CALANDAGAN proved he has lost none of his sparkle on Sunday when sweeping from last to first to win the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for the second consecutive year.

Winner of five Group 1 races in a row last year, including the Japan Cup, the five-year-old gelding suffered a rare defeat last month when he was beaten by over 40 lengths in the heavy ground at Epsom.

However, back on a sound surface here in Paris, Calandagan again showed his trademark burst of speed under Mickael Barzalona to run down Cualificar and Sunly in a three-way finish.

Winning trainer Francis Graffard told Sky Sports Racing: "I was upset with myself at Epsom. Today I thought he was sweating a little bit too much, and I can see he was a little bit worried, so I was worried.

"I said to Mickael, 'Look, forget everything we said. Just ride him for himself. It doesn't matter if he's beaten. He just needs to get his confidence back, so just ride him for himself and trust in him.' So that's what he did, but he's such a good horse, you know.

"He is like a greyhound. If you put a rabbit in front of him, he tries to catch it. So as soon as he hit the front, just like he did in Dubai, he relaxed. But Mickael said his acceleration is so long and he can keep going. He's an unbelievable horse, really."

The trainer confirmed that the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 25th is Calandagan's next target, a race he won last year.

"It's very hot today. We will see how he comes out of this race but it's the obvious race for him."

Graffard also trains the third-placed Sunly and suggested the Yorkshire Oaks in August could be on the cards for her.

"In the paddock before, she was magnificent. She looks fantastic. She's a strong filly. She had a good draw, a perfect trip behind the leaders. She quickened nicely, and I thought she was going to win at one stage. She's definitely a Group 1 filly."