“The Calandagan as of now is a different Calandagan to March.”

Trainer Shogo Yasuda believes that we will see a 'different' Calandagan to the one we saw in the Dubai Sheema Classic earlier in the season as he gets ready to take on Francis-Henri Graffard's charge once more with Danon Decile in Sunday's Japan Cup.

Danon Decile was one of the very few horses to beat Calandagan when he strode to success in the Dubai Sheema Classic, but he will need to bounce back from a disappointing effort when travelling to York for the Juddmonte International if he is to complete a memorable double over his old rival back on home soil.

Shogo Yasuda said: "This morning, I saw him and he is very calm and very focussed. This is how we wanted him to be two days before the race and the training has been done smoothly.

"At York, unlike on Japanese racecourses, the horses are in the paddock for a very short time. This upset him and he didn't adapt himself to the change on the race day.

"I think he was a bit surprised that it was so soon that he had to run. In Japan, we usually take time to work horses in the parade ring. Everything is longer here in Japan. That change may have affected him, and I think he was still mentally immature."

Despite having watched his horse get the better of Calandagan in Dubai back in March, Yasuda believes that Danon Decile will have to be at the top of his game to take the scoreline to 2-0.

"I am very grateful that connections have brought Calandagan to Japan," he said. "I had to train alongside Calandagan in Dubai. After that, he has really improved.

"The Calandagan as of now is a different Calandagan to March. I can see his improvement. I feel like he is a different horse now, so we have to be careful, but the Tokyo track suits my horse very well.

"He is still not very good at making a turn, so I would rather run him very straight. At Tokyo, we have a very long final straight which suits him as does the distance."

Tokyo's lengthy straight and galloping nature certainly leads itself to direct comparisons with York and Yasuda was by no means in any mood to rule out a return to the Knavesmire.

He concluded: "If we can prepare him in a good condition, I think he has the ability to display his best at York as well.

"York is one of the options, as well as other overseas engagements."