Calandagan takes Japan Cup by a head over Masquerade Ball
Calandagan, a Chantilly-based colt under the care of trainer Francis Graffard, captured the 45th Japan Cup on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, setting a world record for 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:20.30. The previous mark of 2:22.80 belonged to Arcadia, established in October 1989 at Santa Anita.
The homebred son of Frankel, who races for the Aga Khan Studs, entered Sunday's race as Europe's Horse of the Year and the world's top-rated Thoroughbred with a 130 mark from the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
"I was really nervous before the race," Graffard said. "It's one thing bringing the best horse in the world to this race, but he faced a really high-quality field. Everything seemed to go well, but I was looking for Christophe Lemaire and he seemed to get a dream run through.
"He went a head up and I thought we were beaten, but he's tough and he battled back. He's an exceptional horse to have put his head in front on the line."
Calandagan settled in 11th position early before quickening at the top of the stretch and sweeping wide around the field. He launched his bid alongside Japanese favorite Masquerade Ball, and the pair pulled clear of the rest of the field. With 250 meters remaining, the two runners engaged in a head-to-head battle that ended with Calandagan prevailing by a head at the wire.
The victory gave Graffard his 14th Group 1 win of 2025, breaking the record for most Group 1 victories by a French trainer in a single year, previously held by André Fabre. Graffard's top-level wins this year include the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Daryz, the Prix de Diane with Gezora, the King George and Champion Stakes (England) with Calandagan, the Breeders' Cup with Gezora and the Grand Prix von Baden-Baden (Germany) with Goliath.
The first two finishers carried French jockeys with Chantilly roots: Mickaël Barzalona, the retained rider for the Aga Khan Studs, guided Calandagan, and Christophe Lemaire, a multiple-time JRA champion jockey who has been based in Japan for years, rode Masquerade Ball.