Calandagan is set to defend his title in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud tomorrow after a mixed run earlier this season, according to trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. The five-year-old gelding, who last year captured the Group One prize at Saint-Cloud as part of a five-race winning streak at the highest level, is reported to be in very good condition ahead of the race.

Calandagan’s preparation has faced challenges following a disappointing fourth-place finish behind Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller on rain-softened ground. Graffard acknowledged that running Calandagan on such unsuitable terrain was a mistake, but expressed optimism about the horse’s current form. “The ground was terrible,” he said. “I shouldn’t have run him – it was a mistake from myself – but we are looking forward now. He looks really well. I’m very happy with him. He seems in very good shape and his work has been really good, so he should run very well on Sunday.”

The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud field for tomorrow includes eight runners, among them 2025 Derby winner Lambourn, trained by Aidan O’Brien and placed third in the Coronation Cup. Other notable contenders potentially entered by trainers Ralph Beckett and Andrew Balding include Pride Of Arras and Eydon. The lineup is completed by Cualificar, Aventure, Sunly, and Leffrard.

Graffard also mentioned plans to bring Calandagan back to Ascot in three weeks for a bid at consecutive King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes victories.

Separately, Graffard addressed the recent below-par performance of stablemate Daryz, the 2025 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, who ran disappointingly in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. An unsatisfactory blood test has been cited as an explanation for Daryz’s underperformance. The trainer explained that Daryz has since been placed on light work to aid recovery and is being aimed towards an Arc trial in September. “I found my horse a bit flat at the races, so I was not surprised that something was wrong with him,” Graffard said. “We didn’t see the right Daryz, which was very frustrating.”

Tomorrow's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud will thus serve as a key test for Calandagan’s title defense and a step towards further high-profile targets in the season.