IT is probably fair to say that no horse was more deserving of a Group 1 success than the four-year-old Calandagan. The homebred sports the famed Aga Khan colours, and is one of the most consistent performers currently in training.

The only sadness about his racing career is that it will not eventually see him join the roster of stallions at the Aga Khans Studs in Ireland or France, having been gelded at two after he ran third in a maiden on his debut. Mind you, that maiden was won by the subsequent Group 1 French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan! Next time out, Calandagan strode to a 10-length win on the Chantilly all-weather.