Daryz appears ideally positioned to defend his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe title in just four weeks, a fact underscored by his authoritative performance in the Prix Foy. Francis‑Henri Graffard's charge kicked off his four‑year‑old campaign in spectacular fashion, adding two more Group One wins at his favourite venue, Longchamp in Paris. After reclaiming the Prix Ganay in a dramatic comeback, he followed up with a dominant display in the Prix Aga Khan IV, confirming his class and versatility. The only blemish on his recent record came when he travelled across the English Channel for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, where he could manage only a third‑place finish.
Graffard and his team, however, have offered several plausible explanations for that sub‑par effort, and they expect the son of Sea The Stars to bounce back when he returns to French soil. On paper, the Prix Foy presented a solid test.
Among the three opponents were George Scott's Bay City Roller, the ten‑length winner of the Coronation Cup and another serious Arc contender, as well as a third challenger whose credentials also suggested a genuine threat. As anticipated, Bay City Roller was sent straight to the front by jockey Oisin Murphy, a tactical move designed to expose any potential weakness in Daryz's renowned finishing kick. Mickael Barzalona, however, appeared utterly at ease in the saddle. The favourite settled comfortably alongside Bay City Roller with about a furlong left to run and only needed a gentle urging – a light push of the hands and a nudge of the heels – to pull away, crossing the line a length and three‑quarters ahead.
"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." He added that the run was exactly the preparation he wanted for the upcoming Arc: "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 runner‑up was Bay City Roller, also expressed satisfaction and hinted at the impact of ground conditions. "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. He continued, "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. 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 meeting also featured hot favourite Avec Toi, who was forced to give his all to preserve an unbeaten record in the Qatar Prix la Rochette at Longchamp. Trained by Christopher Head, the colt had been impressive in his first three starts and entered the Group Three contest as a short‑odds‑on favorite to make it four‑for‑four. Imperial Strike, a proven performer for Andre and Lavinia Fabre, challenged strongly in the final stages, and the finish was a photo‑finish, Avec Toi edging out the rival by a short head.
A likely rematch between the two is slated for the Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère in four weeks' time. Head praised his runner after the race: "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." In the Qatar Prix d'Aumale, British‑trained Rogue Passion, a filly owned by the Sioux Nation, delivered a stunning Group Two victory.
After breaking her maiden at Carlisle three weeks earlier, she stepped up sharply in class for the French contest. Francis‑Henri Graffard's Amusingly looked set to dominate after taking the lead under Colin Keane, but Rossa Ryan timed a late challenge perfectly, guiding Rogue Passion past the leader to claim the win. Bethell, the filly's trainer, told the Press Association, "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 return to Paris for the Prix Marcel Boussac next month, Bethell explained that a decision would involve discussions with the owners at Rogues Gallery, as a supplemental entry fee would be required.
"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 at Longchamp offered a compelling preview of the form that will shape the Arc and other major middle‑distance contests later in the season. Daryz's triumph, coupled with strong performances from the likes of Bay City Roller, Avec Toi, Imperial Strike and Rogue Passion, suggests a highly competitive autumn campaign across Europe, with rain‑affected ground potentially playing a decisive role in the ultimate outcomes.