France: Streaking Daryz (4) becomes Arc de Triomphe favorite with Prix Foy win

Daryz extended his winning streak at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris to four races, all in stakes, with a tidy win against three rivals in Sunday’s Group 2 Prix Foy at 1 1/2 miles.

The win left Daryz as the standout favorite in the future-book for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 4, a race he won last year at 16-1. Daryz is 9-4 to win this year with European bookmakers.

In the $138,200 Prix Foy, Daryz, who paid $2.40 in American pools, tracked 5-2 Bay City Roller to the final furlong before taking the lead without urging from jockey Mickael Barzalona. Daryz won by 1 3/4 lengths over Bay City Roller, who finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of Uthred in the small field.

The Prix Foy was truly a trial for Daryz for the Arc de Triomphe.

“Everything went as well as possible,” trainer Francis-Henri Graffard told the press. “The horse was very professional to ride and really relaxed.

“He accelerated well in the straight.”

Graffard said that Daryz is approximately 13 pounds heavier than his ideal racing weight “so he will be perfect” for the Arc de Triomphe.

Daryz, owned by the Aga Khan Studs, has won three of four starts this year.

A 4-year-old colt by Sea the Stars, Daryz won his first two starts in France in Group 1 races – the Prix Ganay at 1 5/16 miles in April, and the Prix Aga Khan at 1 1/8 miles in May – before finishing third by 5 3/4 lengths in the Group 1 Price of Wales Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Ascot in Britain in June.

The Prix Foy was Daryz’s first start since June, and one of four major stakes at Longchamp on Sunday.

Graffard, Barzalona and the Aga Khan Studs won the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp at a mile with Erdenali, and the Group 2 Prix Niel Stakes for 3-year-olds with Varandir.

The British shipper Friendly Soul justified a supplemental entry of $50,100 on Thursday by winning the Group 1 Prix Vermeille for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles.

Daryz, Friendly Soul and Varandir earned berths to the $5.8 million Arc de Triomphe.

Erdenali, who paid $11 in American pools, won the $929,400 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp by 1 1/4 lengths over 10-1 Ten Bob Tony. Barzalona had Erdenali in fifth in a field of seven for the first six furlongs. Erdenali made progress on stretch leader Opera Ballo with a quarter-mile remaining, and took the lead with more than a furlong to go.

Ten Bob Tony finished three lengths clear of 4-5 favorite Gstaad, who was alongside Erdenali in early stretch but could not keep pace.

The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp was Erdenali’s fourth win in his fifth career start. A 4-year-old gelding by Caravaggio, Erdenali won his first three starts before he finished third by a half-length after a troubled trip in the Group 3 Prix Messidor at a mile at Chantilly Racecourse on July 19.

The win on Sunday led Graffard to plan a start in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 3 for Erdenali. The winner of the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile earns a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Varandir ($13) closed strongly in the final furlong in the Prix Niel, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Alam. Pearled Majesty (13-1) finished third, while Benvenuto Cellini, the 2-5 favorite and winner of the Group 1 Irish Derby in June, could finish only fifth. Benvenuto Cellini was beaten a head for fourth after racing in traffic in the stretch.

Varandir will be considered for the Arc, according to Nemone Routh, racing manager for Aga Khan Studs.

By Zarak, Varandir has won four of five starts. After winning his first three races, Varandir was fourth of seven behind Maltese Falcon in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at 1 1/2 miles at Longchamp on July 14, losing by only three-quarters of a length.

Friendly Soul led throughout the Prix Vermeille, in her first victory since the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp in October 2024.

Ridden by James Doyle, Friendly Soul was under a hold on the backstretch. She faced a challenge in the final furlong from Pink Panthera and won by three-quarters of a length even though Doyle dropped his whip near the finish.

Friendly Soul, who paid $13.80, was timed in stakes-record time of 2:25.46.

Pink Panthera (10-1) finished a neck in front of 7-2 Sunly, who stumbled at the start and raced at the rear of a field of 13. Sunly was checked with a quarter-mile remaining but recovered to finish well.

Friendly Soul, trained by John and Thady Gosden for George Strawbridge Jr., was beaten in her first three starts this year. She was pulled up in the Hedge of Oaks Stakes at Haydock Park in Britain in May in her first start since the 2024 Prix de l’Opera.

Friendly Soul finished third in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and was second by 2 3/4 lengths in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on July 30.

Aside from the Arc, Friendly Soul will be considered for the Prix de l’Opera, which is run at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares on Oct. 4.

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