King Edward VII Stakes
Group 2, Ascot 17:40 £250,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 3f 233y, Class 1
Tweet Friday 21st June 2024

1 Calandagan 11/2
2 Space Legend 9/2
3 Royal Supremacy 40/1
14 ran Distances: 6l, 1¾l, ¾l
Time: 2m 29.11s (fast by 0.59s)

One for France! Calandagan runs away with the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/WkjFvOGJEZ

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024

Calandagan became the first French-trained winner at Royal Ascot since Watch Me in the 2019 Coronation Stakes.

Like Watch Me, Calandagan was sent over by Francis-Henri Graffard, who trains the son of Gleneagles for his owner/breeder HH The Aga Khan. 

With an outside draw in 13, Stephane Pasquier rode a quiet race on Calandagan. The partnership came wide in the straight and powered away to win by six lengths, with Space Legend and Royal Supremacy filling the places.

Calandagan was gelded after two runs as a juvenile and came into today’s race on the back of two G3 victories at Longchamp.

Graffard said: “I am very impressed. I was so down after my filly [Rouhiya finished last in the Coronation Stakes] earlier, but this horse did it very easily. My wife was cheering beside me – we enjoyed the moment.

“With the draw, we found ourselves a little bit at the back, but we decided to ride him for himself. He’s not used to a big field like that, but he is very straightforward. It is just unbelievable how he quickened all the way. 

“I am so happy for the whole family. We had a tough week with Dolayli and Rouhiya, so it’s good to finish on a nice winner like him.”

On the decision to geld the winner, he said: “The first time out at Deauville, he was very difficult – difficult to load, and didn’t want to try much, so we had no choice.”

Stephane Pasquier said: “Calandagan is a fantastic horse. It was a bit complicated in the first part. He needed to be nice from the gate, nice during the race, and today he was perfect. The pace was fast enough to come from behind.

“Everything was easy. He can be a naughty boy sometimes, and we have to ask him gently. Today he wanted to do everything – when he is like this, he is a fantastic horse. I didn’t do anything, I just asked him to do it by himself.

"I am just disappointed that he's lost his balls! I think he will travel around the world now, hopefully for lots of money."

Princess Zahra Aga Khan said: “Calandagan did it very, very well. He has shown himself to be improving over the last few months, but today he surprised all of us and he has shown himself to be a very good horse. 

“They are all home-bred. It is not one of our oldest families, but to see this family do well again… it’s a very consistent family and they tend to be a mile-and-a-half horses, but I think he has a turn of foot that is wonderful to see.”

James Doyle said of Space Legend: “I am really pleased. The winner’s pretty special, isn’t he? He quickened up well, but my fellow kept galloping so he’ll stay. In time he’ll get a bit further as well.”

Royal Supremacy’s rider Oisin Murphy said: “Career-best from him and it was worth supplementing him. I am very happy. There was a good speed on; I followed James Doyle, who was second.”

King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)
£250,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 3f 211y, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (13)    Calandagan 3 9-2 F-H Graffard Stephane Pasquier 11/2
2 (8) 6 Space Legend 3 9-2 William Haggas James Doyle 9/2
3 (12) 1¾ Royal Supremacy 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 40/1
4 (10) ¾ Mondo Man 3 9-2 P & J Brandt William Buick 25/1
5 (6) 1 The Euphrates 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Declan McDonogh 40/1
6 (14) 1½ Macduff 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 20/1
7 (4) 2¾ Agenda 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 13/2
8 (9) 2 Harper's Ferry 3 9-2 Ed Walker Tom Marquand 28/1
9 (11) 2½ War Rooms 3 9-2 Owen Burrows Jim Crowley 40/1
10 (5) 12 Diego Velazquez 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 2/1F
11 (7) 5½ Theory Of Tides 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Kieran Shoemark 18/1
12 (1) 1½ Chief Little Rock 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 14/1
13 (2) 5½ Voyage 3 9-2 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 18/1
14 (3) 21 Defiance 3 9-2 Roger Varian Silvestre De Sousa 50/1

KING EDWARD VII STAKES WINNERS

YR/DATE GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2023 2 KING OF STEEL Roger Varian Kevin Stott Amo Racing Limited 3 9-02 11/10F
2022 2 CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD Aidan O'Brien IRE Ryan Moore Westerberg, S Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith 3-9-02 11/10F
2021 2 ALENQUER William Haggas Tom Marquand M M Stables 3 9-00 13/8F
2020 2 PYLEDRIVER William Muir Martin Dwyer Knox & Wells Limited and R Devlin 3-9-00 18/1
2019 2 JAPAN Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-00 6/4F
2018 2 OLD PERSIAN Charlie Appleby William Buick Godolphin 3-9-00 9/2
2017 2 PERMIAN Mark Johnston William Buick Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-9-00 6/1
2016 2 ACROSS THE STARS Sir Michael Stoute Frankie Dettori Saeed Suhail 3-9-00 7/1
2015 2 BALIOS David Simcock Jamie Spencer Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd 3-9-00 3/1
2014 2 EAGLE TOP John Gosden William Buick Lady Bamford 3-9-00 12/1
2013 2 HILLSTAR Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Sir Evelyn De Rothschild 3-8-12 15/2
2012 2 THOMAS CHIPPENDALE Sir Henry Cecil Johnny Murtagh Sir Robert Ogden 3-8-12 9/2
2011 2 NATHANIEL John Gosden William Buick Lady Rothschild 3-8-12 11/4F
2010 2 MONTEROSSO Mark Johnston Frankie Dettori Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-8-12 7/2
2009 2 FATHER TIME Henry Cecil Eddie Ahern Khalid Abdullah 3-8-12 9/1
2008 2 CAMPANOLOGIST Saeed Bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 3-8-12 9/1
2007 2 BOSCOBEL Mark Johnston Joe Fanning Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-12 7/1
06/23/06 2 PAPAL BULL Sir Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor 3-8-12 5/4F
*05/17/06 2 PLEA BARGAIN John Gosden Jimmy Fortune Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 9/2
04/18/06 2 FIVE DYNASTIES Aidan O’Brien IRE Jamie Spencer Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-8-11 11/4F
03/20/06 2 HIGH ACCOLADE Marcus Tregoning Martin Dwyer Lady Tennant 3-8-11 5/2F
02/21/06 2 BALAKHERI Sir Michael Stoute Johnny Murtagh H H Aga Khan 3-8-10 11/4F
01/22/06 2 STORMING HOME Barry Hills Michael Hills Maktoum Al Maktoum 3-8-08 9/2
00/23/06 2 SUBTLE POWER Henry Cecil Richard Quinn Thoroughbred Corporation 3-8-08 7/4F
99/18/06 2 MUTAFAWEQ Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 3-8-08 4/1F
98/19/06 2 ROYAL ANTHEM Henry Cecil Kieren Fallon Thoroughbred Corporation 3-8-08 9/4F
97/20/06 2 KINGFISHER MILL Julie Cecil Pat Eddery Lord Howard de Walden 3-8-08 9/4F
96/21/06 2 AMFORTAS Clive Brittain Brett Doyle Brian Voak 3-8-08 66/1
95/23/06 2 PENTIRE Geoff Wragg Michael Hills Mollers Racing 3-8-08 4/1
94/14/06 2 FOYER Michael Stoute Michael Kinane Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-08 7/2
93/15/06 2 BENEFICIAL Geoff Wragg Michael Hills Exors of late Sir Robin McAlpine 3-8-08 11/4F
92/16/06 2 BEYTON Richard Hannon snr Michael Kinane David Cock 3-8-08 12/1
91/18/06 2 SADDLERS’ HALL Michael Stoute Lester Piggott Lord Weinstock 3-8-08 7/1
90/19/06 2 PRIVATE TENDER Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Cliveden Stud 3-8-08 11/4F
89/20/06 2 CACOETHES Guy Harwood Pat Eddery Lady Harrison 3-8-08 8/13F
88/14/06 2 SHERIFF’S STAR Lady Herries Tony Ives Lavinia Duchess of Norfolk 3-8-08 9/2
87/16/06 2 LOVE THE GROOM John Dunlop Pat Eddery Mrs V Gaucci del Bono 3-8-08 7/1
86/17/06 2 BONHOMIE Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-08 9/4F
85/20/06 2 LANFRANCO Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Charles St George 3-8-06 13/8F
84/21/06 2 HEAD FOR HEIGHTS Dick Hern Willie Carson Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-06 5/1
83/16/06 2 SHAREEF DANCER Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn Maktoum Al Maktoum 3-8-06 10/1
82/17/06 2 OPEN DAY Dick Hern Willie Carson Sir Michael Sobell 3-8-06 9/1
81/18/06 2 BUSTOMI Dick Hern Willie Carson Lady Beaverbrook 3-8-06 13/2
80/19/06 2 LIGHT CAVALRY Henry Cecil Joe Mercer Jim Joel 3-8-06 9/2
79/21/06 2 ELA-MANA-MOU Guy Harwood Greville Starkey Mrs Andry Muinos 3-8-06 11/10F
78/22/06 2 ILE DE BOURBON Fulke Johnson Houghton John Reid David McCall 3-8-06 11/1
77/16/06 2 CLASSIC EXAMPLE Peter Walwyn Pat Eddery Col Roger Hue-Williams 3-8-10 14/1
*run at York