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During a stunning display of stamina and breeding, Daryz overtook the strongly fancied the favorite filly in the closing strides of the historic Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this weekend. This win came in the iconic red and green silks previously associated with his late owner, who passed away in February. He is born for this,” stated his owner’s daughter after the race. “On both sides, his father and mother were Group One champions over this trip, making him destined to get the mile-and-a-half and it’s clear it showed today.”

An Impressive Ascent for Daryz

Sunday’s contest was just the seventh start of Daryz’s career, all in his three-year-old season, and his first at a mile-and-a-half. He is the latest victor of the Arc for the thoroughbred operation established nearly a century ago, a sequence that stretches back to 1948, and also the first winner in the green and red colors since an unbeaten champion’s victory back in the previous decade.

This is a amazing experience and today was precisely what we planned to do,” said Francis-Henri Graffard. “My horse was very tough to close with Minnie Hauk. To win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe today in this silks is just crazy. In the past, it was just a dream, but today it has become reality for us.”

Main Contributors in the Victory

Rider Mickaël Barzalona, who famously taking the Epsom Derby as a teenager in 2011, emerged from the pack to run down the Irish trainer’s filly by a head. It marked a maiden success for both the jockey and Francis-Henri Graffard, capping an outstanding season for the trainer. Earlier this summer, Graffard had took the prestigious Ascot race with a different runner, which got barred from competing on Sunday.

Among very few disappointments for the yard in the campaign was the colt’s disappointing performance in August against another rival. However, Graffard believes that race contributed to strengthen the horse for the autumn. “When I was arranging to run there, I said to the owner, ‘we are not victorious, but we need to toughen him up for later in the year,’” the trainer explained. “And I think, the defeat in that race helped us to succeed on Sunday because my horse was, for the first time, very professional and mature.”

Jockey’s Thoughts and Future for the Second Place

Barzalona shared great satisfaction that his long quest for an Arc winner is over. We always rated him,” Barzalona remarked. “When we went to that August race it was a disorganized contest, but he returned much improved. Mentally and physically, he has progressed a lot and today he was very relaxed. He moved very well, he picked up strongly. Everything combined in this race to secure victory.”

The favorite filly, undefeated in her previous starts this year, ran up to her best and was well clear of the third-placed horse. There is every chance that she will continue racing next season, with another attempt to the Paris track at the top of her plans.

Christophe Soumillon, who also piloted a past winner to success in the same colours, briefly appeared to have made a winning move entering the last stretch. No reasons,” Soumillon said. As I sensed Barzalona coming in the last 200 meters, I kept a little in reserve for the end and we went together, but Daryz has a strong dash and he loves the track conditions. Without him in the race, the filly could have been one of the most impressive Arc-winning fillies, but that is horse racing.”

What’s Next and Final Words

There are no definite arrangements as yet for Sunday’s winner, but the final word on the this year’s race undoubtedly goes to the breeder, the latest representative of the family to celebrate an Arc winner. It represents the pinnacle for a breeder,” Princess Zahra said. My father was always so thrilled to win an Arc, and now I know how he felt.”