Connections of Calandagan will be hoping that he can round off a somewhat up and down year for Aga Khan Studs when he bids for Japan Cup glory in Tokyo on Sunday.

Trained by masterful handler Francis-Henri Graffard, Calandagan carries the infamous silks of Aga Khan Studs, whose dark green and red silks are known in almost every corner of the globe thanks to a seemingly never-ending list of legendary equine talents. From Daylami to Shergar, to Shahrastani to Sinndar and Zarkava, the list goes on, as must the show.

News of the passing of His Highness the Aga Khan IV at the beginning of February shook the racing world but the 49th imam of Nizari Isma'ilism left behind a legacy in the thoroughbred industry that will last forever and there's certainly no sign of things slowing down.

Daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan has already shown her raw emotion and passion for the sport when Daryz provided them with a stunning first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory at Longchamp in October and with Calandagan recently crowned Cartier's Horse of the Year, there is a strong feeling that the operation is stronger than ever on the track.

"Obviously this year has been a very strange year for the Aga Khan Studs because we lost His Highness the Aga Khan IV at the beginning of February," said Nemone Routh, European racing representative for Aga Khan Studs'.

"For the year to finish with us having the world's best horse trained by Francis and Daryz, who is the third best rated horse in the world and won the Arc, you couldn't dream of a year like this. For it to fall in this difficult year at the beginning and for the horses to perform at the top level throughout, it's indescribable really.

It's been fourteen years' since the Aga Khan Studs' Shareta finished seventh under the now four-time Japan Cup winning rider Christophe Lemaire for trainer Alain De Royer Dupre and although the former, who has since become a star name on Tokyo's biggest race day thanks to the likes of Almond Eye and Equinox, will be in action on Calandagan's main market rival Masquerade Ball, this year's Aga Khan team has a slightly different look about it.

Whilst neither Francis-Henri Graffard nor Mickael Barzalona have failed to land a blow in Japan's feature Grade 1 prize, both return to Tokyo with valuable experience, as does Calandagan's regular rider Jeromy Lobel, who has gone full circle having partnered Shareta during his work in 2011.

It feels like there is an underlying sense of unfinished business in the air for the trio and it's no surprise to see confidence growing as they gear up to unleash officially the world's best racehorse against Japan's monstrous home army.

"We're very proud of the year that we've had and it's wonderful to come here with such a good horse," said Routh. "He's at the top of his game and he seems to have travelled very well.

"We're under no illusions that it will be difficult. It's a hard trip for a horse to take at the end of the year, but he seems very well and we're now very confident in his abilities."