Daryz delivers a commanding Prix Foy as Arc build‑up gathers pace
Daryz produced a measured, authoritative performance at ParisLongchamp to take the Prix Foy and reinforce his claims for a repeat bid at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The four‑year‑old, trained by Francis‑Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, had endured an uninspiring outing at Royal Ascot in June when third in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but returned to form with a convincing success over a small but select field.
The race developed as expected with Bay City Roller, a Coronation Cup winner and another leading Arc candidate, making the running. Daryz settled in behind the leader and delivered his customary sustained finish to take the lead inside the final furlong, eventually prevailing by around a length and three‑quarters.
Ascot form put in context
The performance at ParisLongchamp offered reassurance to connections who had identified mitigating circumstances for the colt’s below‑par run when sent to Ascot. Rather than being seen as a definitive reversal of form, the Prix Foy acted as a sharp piece of race conditioning ahead of the season’s marquee middle‑distance contest in early October.
With the Arc scheduled to take place in four weeks’ time, the win will be viewed as an ideal final work‑out by Graffard’s team. Daryz’s tactical versatility and proven finishing power over the Longchamp course were on display and will give his backers encouragement as the big day approaches.
Bay City Roller remains a leading threat
George Scott’s Bay City Roller, who was ridden prominently throughout, ran on well to take second and remains in contention for a rematch at the Arc. The runner‑up’s connections have noted the colt’s preference for softer going, leaving the prospect of rain in Paris as a potential factor should it materialise ahead of the major October meeting.
The race served to underline how fine the margins are at the top level: a strong, tactical showing from Bay City Roller and a professional ride and finish from Barzalona on Daryz produced the outcome. Both horses will now head into the autumn campaign with claims, depending on ground and plan.
Juvenile and filly features at Longchamp
The card also produced a narrow victory for the favourite Avec Toi in the Prix la Rochette, the unbeaten juvenile proving marginally too sharp for Imperial Strike in a tactical renewal. The result sets up a likely rematch for the pair in the Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardere, where both will be expected to contest honours at Group One level.
Meanwhile, British trainer Ed Bethell landed Group Two prize money when Rogue Passion, a Sioux Nation filly, closed strongly to win the Qatar Prix d’Aumale. The filly had stepped up rapidly in class having broken her maiden at Carlisle three weeks earlier and will now be considered for further black‑type opportunities, including potential targets in Paris next month, subject to the owners’ and trainer’s decisions.
What this means for festival and Ascot followers
- For followers who saw Daryz at Ascot in June, the Prix Foy returned balance to the picture; the colt looks to have sharpened up after his summer outing.
- Bay City Roller remains one to watch for the Arc, particularly if softer ground arrives in Paris.
- Young prospects from the Longchamp card, notably Avec Toi and Rogue Passion, have emerged as candidates for further pattern‑race engagement in the autumn.
The Longchamp results will be digested closely by connections and racing fans alike as the season shifts focus back to the major autumn festivals. For those who follow the big‑race trail from Royal Ascot through to the Arc, Daryz’s Prix Foy performance provides a compelling late‑summer chapter in the narrative of Europe’s middle‑distance division.
This article may have been prepared in whole or in part with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
