Cualificar puts it up to Calandagan in G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud

Cualificar produced another strong effort in G1 company as he finished second to world champion Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday, 5 July.

Runner-up in last season's G1 Prix du Jockey Club, Cualificar lined up for Andre & Lavinia Fabre on the back of third-place finishes in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt and G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. 

Cualificar raced in midfield under Pierre-Charles Boudot as dual Derby winner Lambourn and Eydon contested the lead in the early stages of the 12-furlong contest. Lambourn steadied the pace soon after, with the eight runners well bunched turning out of the backstraight. 

Aventure made a strong move along the rail with two and a half furlongs to race, while Sunly, Cualificar and Calandagan switched out to launch their challenges. 

The closing trio were virtually abreast as they reeled in Aventure passing the furlong pole, with Calandagan digging deep to beat Cualificar by a neck. Sunly finished third as the front three pulled four lengths clear.