Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who has taken giant strides in 2025 to become the Cartier European Horse of the Year and on Sunday he achieved the almost unthinkable with a history making win in the Group I Japan Cup (2400m).

Sporting the famed silks of Te Akau Racing, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s Home Affairs colt Kinnaird started favourite at Otaki on Sunday, fighting all the way to the line to score on debut, becoming the second winner for his Coolmore based sire.