World's Best Racehorse Calandagan Opens 2026 Season in Dubai Sheema Classic

Reigning Longines World's Best Racehorse Calandagan is scheduled to open his 2026 campaign in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, where he'll try to add to a streak that saw him close out 2025 with four group/grade 1 victories in three different countries.

An Irish-bred 5-year-old Gleneagles gelding, Calandagan will be looking to take care of some unfinished business Saturday, as a year ago in his first trip to Dubai he finished second to Japan's Danon Decile in this race. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Calandagan will be making his first start since a narrow Japan Cup (G1T) victory Nov. 30 at Tokyo Racecourse, with Mickael Barzalona booked to ride.

Calandagan, a Group 1 winner in three different countries, was rated the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse with a 130 rating, two points higher than a group of five horses at 128 that included Ombudsman, Forever Young, and U.S. Horse of the Year Sovereignty. The Gleneagles gelding carries a four-race winning streak into his 5-year-old debut in the 2,410-meter (about 1½ miles) Sheema Classic.

The path to Meydan was anything but straightforward. The Dubai World Cup meeting received a major boost with the news that Calandagan had been given the green light to travel for the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic, despite the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region. Aga Khan Studs and Graffard kept the final decision open as long as possible, with Calandagan completing a racecourse gallop at Saint-Cloud on March 15 to keep his options alive. Nemone Routh, racing manager for the family, said: "We've been very happy with Calandagan. This race has always been his target as we weren't keen on sending him to Hong Kong. He had an entry, but we didn't think it was the right race as it would have been a difficult start to the year to go out there." With the transport plane for Europe's challengers due to leave Paris on March 21, Princess Zahra Aga Khan and other senior leaders made the call on March 20 to ship the son of Gleneagles.

Last year, Calandagan filled the runner-up spot behind Japanese raider Danon Decile in the Dubai Sheema Classic, before returning to Europe where he registered three consecutive Group 1 triumphs in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Champion Stakes. Last seen capping his outstanding season with a fourth top-level win in the Japan Cup, he was subsequently crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2025.

Eight horses appeared in the likely field for the Sheema Classic, but among those, Pride of Arras will not be on the plane to Dubai. Among the challengers are 2024 Longines Hong Kong Vase winner (and 2025 Hong Kong Vase runner-up) Giavellotto and Ethical Diamond, the 27.70-1 upset winner of the 2025 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.

The Dubai Sheema Classic, a 2,410-meter test for older horses, is one of four Group 1 or Group 2 stakes scheduled as part of Saturday's Dubai World Cup day undercard. The Dubai World Cup card features nine races worth $30.5 million in purses Saturday, March 28, at Meydan Racecourse, with Japanese superstar Forever Young the central attraction coming out of back-to-back wins in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and $20 million Saudi Cup. The Sheema Classic is Race 8 on the card, with a scheduled post time of 12:10 p.m. ET, followed by the $12 million Dubai World Cup at 12:45 p.m. ET.

The Aga Khan Studs also believe the situation is safe for Calandagan to travel, and he will hook up with another World Cup night runner, Rayevka, who is already in Dubai. Rayevka, a Blue Point filly also carrying the stable's green and red silks, is targeting the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on the same card.

The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event, granting the winner an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland. For Calandagan, Saturday is not just about extending a winning streak; it is about completing the only piece of unfinished business his 2025 season left behind.