Arc Winner Daryz Returns in Prix Ganay

The return to action of the previous year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner is always a major event and, with all due respect to group 1 winners Aventure (IRE) and Arrow Eagle (FR), the appearance of Daryz (FR) is by some distance the headline act in the April 26 Prix Ganay (G1). With plenty of Arc winners retired in the wake of landing Europe's greatest middle-distance prize, it is also an event which does not come around as often as racing fans might like, and the decision by Aga Khan Studs to race on with Daryz at 4 is a shot in the arm for the sport. Unraced at 2, Daryz won five of his seven starts at 3, culminating in a heart-stopping defeat of Minnie Hauk (IRE) in October at ParisLongchamp. With Cualificar (GB) a nonrunner, Daryz faces a select field of four rivals, and while trainer Francis-Henri Graffard has made no secret in nominating the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot as his key target for the first half of the season, he believes the son of Sea The Stars (IRE) is in fine physical shape to kick off his campaign. "His preparation through the winter has been very smooth," Graffard said. "We thought it a good idea to give him a racecourse gallop at Chantilly two weeks ago and that really brought him forward. He needed that piece of work to take the freshness out of him and then his final gallop on Tuesday was perfect." A tremendous model of a horse last year, Daryz always looked like he might improve with time and Graffard's team has focused on trying to channel his naturally dominant nature, even switching work riders in order to ensure he does not get too far above himself. With a group 1 penalty and the possibility of a long season making the idea of a prep race unappealing, Daryz will concede race fitness to the likes of Bright Picture (FR) and First Look (IRE). However, the decision to come back to the extended mile and a quarter—with the option of dropping further in trip for the Prix Aga Khan IV (G1) (formerly the Prix d'Ispahan)—makes the Ganay the logical starting point for the year. Aventure is another with little to prove at anything below group 1 level and last season's Prix Vermeille (G1) winner is also likely to spend the first half of the season at the shorter end of her distance range. She has shown she goes well fresh, and the question is whether she can be at her most effective on the likely quick ground. Her owners, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, are also represented by Bright Picture, who has arguably been in the form of his life with wins in the Prix Exbury (G3) and the Prix d'Harcourt (G2). While three places behind Bright Picture at the finish in the Harcourt, Wathnan's First Look only has three-quarters of a length to find. Arrow Eagle ran a huge race to be sixth in the Arc and then outclassed the best stayers in France when taking the 1 15/16-mile Prix Royal Oak (G1). Despite guaranteed stamina for much further, Cristian Demuro is unlikely to be in a hurry early on aboard a horse who tends to warm to his task gradually.