Aga Khan Stud’s French-bred colt Daryz, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard in Chantilly, pulled off an extraordinary achievement on Sunday by becoming the first colt in nearly half a century to win the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) for a second year in a row at ParisLongchamp. The last colt to accomplish this was Alleged, bred in Kentucky and trained by Vincent O’Brien, who won back-to-back titles in 1977 and 1978 under Robert Sangster’s ownership. Since then, only legendary fillies Treve and Enable have managed consecutive Arc victories, underlining the rarity of Daryz’s feat in Europe’s top middle-distance race.
During the race, Daryz settled patiently at the back of the 16-horse field before jockey Mickael Barzalona made his move down the straight. Despite taking a wide path, Daryz faced a significant gap behind English contender Bay City Roller, whose rider Oisin Murphy smartly negotiated an outside draw (post 15) by initially running wide then veering inside to lead. Demonstrating exceptional speed, Daryz overtook the Irish mare Diamond Necklace—who, like Bay City Roller, had to overcome a challenging outside post (16) with the help of jockey Christophe Soumillon’s steady advancement—300 meters from the finish. He then took the lead from Bay City Roller with a furlong left and claimed victory by 1 1/4 lengths, with Diamond Necklace narrowly trailing in third by a neck. The race covered 2,400 meters (approximately 1½ miles) on good turf, with a final time of 2:27.11.
This victory brings the Aga Khan family’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe wins to nine, extending their own record. Previous triumphs include wins with Aga Khan III in 1948 and 1952, Ali Khan (his son) in 1959, and multiple victories with Aga Khan IV (son of Ali Khan) in 1982, 2000, 2003, and 2008. With Daryz’s wins in 2025 and 2026, the legacy continues, managed by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of Aga Khan IV.
Thanks to this triumph, Daryz, a son of Sea The Stars and out of Daryakana by Selkirk, secured an automatic, fully paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on October 31 at Keeneland.
Additionally, other winners at ParisLongchamp on Sunday earned guaranteed entries into Breeders’ Cup races scheduled for October 30–31 at Keeneland:
- True Love clinched the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) and a place in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1);
- Miss Scott won the Prix de l’Opera (G1), gaining entry to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1);
- Miss Yechance captured the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) and secured a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1);
- Amusingly won the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) and earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1);
- Green Empress won the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) and gained entry to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
This report was originally published by Paulick Report on October 4, 2026, in their News section.
Fan Take: Daryz’s historic back-to-back Arc victories mark a thrilling moment for horse racing fans, showcasing a rare display of consistency and elite talent that hasn’t been seen in decades. This milestone not only reinforces the enduring excellence of the Aga Khan Stud but also sets the stage for a riveting showdown at the Breeders’ Cup, potentially elevating the sport’s global appeal.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
