Daryz looks perfectly placed to defend his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe crown in four weeks after a dominant display in the Prix Foy at Paris Longchamp. Francis-Henri Graffard's charge, a son of Sea The Stars, made the perfect start to his four-year-old campaign with Group One wins in the Prix Ganay and Prix Aga Khan IV. Though he finished third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, connections felt they had viable excuses. In the Prix Foy, Daryz faced three rivals including George Scott's Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller, sent to the front by Oisin Murphy to test Daryz's finishing kick. Mickael Barzalona looked ultra-confident aboard the favourite, cruising alongside Bay City Roller a furlong out and winning by a length and three-quarters under hands-and-heels riding.

Graffard told Sky Sports Racing: "I couldn't be happier with the trial he had today... He will come on a lot for that, I left plenty in him, so he should be spot-on for four weeks' time." Scott was delighted with Bay City Roller's runner-up effort and hopes for rain in Paris ahead of a rematch on October 4. "When it rains he's a different animal," Scott said. "He came here and travelled well... got beaten by a better horse on the day."

Meanwhile, Christopher Head's unbeaten colt Avec Toi survived a stiff test from Imperial Strike to win the Qatar Prix la Rochette by a short head, setting up a likely rematch in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.