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Dariz did all that was required of him and showed his class once again as he cantered home to take the Prix Aga Khan IV at the Paris Longchamps.
The reigning Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero was competing in a Group One contest formerly known as the Prix d’Ispahan but now renamed in honor of the horse’s late owner and breeder.
Mikel Barzalona rode for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and was able to easily overtake his rivals to secure a three-and-a-half-length victory from Leffard after a sweet trip at four.
“He was brilliant as a cucumber,” said Princess Zahra Aga Khan, owner of Sky Sports Racing.
“To have a horse that’s so flexible in distance and so steady in performance – he doesn’t seem bothered by anything in the race. He’s a great horse.
“Michael said the horse jumped in the shade so he decided that even though it wasn’t the right time to go, he told the horse to go.
“I think poor old Mikael thought he was going over the hurdle at that point, he jumped three times!
“He was completely relaxed, very engaged in the race, very cool and at his own pace. Not flustered, not in a hurry.
“If he was less keen than last time but it’s his season debut, I guess he’s learning. Now we’re seeing a fully developed race.”
Dariz was cut from 7-4 to 11-8 favorite with bookmakers for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot as a result of his victory.
Lajjat made light work of his European comeback with an outright 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 finished fifth in the Sprint Cup at Haydock before narrowly missing out on the Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot.
He traveled to the Middle East in late winter to finish second in the 1351 Turf Sprint and third at Al Quoz, but found his head firmly back in front when winning at Group Three level on home turf under Barzalona.
