Racing has an undisputed world champion after Calandagan won a soul-stirring Japan Cup in track record time on Sunday.
He had already claimed the Grand Prix Saint-Cloud and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot before taking out the Champion Stakes in October to be rated the best racehorse in the world.
It all went on the line in Tokyo, where the Japanese have reigned supreme for 20 years.
Only two Europeans had won a Japan Cup this century, Alkaased and Falbrav, but the 2025 European Horse of the Year was not going to be denied.
Mickael Barzalona rode a perfect race, settling midfield before coming with his winning run in the final 300m. As Calandagan surged, favourite Masquerade Ball came with him.
The pair eyeballed each other inside the final 100m, with Masquerade Ball appearing to get a margin before Calandagan dug deep to win by a head, with Danon Decile two and a half lengths away in third.
HE’S DONE IT! CALANDAGAN WINS THE JAPAN CUP IN A RECORD TIME! 🇯🇵🏆#ジャパンカップ #競馬 pic.twitter.com/7Lc0bgSba8
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 30, 2025
“They were both very brave. He [Masquerade Ball] even put a head in front of me,” Barzalona said.
It completed the Arc de Triomphe and Japan Cup double for Barzalona, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs after Daryz won at Longchamp.
Graffard admitted he was nervous before Sunday’s race even though he felt he had the best horse.
“It’s one thing bringing the best horse in the world to this race but he faced a really high-quality field,” Graffard said.
“Everything seemed to go well, but I was looking for Christophe Lemaire [on Masquerade Ball] 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.”
Calandagan couldn’t race in the Arc as a gelding, but Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who took control of the renowned racing operation when her father died, was delighted.
“This has been a very good year, thanks to the people sitting next to me,” said the Princess, who was seated alongside Graffard and Barzalona.
“It’s the best year we’ve had in a very long time.”
“Our operation has never had a horse in the Japan Cup because we didn’t have a horse for the day. We thought Calandagan was that horse.”
The drama didn’t finish at the post. Lemaire congratulated Barazlona with a first bump, before Masquerade Ball veered out unseating the champion jockey and crashed into Danon Decile, which dropped Keita Tosaki. Both riders escaped the incident uninjured.
That was ugly past the post in the Japan Cup MASQUERADE BALL veered right into DANON DECILE, two of the best on the planet, hoping they are OK🙏 pic.twitter.com/m9r9bpjSZW
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) November 30, 2025
