de Fontainebleau at Longchamp in April. Three weeks later, he beat the same horse, by the same margin, over the same course and distance to win the Group One Poule d'Essai des Poulains on soft ground, with Godolphin's Bahamian Bounty, winner of the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes, finishing last of the six runners. Although he had been entered in the Derby, Daylami's connections made it clear that the colt would be kept to shorter distances. The colt was then sent abroad for the first time to contest the Group One St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Daylami's striking appearance impressed observers and he was well fancied at 7/2, but in the race he seemed to be outpaced in the closing stages and finished a well-beaten third to Starborough. For his two remaining starts, Daylami returned to France, and continued to be tried over one mile. In both of these races, he proved the best of the three-year-old runners. He reversed the Ascot form with Starborough in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, but was beaten decisively by the four-year-old Spinning World. On his final start of the year, he finished third in a strong renewal of the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp behind Spinning World and Helissio. 1998: Four-year-old season Daylami's move to Godolphin in the winter of 1997/8 brought more than a change of location, as his new connections changed the focus of the horse's campaign to middle-distance events.(In Europe the term "middle distance" covers races that would be considered "long distance" in North America). He began promisingly, carrying topweight of 9–4 (130 lbs) to victory at the Curragh in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (then a Group Two race). He was a beaten favourite on his next run at Royal Ascot, when he finished third to his stable companion Faithful Son in the Group Two Prince of Wales's Stakes, but there were excuses for his defeat, as Dettori had been unable to find space for a clear run at a crucial stage in a race that was described as "one big bump". In addition, Daylami, as a Group One winner, had to carry five pounds more than the winner. He reversed the form with Faithful Son at level weights to record his most valuable win so far in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown two and a half weeks later. The form of the race was not particularly