Daryz appears to be in prime condition to defend his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe title when the big day arrives in four weeks, a judgment reinforced by his authoritative performance in the Prix Foy. Francis-Henri Graffard's four‑year‑old star kicked off his season on a high note, adding two more Group One wins to his résumé at his favored Longchamp venue.
After a triumphant return in the Prix Ganay, he followed up with a dominant display in the Prix Aga Khan IV, confirming his status as a top‑class middle‑distance performer. His only blemish this year came at Royal Ascot, where he was dispatched to the Prince of Wales's Stakes and could only manage a third‑place finish. Graffard and his team have offered several plausible explanations for that sub‑par effort, ranging from the travel stress of crossing the Channel to the unusually firm ground.
Nevertheless, they were confident that the son of Sea The Stars would quickly rediscover his best form when back on familiar French turf. The Prix Foy presented a slightly more complex puzzle on paper. Among the three rivals, George Scott entered the 10‑length winning Coronation Cup champion Bay City Roller, another horse earmarked for the Arc. Scott’s strategy was to send Bay City Roller straight to the front, hoping to blunt Daryz's renowned turn‑of‑foot.
Oisin Murphy, aboard the challenger, set a brisk early pace in an attempt to stretch the field and test the favourite's stamina. Mickael Barzalona, however, seemed utterly at ease in the saddle.
The French jockey kept Daryz relaxed while allowing the race to unfold at a comfortable rhythm. As the field turned into the final furlong, Daryz settled alongside Bay City Roller, matching strides with the seasoned older horse. When the finishing line approached, Barzalona asked for a gentle urging – merely a push of hands and heels – and Daryz surged ahead to claim victory by one and three‑quarters lengths. After the race, Graffard praised the trial, telling Sky Sports Racing, "I couldn't be happier with the trial he had today.
We got a good lead and luckily Oisin made the pace a little bit harder at the top of the hill, so the horse was really travelling nicely. For me as a trainer it was the best preparation I could have for the horse.
He will come on a lot for that, I left plenty in him, so he should be spot‑on for four weeks' time." Scott, whose Bay City Roller finished runner‑up, also expressed optimism. He noted that the French ground suited his horse perfectly but hinted that a change in conditions – particularly rain – could alter the dynamics in October. "Oisin was very happy with him and we'll be hoping for a different set of circumstances in a month's time. We know that this horse has a high level of form on ground like this, but when it rains he's a different animal.
He came here and travelled well, went through the race very well and got beaten by a better horse on the day. In four weeks' time that might be the case (again), but it might not, so we'll see," he said. The race also highlighted the performance of hot favourite Avec Toi, who was forced to dig deep to preserve his unbeaten record in the Qatar Prix la Rochette, a Group Three contest at Longchamp.
Christopher Head's colt had been impressive in his first three starts and entered the race as a strong odds‑on favorite to make it four from four. Imperial Strike, trained by Andre and Lavinia Fabre, challenged fiercely, and the finish was a photo‑finish, Avec Toi edging out his rival by a short head. Head anticipated a possible rematch in the Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère four weeks later, adding, "It was a very nice race with five nice horses.
I respected Imperial Strike from the beginning, so I'm very happy our horse won the race and we discovered there's a very nice horse to beat next time too!" In the Qatar Prix d'Aumale, British‑trained Rogue Passion, a filly owned by the Sioux Nation, stepped up to Group Two level and delivered a decisive victory. After breaking her maiden at Carlisle three weeks earlier, the filly faced a significant class increase. Francis‑Henri Graffard's Amusingly looked set to dominate under Colin Keane, but Rossa Ryan timed Rogue Passion's challenge perfectly, allowing the filly to surge in the final stages and claim the win.
Trainer Ed Bethell expressed delight, saying, "We were hoping that she'd run a big race, she's a very nice filly who I've got a lot of time for. Obviously you don't know what you're taking on with the French horses, but she quickened up like a decent filly over the mile there and we're delighted." When asked about a possible run in the Prix Marcel Boussac next month, Bethell explained that a decision would involve discussions with the owners at Rogues Gallery, as the filly would need a supplementary entry.
"We'll let the dust settle today, enjoy it and have the conversation in a few days' time. She's got options, but now she's a Group Two winner we want to try and get a Group One if we can," he added.
Overall, the weekend's racing action underscored Daryz's readiness for the Arc, highlighted emerging talent in Avec Toi and Rogue Passion, and set the stage for several intriguing match‑ups in the autumn campaign. With the French racing calendar moving toward the autumn classics, trainers and owners will be closely watching the weather and ground conditions, as they could prove decisive in the ultimate showdown at Longchamp on October 4.