Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs are set to go into the first two French classics May 10 with a strong hand after Rayif and Narissa came out of their final gallops earlier in the week in excellent shape.
Rayif was last seen finishing third behind Puerto Rico in the 2025 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) and those two horses will renew their rivalry in a field of 13 after declarations were made May 8.
Connections of the French colt decided to skip his intended prep for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas G1) after a slightly indifferent piece of work.
"He galloped really well, he even worked a tad better than Narissa, so we feel like he's really back to form," said racing manager Nemone Routh.
"What I'd really like for him is not to get too much rain. They said it's not too soft on Thursday, which is good."
As well as Puerto Rico, Aidan O'Brien also runs the 2025 Killavullan Stakes (G3) winner Dorset. Christophe Soumillon partnered Puerto Rico to a pair of group 1 victories in France last autumn, but Ryan Moore steps back in for the ride on the 6-4 favorite Sunday. Soumillon instead partners Dorset.
Karl Burke is responsible for Hankelow, who won the Autumn Stakes (G3) on his last juvenile start in October. Clifford Lee will take the ride.
William Buick will partner Komorebi, who won the Prix de Fontainebleu (G3) last time for Godolphin and Andre Fabre.
Doyle on O'Brien outsider for Boussac rematch in Pouliches
The Aga Khan's top filly Narissa also finished third to Ballydoyle's Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) on Arc day and the pair will clash again in Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas G1), which has attracted a field of 15.
"Narrisa's well and she's got a great turn of foot," Routh said. "She ran a great first race back last month and we really wanted to treat it as a comeback, it wasn't a case of win at all costs."
Like Puerto Rico, Soumillon also rode the unbeaten Diamond Necklace twice last year, but Moore is the main in the saddle this time. With the Belgian ace instead taking the ride on another unbeaten filly, The Last Dance, that left a Ballydoyle ride spare with Hollie Doyle booked on outsider Venosa, a Gun Runner filly who acted as a pacemaker for Diamond Necklace in the Boussac last year before finishing last of eight.
Green Spirit, second in the Boussac, will also reoppose, while the Rockfel Stakes (G2) winner Zanthos is set to make her seasonal reappearance for Simon and Ed Crisford. She will be ridden by Oisin Murphy.
Two fillies were added to the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches field May 7, with Prix Imprudence (G3) winner Showna supplemented at a cost of €39,600, and Baklawa taking up her free engagement courtesy of victory in the Prix de la Californie.
Isle of Fernandez, who finished third to Showna last time, runs for Kevin Ryan. He has booked the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Billy Loughnane to take the ride.
