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In a impressive display of stamina and pedigree, the promising colt caught the hot favorite the favorite filly in the closing moments of the 104th Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. This win came wearing the iconic red and green silks once associated with the late owner, who died in February. “He was born for such races,” stated his owner’s daughter after the race. “On both sides, his father and mother are Group One winners at the distance, so he was born to handle the mile-and-a-half and it’s clear he proved it on Sunday.”

A Remarkable Rise for Daryz

Sunday’s contest marked just the seventh start of Daryz’s career, all in his three-year-old campaign, and his first over 2,400 meters. He is the seventh victor of the Arc for the thoroughbred stable founded nearly a century ago, a tradition that stretches back to the late 1940s, and additionally the first winner in the distinctive silks after a perfect champion’s victory in the previous decade.

This is a great feeling and Sunday was precisely what we planned to do,” commented Francis-Henri Graffard. “My horse was very tough to catch up with the filly. To win the Arc now in these colours is simply unbelievable. Before, it was only a fantasy, but now it has become reality to me.”

Key Players in the Victory

Rider Mickaël Barzalona, known for taking the Epsom Derby as a teenager in 2011, came from the pack to run down Aidan O’Brien’s female horse by a narrow margin. It marked a first Arc success for each of the jockey and trainer, sealing an excellent year for the latter. Previously this summer, the trainer had took the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes with another horse, who was prevented from lining up on Sunday.

Among the rare setbacks for the yard in the campaign was the colt’s disappointing performance during summer against another rival. However, the trainer feels that experience contributed to strengthen the colt for the autumn. While planning to race there, I told Princess Zahra, ‘we are not going to win, but it’s necessary to toughen him up for later in the year,’” Graffard stated. In my view, the loss in that race helped us to win on Sunday because my horse was, for the first time, very professional and experienced.”

Rider’s Thoughts and Prospects for the Runner-Up

Barzalona shared immense joy after his extended wait for an Arc victory is over. We always believed in him,” Barzalona said. “When we went to York it was a disorganized race, but he returned much improved. In his mind and physically, he has progressed a lot and today he was very relaxed. He moved smoothly, he picked up strongly. All factors combined in this race to secure victory.”

Minnie Hauk, unbeaten in her four races this season, ran up to her best and was well ahead of the third-placed horse. There is likely that the filly may continue racing at four, with another attempt to the Paris track as a main goal of her plans.

Christophe Soumillon, who also piloted Dalakhani to success in the same colours, briefly seemed to have made a winning move heading into the final furlong. No reasons,” he admitted. As I sensed the winner approaching in the final furlong, I kept a bit back for the end and we raced side by side, but Daryz has a strong finish and thrives on the track conditions. Without him out, the filly could have been one of the most dominant Arc-winning fillies, but that’s racing.”

Future Plans and Final Words

Currently no plans as yet for Sunday’s winner, but the last comment on the 2025 Arc undoubtedly belongs to the breeder, the latest representative of the family to celebrate an Arc champion. “This is the pinnacle for a breeder,” Princess Zahra said. My father was constantly so over the moon to claim an Arc de Triomphe, and today I know how he felt.”