heart and ability that broke a two-decade dominance by local horses. As the Cartier Horse of the Year, his legacy as a courageous and exceptionally talented globetrotter is secure. His connections have confirmed that he will remain in training for the 2026 season, giving racing fans the exciting prospect of witnessing this incredible champion compete again.
