Rayif roars back to his best to land Prix Jacques le Marois

French 2000 Guineas hero Rayif bounced back to form to repel a strong raiding party in the Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

Francis-Henri Graffard's colt struck Classic gold on what was his seasonal debut in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains in early May, but his summer campaign has been interrupted, with a planned visit to Royal Ascot scuppered by a minor setback after which he ran a little below par when fifth in the Prix Jean Prat.