Baroud surprised Daryzan and took the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano
- Turf Diario
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
The Frankel colt displayed a powerful turn of foot to defeat the favorite by two lengths in the G2 feature at Deauville. Teddy Grimthorpe noted that his connections are already looking primarily toward 2027
DEAUVILLE, France—Baroud took a major step forward in his development and pulled off one of the day's biggest surprises at Deauville, posting a commanding victory in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (G2) and leaving heavily favored Daryzan (Zarak) in second.
Trained by André and Lavinia Fabre, the son of Frankel confirmed the steady progress he had been teasing in recent outings. Under a precise ride from Pierre-Charles Boudot, he unveiled his finest turn of foot at the precise moment to seal the contest with authority.
In a compact field of just five runners, Montreal (Sea the Stars), representing Aidan O’Brien and previously third in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1), set the early tempo. Meanwhile, Daryzan, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and backed as the 11-10 choice, waited patiently along the inside in an intermediate position.
As the field swung into the home straight, the race reached its boiling point. Daryzan was asked for his effort and found clear running room along the rail, accelerating sharply and briefly giving the impression that he would deliver on his heavy favoritism.
However, Baroud was traveling even better on the outside. Boudot angled his mount into open ground, and the response was instantaneous. The colt surged with immense power, striking the front with approximately a furlong remaining before kicking clear.
Daryzan attempted to match strides, but he could offer no further resistance. Baroud hit the wire two lengths ahead, leaving a magnificent impression with his explosive finish. Montreal, having made all the running, faded in the closing stages to finish fourth.
The victory represented far more than just a G2 accolade for Baroud. Racing for Imad Al Sagar, the colt has required patience to reach maturity, but his connections noted that each start has brought tangible signs of growth.
"He has been a slow-maturing horse, but he has been running better every time and made another step forward when he ran at Saint-Cloud," explained Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Al Sagar.
His final workout prior to shipping to Deauville had already fueled quiet optimism.
"He worked very well in his last gallop on Tuesday, and that was really encouraging," Grimthorpe added.
His performance in the Guillaume d’Ornano validated those positive signs and fundamentally altered his future roadmap.
Pedigree-wise, Baroud possesses all the attributes to become a stallion prospect of immense value. As a son of Frankel, adding a prestigious G2 victory to his record significantly elevates his status—a detail not lost on his connections.
"As a G2 winner by Frankel, he is something special, and the options now become increasingly elite," explained Grimthorpe.
For that reason, the team is in no rush to push for major targets during the remainder of the current campaign. The plan is to preserve the colt with an eye toward a high-profile 2027 season.
"We will focus on next year, and since he loves firm ground, Longchamp will probably not be an option," Grimthorpenoted.
That comment effectively rules out a tilt at the major French autumn features, where testing track conditions are the norm.
Baroud needed time, but the Fabres appear to have chosen the ideal moment to unleash him. At Deauville, he did not merely defeat a horse of Daryzan's stature—he did so with the explosive turn of foot reserved for top-class horses.
With a G2 title now on his resume and Frankel atop his pedigree, his connections have every reason to look toward 2027 with massive ambition. The Prix Guillaume d’Ornano may well mark the exact moment Baroud transitioned from a promising prospect into a genuine star.
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