Calandagan wins after 200-1 and 100-1 Ascot shocks

On British Champions Day, Calandagan won the big race, Powerful Glory won it 200-1, and Cicero’s Gift won another surprise race 100-1.

The Champion Stakes from Ombudsman was won by French challenger Calandagan at Ascot, which was trained by Francis-Henri Graffard by Mickael Barzalona for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.

In the Champions Sprint Stakes, 2-1 favorite Lazzat moved up to second after Jamie Spencer’s horse, Powerful Glory, rode for Richard Fahey.

Three months after Qirat set a record by winning the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood at 150-1, Powerful Glory is the highest-priced winner of a top-level British Group One race.

Spencer finished third in the 19-runner race with a late surge on his mount as he won Britain’s richest race day. Quinault finished with a 66-1 shot third.

Powerful Glory was a good horse that traveled well. I had a false sense of place and suddenly realized I had a chance.

Another big upset occurred when trainer Charlie Hills’ trainer, Jason Watson, took the trainer’s stakes in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Watson won Group One for the first time since 2019, beating Alakazi and The Lion In Winter.

Powerful Glory had won both of his previous starts last year, including the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes, but had been well-beaten in both of those races this year.

When I saw 200-1, I nearly had a bet, and I don’t bet, said Fahey, “I’m not saying I thought he would come here and almost win, but I knew he would do it.”

“He only started four starts, but we have seen the real Powerful Glory today.”

Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum’s ownership of Powerful Glory resulted in nearly £320, 000 on a day with an overall prize fund of £4.35 million.

Trainers John and Thady Gosden previously competed against stablemate Sweet William in a Long Distance Cup one-two.