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Amid a impressive display of stamina and breeding, the promising colt passed the hot favorite the favorite filly in the closing moments of the historic Arc de Triomphe this weekend. This win came in the iconic green and red colors once associated with the late breeder, who died earlier this year. He is born for such races,” stated his owner’s daughter post-race. From both parents, sire and dam were top-level winners at the distance, so he was born to get the mile-and-a-half and I think he proved it today.”

An Impressive Rise for the Young Colt

Sunday’s race marked only the seventh race of Daryz’s racing life, all in his three-year-old season, and the first time over 2,400 meters. He becomes the latest Arc winner for the racing and breeding stable founded in 1921, a sequence that stretches back to the late 1940s, and additionally the first winner in the green and red silks since a perfect mare’s victory back in the previous decade.

This is a great feeling and today was precisely what we planned to do,” said the trainer. “My horse was extremely determined 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 only a fantasy, but today it has become reality for us.”

Main Contributors in the Triumph

Rider Barzalona, known for taking the Epsom Derby as a teenager in 2011, came from the pack to run down Aidan O’Brien’s female horse by a narrow margin. It marked a maiden win for each of Barzalona and trainer, capping an outstanding year for the latter. Earlier in July, Graffard also took the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes with a different runner, which got barred from competing on Sunday.

One of the rare disappointments for the yard in the campaign was the colt’s disappointing run in August behind another rival. However, Graffard believes that race contributed to toughen the horse for this race. “When I was planning to race at York, I said Princess Zahra, ‘we are not victorious, but we need to build his resilience for the autumn,’” the trainer explained. “And I think, the loss in that race played a part to win on Sunday because Daryz was, for the first time, fully focused and experienced.”

Rider’s Reflections and Future for the Second Place

Barzalona shared immense joy after his extended quest for an Arc winner is over. We always rated him,” he said. After going to that August race it was a disorganized contest, but he came back much improved. In his mind and in condition, he has improved significantly and today he was composed. He moved very well, he accelerated strongly. Everything came together in this race to win.”

The favorite filly, unbeaten in her four races this season, ran to her usual standard and was well ahead of the third runner. It is likely that the filly may stay in training next season, with another attempt to the Paris track as a main goal of her plans.

Christophe Soumillon, who also piloted a past winner to victory in identical silks, briefly seemed to have made a winning run heading into the last stretch. No reasons,” he admitted. “When I felt the winner approaching in the last 200 meters, I kept a little back for the end and we went side by side, but his horse has a powerful dash and he loves the ground. Without him out, the filly would have been among the most dominant Arc-winning fillies, but that is horse racing.”

What’s Next and Closing Thoughts

Currently no plans as yet for Daryz, but the last comment on the 2025 Arc undoubtedly belongs to the owner, the latest representative of her family to welcome back an Arc winner. It represents the pinnacle for a breeder,” she said. My father was always so thrilled to win an Arc de Triomphe, and today I understand what it felt like.”