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| Staff Writer |
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Calandagan remains firmly on target for the Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic after pleasing connections in a racecourse gallop at Saint-Cloud on Thursday.
The Royal Ascot winner, who finished an agonisingly close second in both the Gr.1 Juddmonte International and Gr.1 Champion Stakes last term, is being readied for a campaign focused on mile-and-a-half contests this season.
Francis-Henri Graffard was visibly satisfied with what he witnessed from his charge, who is heading straight to Meydan without the benefit of a preparatory outing.
"I was very pleased to give him a racecourse gallop, especially as the ground was good at Saint-Cloud. It was very positive for the horse and he needed to get out of the yard and get back into the rhythm of a race on the racecourse. It was very positive, and the gallop went really well," he told the Dubai Racing Club.
Mickael Barzalona, who partnered the gelding in the workout, shared his trainer's enthusiasm about the horse's current condition, with Graffard adding: "Mickael Barzalona was pleased with the horse and I think he will come on a lot for it. All winter we decided he was a horse for the Sheema Classic."
The Juddmonte-owned gelding is being aimed specifically at races over twelve furlongs this season, with Graffard explaining: "I definitely think he is a mile-and-a-half horse. He's a horse that needs to get into his rhythm in the early part of the race and he can then finish strongly, so I think he's better suited by a mile and a half and good ground."