Daryz entered the history books by repeating in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, emulating Alleged
The Aga Khan Studs champion became the first male since Alleged in 1977 and 1978 capable of capturing back-to-back editions of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1). Under Mickael Barzalona, he defeated Bay City Roller once again, while Diamond Necklace finished third
PARIS, France (Special for Turf Diario).— Europe had to wait nearly half a century to witness a male successfully defend his crown in the continent's most prestigious race once again. Daryz brought that long wait to an end this Sunday, cementing his position among the legendary names in the history of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).
The champion trained by Francis-Henri Graffard conquered ParisLongchamp once more, accomplishing what no male horse had managed since Alleged (Hoist the Flag), the superstar conditioned by Vincent O’Brien and ridden by Lester Piggott who captured back-to-back runnings in 1977 and 1978.
Daryz already had an Arc on his record. Now he has two. And he achieved it even after the race developed in a manner far different from what his team had envisioned.
The tempo was sensible, there was plenty of traffic, and Mickael Barzalona gradually lost positions through much of the run. Daryz found himself further back than desired and had to bide his time before launching his stretch rally.
Once daylight appeared, however, everything changed. Barzalona called on Daryz to run, and his explosive turn of foot made the difference once more. From that moment on, the unmistakable feeling was that the champion would seal the deal.
And so he did. The outcome also served as confirmation that the Prix Foy (G2) was the key prep for the Arc. There, Daryz had defeated Bay City Roller (Ney Bay), and both horses occupied the top two spots when the race that truly mattered arrived.
Bay City Roller, trained by George Scott, finished as the runner-up once again, while Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) turned in a stellar effort for Aidan O’Brien, finishing third after breaking from the treacherous post 16.
“He’s an Exceptional Horse”
Barzalona needed few words to capture the magnitude of repeating in a race of this stature.
“To win a race like this twice proves that Daryz is an exceptional horse,” he stated.
The jockey admitted that the race was far from straightforward: “It was a really tough race. It didn’t go as we expected, but he showed his class, and that ended up making the difference. The pace wasn’t fast, there was plenty of contact, and nothing went according to plan, but the horse deserved to win again.”
For Barzalona, the triumph confirmed what Daryz had demonstrated all season long.
“He proved throughout the year that he is the best.”
Graffard’s Unwavering Confidence
Graffard had arrived at the Arc displaying a level of confidence uncommon for a race where any minor detail can alter the outcome.
He did not hide it. During the week, he had raved about Daryz, going as far as calling him probably the finest horse he has ever trained. After the race, he explained why he had chosen to express such public confidence.
“He is a great horse, he is a champion,” he said. “It is rare for me to be so confident before a race because in a contest like this everything is difficult, but I knew things were going smoothly and that he would be very hard to beat.”
The weight of expectation, nevertheless, was heavy. Daryz entered as the favorite, the defending champion, and the horse everyone was gunning for.
“I was putting an enormous amount of pressure on myself. You can end up looking foolish when you talk before a race, which is why it’s often easier to say nothing. But I believe for the good of the sport we must be transparent. I was confident, and so was his jockey.”
Graffard acknowledged that there was a moment during the run when the race setup caused him concern: “We lost positions early on and ended up too far back, but we were fortunate that Daryz has such a brilliant turn of foot. I knew that if he didn’t run into trouble, he was going to run a huge race.”
The answer came emphatically in the stretch.
A Victory for the Ages
The victory also carried immense significance for Aga Khan Studs, one of the world's most prestigious breeding operations and the team behind another champion capable of leaving an indelible mark on the Paris showcase.
“It is fantastic for the owners. It is a wonderful breeding operation,” highlighted Graffard.
The trainer also feels Daryz has nothing left to prove: “I don’t think he has to prove anything else.”
It is difficult to argue otherwise. Daryz entered the 2026 Arc carrying the responsibility of defending a crown no male had retained in 48 years. The race did not go according to script, leaving him further back than planned, requiring every ounce of his signature acceleration to get the job done. But true champions find answers even when plans unravel. Daryz found his, and just like Alleged nearly half a century ago, he can now boast back-to-back victories in Europe’s ultimate turf showdown.
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