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During a remarkable performance of endurance and pedigree, the promising colt passed the hot favorite the favorite filly in the final moments of the 104th Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. This win came wearing the iconic green and red silks previously associated with his late breeder, who passed away earlier this year. He is bred for such races,” remarked a family member post-race. “On both sides, sire and dam are top-level champions at the distance, so he was destined to handle the mile-and-a-half and it’s clear he proved it on Sunday.”

A Remarkable Ascent for Daryz

The contest marked just the seventh start of Daryz’s career, all in his third-year campaign, and his first at a mile-and-a-half. He is the seventh victor of the Arc for the racing and breeding operation founded in 1921, a tradition that stretches back to 1948, and additionally the first triumph in the green and red silks since a perfect champion’s success back in the previous decade.

This is a great feeling and Sunday was exactly what we aimed to accomplish,” commented the trainer. “My horse was extremely determined to close with the filly. Winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe now in this silks is simply unbelievable. In the past, it was only a fantasy, but now it has become reality to me.”

Key Players in the Victory

Jockey Mickaël Barzalona, known for taking the Derby as a teenager over a decade ago, emerged from the pack to chase down the Irish trainer’s female horse by a narrow margin. This was a first Arc win for each of Barzalona and trainer, capping an outstanding year for the trainer. Previously in July, Graffard also took the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes with a different horse, who was prevented from competing in the Arc.

Among very few disappointments for the stable this season was the colt’s below-par performance during summer behind another rival. But, the trainer feels that race contributed to toughen the colt for the autumn. “When I was planning to race there, I told to the owner, ‘we won’t victorious, but it’s necessary to toughen him up for the autumn,’” Graffard explained. “And I think, the defeat in that race played a part to succeed today because Daryz was, now, fully focused and experienced.”

Rider’s Reflections and Prospects for the Runner-Up

The winning jockey shared great satisfaction after his long wait for an Arc victory is over. We always believed in him,” he remarked. After going to that August race it was a disorganized race, but he came back much improved. Mentally and physically, he has progressed a lot and on Sunday he was composed. He travelled very well, he accelerated strongly. All factors came together in this race to secure victory.”

The favorite filly, undefeated in her four races this season, performed to her usual standard and finished well clear of the third-placed runner. It is every chance that she will continue racing next season, with another attempt to Longchamp as a main goal of her plans.

The jockey on the favorite, who also piloted a past winner to success in the same colours, briefly seemed to have made a decisive move heading into the final furlong. No reasons,” he admitted. “When I felt Barzalona approaching in the last 200 meters, I saved a little in reserve for the finish and we raced side by side, but his horse has a strong dash and he loves the ground. If you take him in the race, the filly would have been among the most dominant Arc-winning female horses, but that is horse racing.”

What’s Next and Final Words

There are no plans as yet for Sunday’s winner, but the final word on the 2025 Arc certainly goes to the breeder, the latest representative of the family to celebrate an Arc champion. “This is the pinnacle for a breeder,” she declared. “My dad was always so thrilled to claim an Arc de Triomphe, and today I know how he felt.”