Expert Analysis

The fact that this was the 3^rd-fastest Prix Foy this century, despite a less than frenetic early pace (Mont St Michel led by a few lengths but was largely ignored) and rail movements on this occasion, underlines that conditions were faster than widely anticipated, and probably “good to firm” though tending towards “good” in British terms. Byzantine Dream did pretty well to come from 6^th to 1^st in the last 2 sections with a time of 21.93s for a 112.7% finishing speed. This represents very smart form if not quite what is usually required to win or place in the Arc itself (though it has to be said this does not look like being a vintage year for that race).

BYZANTINE DREAM (120 here, 119 previously) brought very smart form to the table – notably a G2 handicap win in Saudi Arabia and a G1 2^nd at Kyoto – but seemed to improve slightly even on that back down in trip, in mid-field, going well when improving 450m out but briefly having to wait for a run then switched and quickening to lead with 100m to go. A rating of 120, as here, has been par for 4^th in an Arc in recent years but the way he won does allow for the possibility that there is more still to come.

SOSIE (119 here, 120 previously) ran well with no obvious excuses, in mid-field before making headway 500m to go and getting to the front briefly under pressure 150m out. He was 4^th in last year’s Arc and will do well to better that but goes there in good form despite some quirks (swished tail repeatedly to post here).

ALMAQAM (117 here and previously) ran a bit better than he had at York and seemed to cope with both the ground and the longer trip, in 3^rd or 4^th much of the way, every chance under pressure with 500m to go and getting back up for a minor place late on.

LOS ANGELES (116 here, 119 previously) may yet come good in a well-run race on easier ground, but for now he is under-performing slightly, in 2^nd most of the way here, driven to lead 350m out but finding little when headed with 150m to go and even losing 3^rd late on.

IRESINE (112 here, 113 previously) is not quite as good as he was (won this in 2022 and 2024) but ran creditably in that context, held up and never on terms.

ARROW EAGLE (110 here, 115 previously) gave trouble beforehand and under-performed somewhat, always around the same place.

MAP OF STARS (106 here, 116 previously) stumbled leaving his stall and was never on terms up in trip. He has become a little disappointing of late.

CHEEKY BOY (94 here, 100? previously)

MONT ST MICHEL (93 here and previously)