Daryz retires at the top: the back-to-back Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner will begin his career at stud

Aga Khan Studs confirmed that the son of Sea The Stars will not race again, just five days after his second consecutive triumph at ParisLongchamp. Winner of 4 G1 races and over US$7,300,000, he will continue the legacy of one of the most prestigious families in global breeding

PARIS, France (Special for Turf Diario).— There will be no third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) for Daryz. Aga Khan Studs confirmed the retirement of the extraordinary son of Sea The Stars, just five days after he captured Europe's premier race for a second consecutive season. At age 4, at the height of his powers and established as one of the standout figures in global racing, the champion exits the turf to begin his career as a stallion.

The decision brings down the curtain on a stellar career built around 9 victories, 4 of them at the G1 level, and earnings exceeding US$7,300,000. It also rules out any bid for Daryz to become the first horse in history to win three editions of the Arc.

His stud destination remains to be finalized. The options are Haras de Bonneval in France or Gilltown Stud in Ireland, where his sire, Sea The Stars, currently resides. Aga Khan Studs will announce both his final location and initial stud fee in due course.

For Francis-Henri Graffard, his trainer throughout his campaign, the farewell carries special significance: "Since I started training, Daryz is clearly one of the best horses I’ve ever had under my care. I'm fortunate to train many high-quality horses, but he is truly exceptional: magnificently bred, with an impressive physique, and particularly outstanding hindquarters," he expressed.

Mickael Barzalona, who was in the saddle for all 9 of his career wins, also offered a resounding tribute: "He’s the kind of horse every jockey dreams of riding. A force of nature with a huge motor."

Unraced at 2, Daryz launched his career at age 3, winning his first four starts including the 2025 Prix Eugène Adam(G2).

Two defeats followed in the International Stakes (G1) and the Prix du Prince d'Orange (G3), which failed to deter Graffard from making a bold call: aiming him at the Arc, despite never having raced over 2400 meters.

The gamble paid off spectacularly. Under a flawless ride from Barzalona, Daryz handled both the untested distance and the soft ground to catch Minnie Hauk (Frankel) on the wire, securing his first victory at ParisLongchamp.

Unlike many 3-year-old Arc winners, his connections opted to keep him in training for 2026. The response was immediate. He first claimed the Prix Ganay (G1), becoming the first Arc winner since Bago (Nashwan) in 2004 to win that contest the following season.

He then added the Prix d'Ispahan (G1), currently named the Prix Aga Khan IV, displaying exceptional speed over 1800 meters.

With those triumphs, he completed a trio of G1 victories not achieved since Sagace (Luthier) in 1985.

His campaign hit a temporary setback at Royal Ascot, where he finished third behind Ombudsman (Night of Thunder) in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1), running far below his true form. Subsequent veterinary checks revealed he had competed with an infection.

Graffard and Princess Zahra Aga Khan then decided to focus all efforts on a second Arc victory.

His return to action came in the Prix Foy (G2), where he turned back the talented Bay City Roller (New Bay). That same rival met him once more last Sunday, when Daryz defeated him by 1 1/4 lengths to seal a historic feat in the French capital.

In doing so, he became the ninth horse to win two editions of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and just the third this century, following Trêve (Motivator) (2013 and 2014) and Enable (Nathaniel) (2017 and 2018).

Additionally, he became the first male to record back-to-back victories since Alleged (Hoist the Flag), who dominated the 1977 and 1978 renewals.

Daryz's stud career arrives with immense expectations, driven not only by his racetrack record but also by his elite bloodline.

He is a son of Sea The Stars, one of Europe's premier stallions, out of Daryakana (Selkirk), winner of the 2009 Prix de Royallieu (G2) and the Hong Kong Vase (G1).

As a broodmare, Daryakana surpassed even her own stellar racing exploits.

Daryz became her sixth black-type winner and second G1 winner, confirming the deep consistency of a family that represents a cornerstone of Aga Khan Studs breeding tradition.

Princess Zahra captured the significance of that heritage following his first Arc victory: "As a breeder, and as part of a legacy that spans over a century, winning this race is the absolute pinnacle of what one can achieve."

Now, the mission turns to passing that excellence on to future generations.

Daryz retires unbeaten in his two Arc appearances, with four G1 wins and a career that firmly places him among the great horses of his era. His retirement deprives European racing of one of its signature stars, but offers global breeding a stallion prospect of immense value.

Aga Khan Studs chose to retire him at the absolute summit, following a triumph that could hardly have provided a grander exit. The champion has written his story on the track; now he begins building his legacy at stud.