Daryz warms up for Arc with dominant display in Prix Foy

Daryz looks perfectly placed to defend his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe crown in four weeks, judged on his dominant display in the Prix Foy.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s charge made the perfect start to his four-year-old campaign by winning two more Group Ones at his beloved ParisLongchamp, with a comeback victory in the Prix Ganay followed by a runaway triumph in the Prix Aga Khan IV.

He could only finish third when sent across the Channel for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, but with connections feeling they had viable excuses for that below-par run, the son of Sea The Stars was expected to regain winning ways back on home turf.

On paper his task was not entirely straightforward, with George Scott’s 10-length Coronation Cup winner and fellow Arc aspirant Bay City Roller among his three rivals, and as expected the latter was sent straight to the front by Oisin Murphy in an attempt to draw the sting out of Daryz’s exceptional finishing kick.

But Mickael Barzalona always looked ultra-confident in the saddle aboard the red-hot favourite, who cruised alongside Bay City Roller a furlong out and only had to be pushed out hands and heels to win by a length and three-quarters.

“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.”

Scott too was delighted with the performance of the runner-up and is hoping for rain in Paris ahead of a rematch with Daryz in Europe’s premier middle-distance contest on October 4.

He said: “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.

“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.”

Avec Toi made to work hard to stay unbeaten in Prix la Rochette

Hot favourite Avec Toi was made to pull out all the stops to maintain his unbeaten record in the Qatar Prix la Rochette at ParisLongchamp.

Christopher Head’s colt had been hugely impressive in winning his first three starts and was long odds-on to make it four from four in this Group Three contest.

Imperial Strike, winner of his two previous starts for Andre and Lavinia Fabre, made a real race of it and there was little to choose between the pair in the dying strides, but Avec Toi was a short head in front at the line.

A likely rematch between the front two will take place in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in four weeks’ time.

Head told Sky Sports Racing: “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.”

Ed Bethell’s British raider Rogue Passion flashed home to claim Group Two honours in the Qatar Prix d’Aumale.

The Sioux Nation filly faced a significant step up in class having opened her account at the third time of asking at Carlisle three weeks ago.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s Amusingly looked likely to win comfortably after travelling powerfully into the lead under Colin Keane, but Rossa Ryan produced Rogue Passion with a well-timed challenge to get up and claim victory.

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 whether she would return to Paris for the Prix Marcel Boussac next month, the trainer added: “It’s a conversation that needs to be had with the guys at Rogues Gallery (owners) because she needs to be supplemented if we’re going to do it.

“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.”