Graffard says Daryz ready to cement legacy in Prix Ganay
Daryz has a strong chance of cementing the huge reputation earned in 2025 by winning the first Group 1 of the European season, the G1 Prix Ganay World Pool by PMU (2100m) at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, April 26.
But the Francis Graffard-trained colt faces six classy rivals – four of whom have a race-fitness edge – including three from the stable of Ganay specialist Andre Fabre.
The legendary Chantilly trainer gained his eighth victory in the Ganay last year with Sosie, who now targets Sunday’s Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.
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Last year, Daryz echoed the extraordinary upward surge of Graffard, dominant in the French trainer’s standings and, in addition, with his 14 victories at the highest level, setting a new record for the most Group 1 wins by a French trainer in a single year.
Daryz, who will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona, only started his career when winning a ParisLongchamp maiden in April, and made phenomenal progress, which climaxed in his thrilling defeat of 16 international stars in October’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m).
Graffard said Daryz, who runs in the colours of the Aga Khan Studs and completed his Ganay preparation with some good work under Barzalona on Tuesday, was ready to fire.
“It was always the plan to start him off in the Ganay. He is ready to go and looks amazing,” he sad. “He has been working on grass for some time now because he is quite a strong horse and put some condition on. Although he drops back in trip, we originally thought he was a 2000m horse.”
Daryz is the clear highest-rated in the field, with Graffard also fielding the lowest-rated in Azimpour, who kicked off his 2026 season when running second in the Group 3 Prix Exbury (2000m) at Saint-Cloud in March.
With Graffard noting that a quick pace suits Daryz, it will be interesting to see whether Azimpour – also owned by the Aga Khan Studs – has a tactical role to play.
Ratings suggest there is little between the Fabre-trained trio of Cualificar, First Look and Bright Picture, representing the power-packed operations of Godolphin, Wathnan Racing and Wertheimer & Frere, respectively.
First Look gave reminders of just how good he could be when beating the dual Group 1 winner Goliath in the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (2000m) at Deauville last August, then landing the Group 2 Prix Dollar (1950m) at ParisLongchamp last October.
“He worked on Tuesday morning and Andre was very happy with him,” Wathnan Racing advisor Richard Brown says.
“This looks like a very deep Ganay but he’s got two runs under his belt this season and we’ll take our chance.”
The other contenders are the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained seven-time winner Arrow Eagle and the Christophe Ferland-trained Aventure.
The former is dropping significantly in trip compared to when he delivered a personal high to easily triumph in last October’s Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak (3100m) on very soft ground at Saint-Cloud.
Aventure came close to winning the 2024 Arc and looked set to play a major role in last year’s European feature, having previously quickened away from her rivals in ParisLongchamp’s Group 1 Prix Vermeille (2400m) only to flop on the big day.
“After the Arc, Aventure spent a good winter at her owner’s stud before returning to prepare for the Ganay,” Ferland said.
“She goes well fresh, but, of course, it is hard to predict that she is going to win on this comeback.”
