Daryz decisive in straightforward Prix Aga Khan IV triumph

Daryz did everything required of him and showed his class once again when cantering home to take the Prix Aga Khan IV at ParisLongchamp.

The reigning Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero was running in a Group One contest previously known as the Prix d’Ispahan but now renamed in honour of the horse’s late owner and breeder.

Mickael Barzalona took the ride for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, and after travelling sweetly throughout the four-year-old was easily able to sweep past his rivals to secure a three-and-a-half-length victory from Leffard.

“He was a cool as a cucumber,” said owner Princess Zahra Aga Khan to Sky Sports Racing.

“To have a horse that is so flexible in terms of distance and so steady in terms of performance – he didn’t seem to be bothered by anything in the race. He’s a fantastic horse.

“Mickael said the horse jumped the shadows so he decided that even though it wasn’t the exact right time to go, he asked the horse to go.

“I think poor old Mickael felt like he was racing over hurdles at that point, he jumped three times!

“He was completely relaxed, very engaged in the race, very chilled and absolutely in his own tempo. Not fussed, not rushed.

“If anything he was less keen than last time but that was his seasonal debut, I guess he is learning. Now we see the fully developed racehorse.”

Daryz was cut with Coral from 7-4 to the 11-8 favourite for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot as a result of his victory.

Francis-Henri Graffard added:“It was naturally a relief to win today. Given the comeback performance he had produced, he almost wasn’t allowed to lose. This race was clearly part of the programme we had imagined for him. If he repeated what he had shown previously, he was supposed to confirm it here. Situations like this always bring extra pressure, similar to what we experienced with Calandagan in Dubai earlier this year.

"The idea has never been to think only about his future as a stallion. Races over 2,400 metres are demanding, especially for a horse who can sustain his acceleration for so long. I have always preferred shortening him in trip rather than continuing exclusively over longer distances. Apart from the Arc, he has mostly raced around 2,000 metres, and I never doubted his ability to cope with the pace over 1,850 or 2,000 metres.

"What matters today is that the public was able to see his turn of foot, the same acceleration he displayed in the Arc and then in the Ganay. That is what makes him a special horse. Most importantly, he has handled the transition from three to four very well. A tremendous amount of work is done every morning by the entire team to keep him focused on his job.

"What is certain, however, is that we cannot ask this of him all year long. At some stage he will need a break, probably during the summer, especially if the spring campaign continues as planned. We also know he enjoys the autumn and could again be extremely effective at that time of year. So we will need to be sensible in order to bring him back fresh afterwards.”

Lazzat made light work of his European return with a straightforward win in the Prix du Palais-Royal.

Jerome Reynier’s star sprinter took the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last season and then went on to finish fifth in the Sprint Cup at Haydock before narrowly missing out on the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes back at Ascot.

He travelled to the Middle East in late winter to finish second in the 1351 Turf Sprint and third in the Al Quoz, but got his head firmly back in front when winning at Group Three level back on home turf under Barzalona.