Daryz wins historic second Arc as stallion career beckons
Daryz gave the Aga Khan family a record ninth victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, becoming the first colt to go back-to-back in 48 years.
Daryz has become the first colt since Alleged in 1978 to win successive editions of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, giving the Aga Khan family a record ninth success in the race at Longchamp on Sunday.
The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained four-year-old swept past Bay City Roller under Mickael Barzalona to win the €5 million feature by a length and a quarter. Diamond Necklace finished a neck further back in third, ahead of Friendly Soul and Kalpana.
Barzalona settled the favourite towards the rear from barrier five before bringing him wide in the straight. Bay City Roller, ridden by Oisin Murphy, had taken the lead, but Daryz accelerated down the outside and went clear inside the final 200 metres.
“It was absolutely not the plan to find ourselves so far back,” Graffard said.
Daryz’s repeat came on a much quicker surface than in 2025, when he edged Minnie Hauk by a head. Alleged won his Arcs in 1977 and 1978, with the mares Trêve and Enable the only horses to record consecutive victories between Alleged and Daryz.
The win also completed a seasonal treble of the Prix Ganay, Prix Aga Khan IV, formerly the Prix d’Ispahan, and Arc. Allez France was the last horse to achieve that combination, in 1974.
Daryz has now won nine of his 12 starts and earned €6,384,630. Bred and owned by Aga Khan Studs, he is by 2009 Arc winner Sea The Stars out of the Selkirk mare Daryakana, winner of the Hong Kong Vase and Prix de Royallieu.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan indicated that Daryz was more likely to begin a stallion career than return for a third Arc, although his future remained to be settled.
“Daryz has proved himself and I think that, as a breeder, I would rather see him safely at home preparing for his future career as a stallion than racing again next year,” she said.
Graffard had already won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère with Juddmonte’s Amusingly, who overcame a slow start to beat Folsom Blues by a length and a quarter under Colin Keane. Man’s Best Friend was third.
Amusingly was the only filly in the field and the first to win the race since Happily in 2017. Graffard had switched her from the Prix Marcel Boussac to take on the colts.
Joseph O’Brien won the Marcel Boussac with Saxon Warrior filly Green Empress, who held off Data by a head under Christophe Soumillon. Queen of the Day finished third. It was Green Empress’s first Group 1 victory.
Miss Yechance gave 20-year-old apprentice Jack Nicholls his first Group 1 win in the Prix de l’Abbaye, beating Shiri and Mission Central for trainer Karl Burke.
“I didn’t think I would get a chance in a Group One and I’ll be forever grateful to the owners and Karl for putting their trust in me and to let me ride her,” Nicholls said.
Soumillon completed a Group 1 double aboard Miss Scott in the Prix de l’Opéra for John and Thady Gosden. She beat Precise by a length and a half, with Pink Panthera third, giving Soumillon a record fifth victory in the race.
True Love closed the thoroughbred Group 1 programme by giving Aidan O’Brien his first Prix de la Forêt win. Ridden by Ryan Moore, she beat Nighttime by a head, with Puerto Rico another head away in third, to secure her third Group 1.
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