Full Breakdown
Daryz Secures Historic Back-to-Back Victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
By Drooid · · How we work
The Race and Its Outcome
On Sunday, October 4 2026, Daryz won the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, defeating Bay City Roller by a length-and-a-quarter and leaving Diamond Necklace a neck behind in third. Sent off the 13-8 favourite, the four-year-old colt produced a decisive turn of foot in the final furlong to claim his second Arc triumph. The win marked the first back-to-back Arc victory by a colt since Alleged in 1977-78, ending a 48-year gap.
Historical Context
Alleged remains the only colt to have defended the Arc title in the modern era, while the only other horses to achieve consecutive wins have been the mares Treve (2013-14) and Enable (2017-18). Daryz therefore joins a select group of eight horses that have ever won the race twice since its inception in 1920, and he is the first colt to do so in half a century.
Key Figures
- Daryz – colt, son of Sea The Stars, owned by Aga Khan Studs.
- Mickaël Barzalona – jockey, rode Daryz to victory.
- Francis-Henri Graffard – trainer, described the colt as a champion.
- Princess Zahra Aga Khan – owner, now overseeing the stud operation.
- Bay City Roller – runner-up, trained by George Scott.
- Diamond Necklace – third-place finisher, trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Data & Statistics
- Daryz’s career record: eight wins from eleven starts, including two Arc victories and a total prize haul exceeding £2.5 million.
- Weight carried in the 2026 Arc: 9 st 5 lb (four-year-old weight).
- Winning margin: 1¼ lengths.
- Official odds: 13-8 favourite.
Verbatim Quotes
- “To win this kind of race twice proves that Daryz is an exceptional horse,” — Mickaël Barzalona
- “I could see Daryz coming, but it was an incredible run,” — George Scott
- “We're very lucky to have the support of some great people and a wide variety of owners.” — Vincent O'Brien
Why It Matters
The victory reinforces the Aga Khan Studs’ reputation for producing elite middle-distance horses and secures a lucrative “Win-and-You-’re-In” berth for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. It also highlights the rarity of a colt successfully defending the Arc, a feat that has eluded the sport for nearly five decades.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The date ledger lists October 4 as a scheduled event, while multiple reports describe the race as having already taken place and provide post-race commentary. This discrepancy between the ledger’s classification and the narrative accounts constitutes a reporting conflict that remains unresolved. No additional calendar dates beyond October 4 appear in the source material.