Prevailing in an epic dual against local favourite Masquerade Ball, Calandagan became the first foreign winner of the Japan Cup in 20 years, and only the second French-trained winner in the race’s history.

The four-year-old globetrotter has picked up a unique and consecutive four-timer of prestigious Group 1 victories this year – the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Champion Stakes and now the Japan Cup. Earlier in the season he was also runner-up in the Dubai Sheema Classic and Coronation Stakes.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said: "I was really nervous before the race. It's one thing bringing the best horse in the world to this race but he faced a really high-quality field. Everything seemed to go well but I was looking for Christophe Lemaire and he seemed to get a dream run through. He went a head up and I thought we were beaten but he's tough and he battled back. He's an exceptional horse to have put his head in front on the line."

Although 2025 started on an emotional note for the Aga Khan Studs, with the sad loss of His Highness the Aga Khan IV, it has proved to be an exceptional year on the racecourse. Eight Group 1 victories in the green and red colours – including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Daryz and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches with Zarigana - makes it the most successful season for the operation since 2005.

“It has been a very good year thanks to the people sitting next to me and to the rest of the team,” said Princess Zahra Aga Khan. “It's the best year we've had in a very long time. Of course I miss my father very much. He was very involved, but in terms of the operation, I think we continue to do what we do and with our new training policies, thanks to Francis and the collaboration with Mickael, we've had a very good year.”

She continued: “Calandagan has shown himself to be an improving horse throughout the year and I think both Francis and Mickael have learned how to read the horse and to bring him to the best place on the right day at the right time. Calandagan, as Francis said from the beginning of the year, was the horse for this race and he had planned this for a very long time.”