Europe benchmark Calandagan ready to test local stars in Japan Cup

Calandagan will carry a three-race Group 1 winning streak in Europe into the Japan Cup as he attempts to break an overseas drought in the race.

French-trained, Calandagan faces a deep local contingent at Tokyo Racecourse, where no overseas runner has won the feature since Alkaased in 2005.

The 2025 European Horse of the Year is the sole international entrant in a field of 18 chasing the $US7 million purse over 2400 metres.

No foreign-trained horse has finished in the Japan Cup placings since Ouija Board ran third in 2006, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s Goliath managing sixth last year.

Owned by the family of the late Aga Khan, Calandagan brings Group 1 wins in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Champion Stakes.

Japan’s key hopes are headed by Danon Decile, alongside three-year-olds Croix du Nord and the expected favourite Masquerade Ball.