It had already been a year to remember for French ace Calandagan. Entering the season without a top-level success to his name, he had come up just short when finishing second in three previous outings in Group 1 company. Would this be the year the son of Gleneagles finally got his nose in front in one of the world’s leading races?
In the end, Calandagan went a few steps further than landing his first Group 1. Cutting a swathe through the European middle-distance division, he racked up a Group 1 hat-trick in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Champion Stakes.
That streak of brilliance was enough to see the four-year-old finish ahead of Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International winner Ombudsman, and Arc hero Daryz to be crowned the Longines World’s Best Racehorse.
Given all that he achieved, it would have been no surprise to see Calandagan head off onto his winter break. His status as a gelding almost guaranteed a return to the track in 2026. However, Francis-Henri Graffard’s star still had one box left to tick in a glittering campaign, as he headed east for the Japan Cup.
Tokyo Showpiece a Tough Race to Crack
Over the past decade, the Japanese have emerged as a huge force on the international racing scene. Wins in the 2023 Dubai World Cup and the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic stand out on a spectacular highlights reel for the Land of the Rising Sun. Having plundered so many international pots, the hosts were sure to put up stern resistance in the domestic highlight of the Japan Cup.
First run at Tokyo Racecourse in 1981, this 1m4f contest offers £4,880,073 in total prize money – over £2.5m of which is booked for the winner. With such financial rewards on offer, the Japan Cup has understandably attracted a host of talented international raiders over the years.
The race proved to be something of an overseas benefit in the early years. Nine of the first 11 editions were won by an overseas star. Since then, things have changed. Heading into the 2025 renewal, 23 of the 25 editions in the 21st century had been won by a Japanese-trained runner. The two exceptions were the Frankie Dettori-ridden Falbrav, who registered a famous victory for Italy in 2002, and Luca Cumani’s Alkaased, who scored in 2005, again under Dettori. France’s only previous win came courtesy of Robert Collett’s Le Glorieux in 1987.
The weight of history suggested that this would be no easy task, even for the highest-rated racehorse on the planet.
Calandagan vs A Japanese Sixteen
Any hope of an overseas success in 2025 rested squarely on the shoulders of Calandagan. Of the 17-runner field, 16 hailed from a Japanese yard. Of those 16, the Takahisa Tezuka-trained Masquerade Ball was expected to put up the sternest resistance. The Japanese punting public invariably gets behind their star names, and such was the case here. Despite Calandagan’s undoubted class, a surge of support saw Tenno Sho winner Masquerade Ball start as the 6/4 favourite. Calandagan was only the fourth choice in the betting at 26/5.
The race got off to a dramatic start when Amire Terra sent Yuga Kawada crashing to the turf after barely a stride. Seiun Hades, meanwhile, set off at a frenetic gallop and had soon opened up a yawning gap back to his nearest pursuer. Going in the hands of Mickael Barzalona, Calandagan sat in the final third of the field together with leading home hope Masquerade Ball.
Turning for home, Seiun Hades’s early exertions saw him drop back through the pack, with Croix Du Nord the first to launch his challenge, while Calandagan and Masquerade Ball began to charge in unison down the outside. Hitting the front with a furlong to go, the pair embarked on a titanic tussle to the line.
With 100 yards to go, Masquerade Ball held the edge, but Calandagan would not be denied. Showing guts and determination to match his immense talent, the star of 2025 broke Masquerade Ball’s heart in the dying strides to score by a head. A phenomenal effort from the winner who came home in front in a new record time for the race.
Japan Cup Result (30th Nov 2025)
| Positon | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Calandagan | Francis-Henri Graffard | Mickael Barzalona | 26/5 |
| 2nd | Masquerade Ball | Christophe-Patrice Lemaire | Takahisa Tezuka | 6/4 |
| 3rd | Danon Decile | Keita Tosaki | Shogo Yasuda | 4/1 |
Graffard, who admitted to feeling a huge weight on his shoulders in the build-up, paid tribute to his stable star in the aftermath, stating:
“For him to break the race-record time is incredible, and the great thing is just the list of big races he’s won. It’s marvellous, and it’s all down to a fantastic team at home and the support of the owner.”