Daryz Wins Second Straight Arc, First Colt Since Alleged to Retain Europe's Top Race
Mickael Barzalona guides the French star past Bay City Roller at Longchamp, but a bid for a third Arc looks unlikely
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File photo: Jockey Mickael Barzalona at Tokyo Racecourse on Japan Cup day in November 2025. Photo: nakashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
PARIS — Daryz won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the second year in a row at Longchamp on Sunday, becoming the first colt since Alleged in 1978 to win Europe's most prestigious race back to back, The Guardian and AFP reported.
Ridden by Mickael Barzalona and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the French four-year-old surged down the outside to overhaul English outsider Bay City Roller inside the final furlong. Irish filly Diamond Necklace finished third, and both placed horses overcame outside draws in the 16-runner field, AFP said.
According to AFP, Daryz is only the ninth horse to win the Arc twice and the first since Enable in 2017 and 2018.
'An exceptional horse'
"To win this kind of race twice proves that Daryz is an exceptional horse," Barzalona said, according to The Guardian. "It was a really tough race, it didn't go as we expected but he showed his talent and that made the difference in the end."
Graffard admitted the build-up had weighed on him. "I really felt the pressure for the last fortnight," he told AFP. "But he is such a great champion that once he got a clear run I was more relaxed."
Bay City Roller, ridden by Oisin Murphy for trainer George Scott, disputed the lead for much of the race, while Christophe Soumillon brought Aidan O'Brien's Diamond Necklace home strongly from the widest stall, The Guardian reported.
No bid for a third Arc
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who took over the racing operation of the Aga Khan Studs after her father's death in 2025, signalled that Daryz is unlikely to return next year to try to become the first three-time winner.
"No, I doubt it very much," she said, according to AFP. "He has other duties to perform. Each time you run him there is a risk."
She said the win made her think of her father, whose Arc successes included the unbeaten Zarkava in 2008. A crowd of around 30,000 roared as Daryz, carrying the Aga Khan's green and red colours, launched his challenge, AFP reported.
The most fancied British runners, Kalpana and Maltese Cross, finished fifth and sixth. Japan's long wait for a first Arc win goes on, with Admire Terra 11th and pacesetter Meisho Tabaru 14th.
Sources: The Guardian; AFP (via France 24)
