After being four times runner-up in Group 1 contests, Calandagan picked up a deserved top-level victory on Sunday back on home soil in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. He kicked three and a half lengths clear of Aventure, a Group 2 winning Sea The Stars filly who finished second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last season.

“He's such a consistent horse who always runs his race and we were a bit upset when people started talking about cheekpieces and blinkers after his last run,” said racing manager Nemone Routh. “He might have needed that race, as he hadn't run for a few months and he's better on this good ground. This was a proper field and he really, really deserved this win.

“We thought if he ran well today the King George would be the plan if we have good firm ground. This is a confidence booster – he's run so many good races in defeat in different countries on different ground and it was nice to give him a race at home.”

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard added: “The race went really well for him and I thought he was travelling much more into the rhythm of the race this time. I thought he was really impressive.

“After Epsom, my first conclusion was that he needed the run probably against that horse on that ground that day. I thought he came on a lot for that and I think he's gaining experience with his jockey knowing him better also,” he added. “He's never run a bad race and he's either been beaten by a champion or circumstances. Today everything went his way and we saw how good he could be.”

Calandagan is the 102^nd Group 1 winner since 1960 for the Aga Khan family, and their sixth winner of this race, which was won by Zarak in 2017.

On the same card, Daryz maintained his unbeaten record to take the Gr.2 Prix Eugene Adam, following in the footsteps of his half-brother Dariyan. The son of Sea The Stars is one of six Stakes winners for his dam, Gr.1 Hong Kong Vase winner Daryakana.

“We have high expectations of him and we are very pleased with the result of the race,” said Graffard. “We really like him, today was an interesting test and he performed again. There was very little pace in the race and it became very tactical, so it was good that he managed to get his head in front. I think, mentally and physically, there is plenty of improvement to come and he is not quite the finished article.

“I don't think we'll see him again over the summer and he is obviously a candidate for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. We have taken it step by step with him, he will stay a mile-and-a-half, but first he needs to learn to settle. The International Stakes at York is a race I will put forward for Daryz. I will discuss with Princess Zahra where she would like to go.”