LAST Sunday’s Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam-Grand Prix de Maisons-Laffitte was an interesting contest for several reasons. First of all the winner Dariyan is a colt very much on the upgrade. He was giving a terrific boost to the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris winner Erupt who racing manager Alan Cooper reported last Wednesday to be “in great shape after the race” before his preparation for the Prix Niel and the Qatar Arc de Triomphe.

Epicuris entered the stalls like a lamb before running a rather disappointing fourth. He made all to win the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last November and maybe the stature of this race needs accessing as the last good horse to win the race was the Aidan O’Brien-trained Fame And Glory back in 2008.

Coming so late in the season, the 10-furlong race is often run on very testing ground and is tough on two-year-olds being so late in the season. France Galop were hoping to make the Eugene Adam a Group 1 contest a little time ago but this boost may now be reserved for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville. Dariyan was giving his owner/breeder the Aga Khan and Alain de Royer-Dupré their third Eugene Adam in just six years and Christophe Soumillon was winning the race for a second time.

The Belgian was tucked in on the rail behind the leader for much of the race and he had to be patient and wait for space to make a final challenge. Dariyan did not quicken immediately but once balanced inside the final furlong, the son of Shamardal drew clear to win by a length and a half from long-time leader War Dispatch, with the rank outsider Toruk a close third in front of Epicuris. At Chantilly the previous month, Dariyan was a respectable fourth (beaten two lengths) behind Erupt in the Group 3 Prix du Lys Longines so this form line now looks good.

Dariyan comes from one of the Aga Khan’s top families. His dam Daryakana won the Hong Kong Vase and grandam Daryaba the Prix de Diane and Prix Vermeille.

Royer-Dupré said: “I knew his form was good and this shorter trip suited him much better but he is a powerful colt who needs time to build up momentum. He quickened well and I have never had him in better shape.”

The Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville is the obvious choice now but the colt has been engaged in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park the same day and also in the Qatar Arc de Triomphe. The runner-up War Dispatch has the same entries.

Criquette Head-Maarek said of Epicuris: “I can’t understand why he changed his legs so often and floated across the track” and Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe added: “He entered the stalls and that is the positive thing about this race.”

BRITISH SUCCESS

English owners/breeders also had a successful afternoon at Maisons-Laffitte. All At Sea ran out a comfortable winner of the Listed Prix de la Pepiniere for Kirsten Rausing who also bred the runner-up Persona Grata from the Ed Walker stable. Just a four-year-old, All At Sea, who is trained by André Fabre, will make a superb broodmare being by Sea The Stars out of Albanova. Take A Look won a newcomers race for James Wigan and this two-year-old qualifies for the generous French-bred premiums.

The son of Siyouni is trained by Freddy Head and looks smart. Lady O’Reilly also landed a breeding double with McQueen (Silver Frost) and the juvenile Al Jazi (Canford Cliffs) who runs in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing. She is trained by Francois Rohaut at Pau and was purchased for €160.000 at the Arqana August Sale at Deauville by Nicolas de Watrigant.

AMELIE SUCCESS

Amelie Foulon won her first group race and lost her apprentice claim at the same time when landing the Grand Prix de Vichy last Wednesday night. The 22-year-old is apprenticed to Andre Fabre and she took the Group 3 event comfortably on the Rothschild Family’s Elliptique. Foulin also became the first lady jockey to win a race in this category. The son of New Approach may next be seen out in the Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville.