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 conclusion drawn from his commanding performance in the Prix Foy. Trainer Francis‑Henri Graffard gave his four‑year‑old star a flawless start to the season, adding two more Group One wins at the beloved Longchamp racecourse in Paris. After a comeback win in the Prix Ganay, Daryz followed up with a dominant display in the Prix Aga Khan IV, confirming his status as a top‑class middle‑distance performer.
His only recent blemish came in June when he traveled to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes and could manage only a third‑place finish. Graffard and his team, however, felt that the result was explainable and that the horse had not been at his best on that day. They expected the son of Sea The Stars to bounce back on familiar French turf.
On paper, the Prix Foy was not a walk in the park. 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 were respectable but less threatening. As anticipated, Bay City Roller was sent straight to the lead by jockey Oisin Murphy, a tactical move designed to test Daryz’s renowned finishing kick. Mickaël Barzalona, however, seemed completely at ease in the saddle.
The favourite settled just behind the early leader, matching Bay City Roller stride for stride a furlong from the finish. When the time came, Barzalona asked for just a modest extension of the reins, and Daryz surged ahead, winning by one and three‑quarters lengths. "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," Graffard told Sky Sports Racing. "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." George Scott, whose runner‑up was Bay City Roller, also expressed satisfaction with his colt’s effort and hinted at a desire for softer ground in Paris when the two meet again in October’s premier middle‑distance showdown. "Oisin was very happy with him and we'll be hoping for a different set of circumstances in a month’s time," Scott said.
"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 added, "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 day also featured a thrilling showdown between hot favourite Avec Toi and Imperial Strike in the Qatar Prix la Rochette, a Group Three contest at Longchamp. With three successive victories already under his belt, Avec Toi was heavily favoured to extend his unbeaten run to four. Imperial Strike, a proven performer for André and Lavinia Fabre, gave a fierce fight in the closing stages, but the French colt edged home by a short head.
A likely rematch between the two front‑runners is set for the Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère in four weeks' time. Christopher Head, the trainer of Avec Toi, praised the race, saying, "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, stepped up to Group Two level and delivered a stunning performance. After breaking her maiden at Carlisle three weeks earlier, she travelled to France and, under the guidance of Rossa Ryan, produced a well‑timed challenge to overtake Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Amusingly and claim victory.
Trainer Ed Bethell 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 potential trip back to Paris for 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 supplemental 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 added. Overall, the day showcased a mixture of established champions confirming their dominance and rising stars making their mark, setting the stage for an exciting autumn campaign across Europe’s top middle‑distance and juvenile races.