Wayne Bailey: Calandagan looks primed to avenge last year’s near miss in Ascot battle of the stars
Mickael Barzalona riding Calandagan win The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse on July 26, 2025 in Ascot, England. Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Ask 10 racing fans what makes a very good horse and you’ll get 10 different answers – and that’s exactly why betting markets exist.
In Flat racing, the likes of Frankel (rated 140) only comes around once in a lifetime, but I think most would agree that anything officially rated 125 or higher belongs in elite company, and only a handful reach that level each season.