Calandagan continued his love affair with Ascot when putting up a sublime performance to defeat Ombudsman in the Qipco Champion Stakes for Francis-Henri Graffard.
Just a fortnight after Daryz carried the same famous silks to victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Calandagan returned to Ascot looking to complete a Group 1 hat-trick following victories in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Held up throughout under Mickael Barzalona, the gelded son of Gleneagles peeled out wide as the pace began to lift turning for home. Ombudsman and William Buick soon emerged on his outside as pair made gigantic inroads into the lead of the pacesetting Devil's Advocate, but with two furlongs to go Calandagan held a clear advantage.
John and Thady Gosden's Juddmonte International winner set off in an attempt to run down the new leader, but Calandagan continued to find for pressure and with proven stamina over further, he galloped on relentlessly to land the spoils by an impressive two and a quarter lengths.
Ombudsman had to settle for second, with Ed Walker's Almaqam emerging with plenty of credit back in third.
Graffard said: "He's a fantastic horse and we're lucky this year that we have very nice horses to be able to compete at the top level, so it gives me the opportunity to give breaks to Calandagan, he hasn't run since July, and we haven't been greedy because we also have very good horses."
Calandagan could only fill the runner-up spot when reeled in by Anmaat in the same contest twelve months ago and Graffard admitted he left Ascot feeling "very frustrated" that day.
He added: "I think he's a real champion. Work is so easy for him, he needs to work and I was quite far from the Champion Stakes but I had to put him in a gallop with Daryz before the Arc weekend because I needed him to be fitter for today and he just, he was looking at Daryz saying 'come with me, I'll show you how it works'.
"It was unbelievable but looking back now it was a gallop with an Arc and a Champion Stakes winner. It's easy for him so he enjoys it, but pace is important; I think for Group 1 races pace is important, if you want to see the best horse winning, we need enough tactical pace.
"Every time we go back, we know he's going to give everything, he's a champion.
On potential future plans, Graffard added: "I don't know where we're going to go next, I was thinking the Japan Cup but that's a tough race to win so we'll talk to the Princess and see what she wants to do."
