Five horses competed in the 75th running of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday. Despite the small field, the race was an exciting two-and-a-half-minute contest with dramatic turns throughout. The pre-race favorite, Calandagan, settled any doubts—whether Kalapana could maintain her lead—with a strong final push to the finish line.
The first unexpected move came just after the start, as Continuous, initially expected to set the pace for his stablemate Jan Brueghel, was held back in second instead. Jan Brueghel and jockey Ryan Moore took control with a steady pace, while Mickael Barzalona, riding Calandagan, found himself in an unfavorable position at the rear due to the slow early tempo.
As they turned for home, Kalapana, ridden by Oisin Murphy, surged past Jan Brueghel, taking a clear lead. However, Calandagan, who had struggled in last month's Coronation Cup, produced a smoother effort this time, rapidly closing the gap. In the final strides, Calandagan edged ahead, winning by a length.
This victory marked Calandagan’s second consecutive Group One win, following several second-place finishes that had raised questions about his ability to secure the top spot. It was also the second straight King George triumph for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who achieved a surprise win last year with Goliath.
"The race unfolded differently than expected," Graffard noted. "The tactics were interesting, but he stayed composed and found his rhythm at the right moment. When he began to chase, I knew he had a chance. Kalapana ran well, but I’m glad we prevailed this time."
Since Calandagan is a gelding, he cannot compete in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but he may target the International Stakes at York, where he finished second last year.
"He’s consistently shown his quality," Graffard added. "His ability to accelerate is remarkable, and we’ll adapt to whatever challenges come next."
Meanwhile, Kalapana remains a potential contender for the Arc, where she could aim to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Bluestocking, who also placed second in this race.
"She’s a top-class filly with a bright future," said Kalapana’s trainer, Andrew Balding. "We’re looking forward to the autumn."
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