Calandagan looks set for Ascot but ride may be up for grabs

Calandagan is set to defend his crown in the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes on Saturday week – but who will be riding the six-time Group One winner at Ascot remains to be seen.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s five-year-old proved too strong for Ombudsman on Champions Day last season, after which he became the first overseas horse in 20 years to lift the Japan Cup.

With Calandagan having enjoyed a short break since being beaten by Kalpana in his bid for back-to-back King George wins at Ascot in July, connections are hoping to see him return to the Berkshire circuit next week.

However, with regular rider Mickael Barzalona looking likely to miss out after picking up a two-day whip suspension aboard Simon and Ed Crisford’s Prix de Royallieu winner Fairy Glen at ParisLongchamp on Saturday, a replacement jockey may be required.

“Calandagan has come back to himself really well, he worked really well (on Tuesday) and he’s in really good form with himself – I think the little break he had after Ascot really freshened him up,” said Nemone Routh, French racing manager and director for the Aga Khan Studs.

“We’ll have to look at the weather because if it became bottomless (ground) he wouldn’t go there because we know he doesn’t like that, but he’s in great form, so I think if the ground is decent and he works well again next week we would plan to go to Ascot.

“It’s all become very complicated with this ban for Mickael Barzalona, that’s not helping things. We are likely to have to find a jockey and we haven’t got very far on that.

“He (Barzalona) only got two days, but he got the ban in France and obviously the rules are not harmonised. I think if it had been five uses of the whip in the UK or in Ireland it wouldn’t be considered a misdemeanour, but only four are allowed here and because it was a Group One I think it’s an immediate ban.

“It’s not ideal, obviously. We haven’t really got as far as thinking what we’ll do, but focussing on the horse it looks like he’s on target.”