Sporting folklore is rich with tales of fallen champions overcoming adversity to bounce back in style, and that is the task ahead of Calandagan in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud World Pool by PMU (2400m) at Saint-Cloud in France on Sunday (July 5).

The contest is often used – particularly by French challengers – as a steppingstone to European racing’s main mid-summer showpiece, the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m) at Ascot.

And after winning this contest 12 months ago, Calandagan captured a battling victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He returned to Ascot to land another Group 1 and signed off the year in spectacular style, winning the G1 Japan Cup (2400m) under Mickael Barzalona to be acclaimed as the best racehorse on the planet.

The burning question for Calandagan’s legion of followers is whether he can bounce back from his woeful performance in the G1 Coronation Cup (2405m) at Epsom last month. With the rain pelting down all morning, Calandangan was up against it before the final turn for home, leaving Barzalona to raise the white flag of defeat, some 42 lengths behind the victorious Bay City Roller.

He is expected to return to favourable going this weekend, and he carries the respect of a true champion who simply had an off day on unsuitable ground, remaining the one to beat at Saint-Cloud.

Leading the pack, waiting to pounce on any vulnerability from the defending champion, is mare Aventure, who always gives her all, picking up her seventh win from 15 starts when beating Calandagan’s stablemate Sunly in a Group 2 contest at ParisLongchamp in May.

The step up in trip is a big plus for Aventure on Sunday, while the locally-trained Leffard is definitely in the mix if he can repeat his Group 1-winning performance at ParisLongchamp last July.

Legendary French trainer Andre Fabre runs Cualificar, who was disappointing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but warrants respect on his best day, as does the enigmatic Pride Of Arras.

The G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud World Pool by PMU (2400m) is carded as S4-3 and will be run at 10.40pm (Hong Kong time) on Sunday, 5 July.

Photo - Focus On Racing