The Arc Trials Day at Longchamp on Sunday delivered a spectacular showcase of talent, featuring Daryz, Gstaad, Opera Ballo and Benvenuto Cellini among other high‑profile runners. The meeting served as a crucial rehearsal for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with several horses using the day’s contests to sharpen their form ahead of the season’s most coveted race. Daryz, the recent Arc hero, returned to Longchamp with a clear objective: to confirm his supremacy in the Prix Foy, the traditional trial for the Arc.
The colt looked relaxed in the paddock and, once the gates opened, displayed a turn of foot that left his rivals trailing. His performance not only reinforced his status as the favourite for the October classic but also gave his trainer and jockey confidence that the horse is peaking at the right moment. Francis‑Henri Graffard’s other star, a four‑year‑old who last shone in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, also made a comeback after a puzzling run that was blamed on a stable incident.
Despite that setback, the horse has already secured victories in the Prix Ganay and the Prix Aga Khan IV, demonstrating a devastating acceleration in both. The recent defeat at Longchamp last season at the hands of Japanese challenger Croix Du Nord was quickly avenged when the horse produced a memorable win a month later, beating Minnie Hauk in a thrilling renewal of the Arc.
Bay City Roller entered the day at 14‑1 for the October showcase and proved to be a compelling outsider. After capturing his second Group 1 triumph in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, where he thrived on soft ground, the gelding showed that he can handle a variety of conditions. With the going expected to improve and a familiar track under his hooves, many pundits believe he could be a serious threat both in the trial and in the Arc itself.
Two other runners, the Antoine Griezmann‑owned Uthred and Quest For Magic, are unlikely to feature prominently in the early stages of the race. Quest For Magic, however, has a recent win over Prix Vermeille contender Rabbit’s Foot in Listed company, suggesting he possesses the class to cause an upset if the pace unfolds in his favour. Three‑year‑old Gstaad, a proven star, was matched against two of his Sussex Stakes rivals in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
The race offered a purse just shy of £400,000, and Gstaad’s connections hoped the horse could add another prestigious victory to his résumé. The day also highlighted the ongoing rivalry between Aidan O'Brien and the brilliant Bow Echo, who had bested O'Brien’s best miler on three of four attempts this year.
After losing the 2000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes and the Sussex Stakes by a combined three lengths, O'Brien’s colt finally broke through with a dominant Irish 2000 Guineas win. With Bow Echo now retired, the field’s top miler appears to be Ryan Moore’s mount, which many now consider the best European miler of the season. Opera Ballo and Ten Bob Tony, both of whom had to concede eight pounds to Gstaad on the previous day, saw their weight penalties reduced to six pounds for today’s contest. Opera Ballo, a Group 1 winner who captured the Jebel Hatta at Meydan and later displayed impressive stamina in the bet365 Mile at Sandown, hopes the lighter burden will be enough to close the three‑length gap to Gstaad.
Ten Bob Tony, who famously upset the odds at 50‑1 in the Queen Anne, also looks to capitalize on the reduced handicap. Erdenali, a gelding out of Caravaggio and partnered with Mickaël Barzalona, remains a threat despite a recent third‑place finish when he was boxed in after being the odds‑on favourite in a Group 3. His unbeaten record in higher company makes him a horse to watch.
The Qatar Prix Vermeille promised a fierce duel between Sparan Nua and Sunly. Sparan Nua, after a valiant effort in the Yorkshire Oaks where she finished strongly but could not catch Kalpana, seemed eager to stretch out to the mile‑and‑a‑half distance. Sunly, meanwhile, returned to form by winning a Group 3 at Saint‑Cloud and then narrowly missing out to Aventure in the Group 2 Prix Corrida.
Since then she has added a Group 1 Prix Jean et Louis Romanet to her résumé, and with Colin Keane aboard, she could prove difficult to beat. Survie, fresh from a Grade 1 victory in the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes at Saratoga, arrived under the guidance of Ryan Moore.
The horse, owned by the Coolmore syndicate, had previously struggled at Longchamp but appears revitalised after a successful spell at Newmarket. Tattycoram, who recently defeated Tiffany at Headquarters, also boasts a Group 1 win in Germany, further enhancing the depth of the field. Among the younger prospects, Avec Toi, heralded as Europe’s leading two‑year‑old of 2026, contested the Qatar Prix la Rochette.
Trainer Christopher Head described the filly as a "machine" after a stunning previous win, and she faced unbeaten rivals Vignelli and Imperial Strike, promising a thrilling showdown. Christopher Head also targeted the first two Group contests of the card with Data in the Qatar Prix d’Aumale. After an impressive Group 3 performance, Data could be the one to beat if she manages the step up in distance and class.
British representation came from Ed Bethell’s Rogue Passion. The 4 pm Qatar Prix Niel featured Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini for Aidan O’Brien. After a controversial false start at the Epsom equivalent and a solid third in the King George, the Ballydoyle star is expected to be a major factor. Francis‑Henri Graffard entered Varandir, while Fabre’s team fielded Zaraki as another strong contender.
The meeting concluded with a series of notable British fixtures at Fontwell and a Grade 1 race at Del Mar, where the winner often heads to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Overall, the Arc Trials Day offered a comprehensive preview of the form and fitness of the horses slated for the autumn’s biggest race, providing fans and punters with plenty of material to analyze ahead of the Arc itself.