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 in style at Longchamp, adding two more Group One wins to his résumé.
After reclaiming the Prix Ganay earlier in the year, the colt followed that triumph with a dominant display in the Prix Aga Khan IV, confirming his status as a leading middle‑distance performer. His only recent blemish came in June when he travelled to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes and finished a modest third. Graffard and his team, however, were quick to point out that a combination of factors – including a firm surface and a fast early pace – may have contributed to a performance below his usual standard.
They were confident that the horse would bounce back once back on familiar French turf. The Prix Foy presented a slightly more complicated test on paper.
Among the three opponents were George Scott's Bay City Roller, a ten‑length winner of the Coronation Cup and another serious contender for the Arc, as well as a third runner whose credentials also suggested a genuine challenge. As expected, Bay City Roller was sent to the front by jockey Oisin Murphy, perhaps in an effort to expose any potential weakness in Daryz's renowned turn of foot. Mickael Barzalona, however, seemed completely at ease in the saddle.
The French jockey kept Daryz settled behind the early leader, then guided him forward as the field turned into the home straight. With about a furlong to go, Daryz was already shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Bay City Roller. A gentle urging from Barzalona was all that was needed; the horse responded with a smooth acceleration and pulled away to win by one and three‑quarter lengths.
"I couldn't be happier with the trial he had today," Graffard told Sky Sports Racing. "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, the trainer of the runner‑up, also expressed optimism, noting that the race had been run on firm ground and that a softer surface could suit his own horse better. "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 conversation turned to the upcoming Arc, with both trainers acknowledging that the weather could play a decisive role.
"I think he's the best version of himself now. The winner might be as well, but in four weeks' time it's going to be completely different," Scott added.
"He's going to be an underdog coming back, of course he is – Daryz is a champion and he is unbelievable around here. It was all perfect for him today and set up great, but I was very happy with our horse, Oisin was most happy, so we're looking forward to it." The day's card also featured a showdown between hot favourite Avec Toi and Imperial Strike in the Qatar Prix la Rochette, a Group Three event over 1,400 metres. Avec Toi, trained by Christopher Head, had already won his first three starts and entered the race as a heavy odds‑on favorite.
Imperial Strike, a two‑time winner for Andre and Lavinia Fabre, proved a formidable opponent, staying on strongly in the final strides. The finish was a photo‑finish, Avec Toi edging home by a short head.
Head was pleased with the effort, noting that Imperial Strike had shown he could be a serious rival in future contests, particularly the Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère slated for four weeks later. "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! He's a very nice horse and he's done a great job today.
It was a pretty tactical race and we are all happy. There is a lot to do between the two races and I'm very happy with that," Head told Sky Sports Racing.
In the Qatar Prix d'Aumale, British‑trained Rogue Passion, a filly owned by Rogues Gallery and trained by Ed Bethell, claimed her first Group Two victory. The Sioux Nation mare had only recently broken her maiden at Carlisle, making the step up to Group Two company a bold move.
Francis‑Henri Graffard's Amusingly looked set to dominate after taking the lead under Colin Keane, but Rossa Ryan timed Rogue Passion's challenge perfectly, allowing the filly to surge ahead in the final furlong and hold on by a narrow margin. Bethell praised the filly's temperament and potential. "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," he said to the Press Association. When asked about a possible run in the Prix Marcel Boussac next month, Bethell explained that a decision would need to be made with the owners, as the race would require 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. Today definitely was not unexpected.
She's always shown she's a nice filly and it's a huge credit to the Rogues Gallery and Henry Lascelles who bought her," he concluded. Overall, the day provided a clear snapshot of the form lines heading into the autumn classics. Daryz's convincing win cements his status as the short‑odds favourite for the Arc, while the performances of Avec Toi, Imperial Strike, and Rogue Passion add depth to the pool of potential challengers. Fans can look forward to a thrilling October meeting at Longchamp, where the weather, ground conditions, and tactical acumen will all be tested in Europe's premier middle‑distance showdown.