Calandagan Outpoints Noailles Rivals in Paris

Francis-Henri Graffard trainee Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}–Calayana {Fr}, by Sinndar {Ire}) finished 3-4-of-a-length behind Bright Picture (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Francois Mathet last month and exacted revenge on that rival in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp.

The Aga Khan's homebred gelding was out twice as a 2-year-old, following up an Aug. 12 debut third at Deauville with a facile 10-length tally at Chantilly in October. Calandagan tucked in at the tail of the field after breaking from the outside stall and was urged closer once into the home straight. Making headway to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining, the 13-5 second favourite gained an edge soon after and found extra under continued rousting inside the final furlong to defeat Bright Picture by an ultimately comfortable 1 3/4 lengths. Francois Mathet third Trafalgar Square (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) made it a gelding trifecta and ran on well in the closing stages to finish 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third.

“He had come on a lot from his first run this year and I was expecting a good performance,” revealed Graffard. “It was the plan to ride him [from behind] like that, as he can be keen, but he also has a strong acceleration. I like how he behaved when he was challenged by the favourite [Bright Picture], he dug in and found more. I have no idea what will be next. He is a gelding so Classics are not for him, but he is a Group winner now and that is a good point.”

Pedigree Notes
Calandagan, who becomes the 23rd pattern-race scorer for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}), is the second foal and leading performer from two winners produced by G3 Prix Minerve second Calayana (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}), herself a granddaughter of Listed Prix Isola Bella second Clodovina (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). Clodovina, in turn, is the dam of GI Belmont Derby Invitational runner-up Canndal (Fr) (Medicean {GB}). She is also kin to G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Clodovil (Ire) (Danehill), GSW GI Arlington Million third Colombian (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and to the dam of G1 SA Derby hero Aragosta (SAf) (Rafeef {Aus}). The January-foaled homebred bay is half to a 2-year-old filly by New Bay (GB) and a yearling filly by Zarak (Fr).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX NOAILLES-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-14, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:13.56, vsf.
1–CALANDAGAN (IRE), 128, g, 3, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Calayana (Fr) (GSP-Fr), by Sinndar (Ire)
2nd Dam: Clariyn (Fr), by Acclamation (GB)
3rd Dam: Clodovina (Ire), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Stephane Pasquier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, €70,500. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bright Picture (Fr), 128, g, 3, Intello (Ger)–Lucy The Painter (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€72,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Wertheimer & Frere; B-J P Carrington (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000.
3–Trafalgar Square (Fr), 128, g, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–See You Always (GB), by Siyouni (Fr). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€80,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Hugo et Pierre Pilarski & Gousserie Racing; B-Ecurie X (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1HF, 2. Odds: 2.60, 1.30, 16.00.
Also Ran: Casapueblo (Ire), Sibayan (Fr), Black Run (Fr), Golden West (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Frankel’s Flight Leader Battles To Noailles Victory In Paris

Juddmonte's 3-year-old colt Flight Leader (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Principal Role, by Empire Maker) was last seen graduating in an Oct. 12 nine-furlong maiden at Chantilly and put his hat into the ring for June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club back there after battling to a game victory on seasonal return in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. The eventual winner, who had earlier posted a Sept. 1 debut ninth behind the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Padishakh (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at this venue, broke from the outside stall and found cover off the tempo in fifth after the initial strides. Coaxed along passing the quarter-mile marker, the 19-5 chance came under sterner urging entering the final furlong and was driven out in the latter stages to prevail by a short-neck from Harry Way (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in brave fashion. In a blanket finish, Fabrice Chappet nominee Fortune (Fr) (De Treville {GB}) was a neck adrift in third.

“When this horse first ran Andre Fabre had mentioned him as a potentially very good one, but unfortunately he missed out on debut,” said Juddmonte's on-course representative. “He won well second time out over nine furlongs, proving already that he stays, and he should be better on good ground. He will come on for the run and has made a step forward to the [June 4 G1] Prix du Jockey Club. Andre Fabre will discuss his programme with Barry Mahon and the [Abdullah] family. There are plenty of opportunities and the trainer knows how to handle these situations, so we have no worries.”

Flight Leader, who becomes the 79th pattern-race winner for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}), is the sixth of eight foals and one of four scorers produced by MSW G1 Nassau S. third Principal Role (Empire Maker). The March-foaled bay's dam, herself a daughter of GII La Prevoyante H. and GIII River Cities Budweiser Breeders' Cup S. victrix Interim (GB) (Sadler's Wells), is kin to GI Charles Whittingham Memorial-winning sire Midships (Mizzen Mast), GI San Juan Capistrano Invitational runner-up Staging Post (Pleasant Colony) and to the dam of G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern heroine Temida (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}). Flight Leader is a half-brother to the unraced 2-year-old colt Rickshaw (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) and a weanling filly by Kingman (GB).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX NOAILLES-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-16, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:18.69, hy.
1–FLIGHT LEADER (GB), 128, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Principal Role {MSW & G1SP-Eng, MGSP-US, $238,766}, by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Interim (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Intermission (GB), by Stage Door Johnny
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ireland Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €53,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Harry Way (Fr), 128, g, 3, Galiway (GB)–Miss Vinga (Fr), by High Rock (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Le Haras de la Gousserie & Robert Bonaventure; B-Robert Bonaventure (FR); T-Nicolas Perret. €16,000.
3–Fortune (Fr), 128, c, 3, De Treville (GB)–February Sun (GB), by Monsun (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Rashit Shaykhutdinov (FR); T-Fabrice Chappet. €12,000.
Margins: SNK, NK, 3/4. Odds: 3.80, 3.00, 2.40.
Also Ran: Londoner (Ire), Rubis Vendome (GB), Prince De Paname (Fr), Mononof (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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