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Amid a stunning performance of stamina and breeding, Daryz caught the hot favorite the favorite filly in the closing moments of the 104th Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this weekend. This win came in the famous green and red silks previously associated with the late breeder, who passed away in February. He is born for such races,” stated a family member after the race. “On both sides, his father and mother are top-level winners at the distance, making him born to get the mile-and-a-half and it’s clear he proved it on Sunday.”

An Impressive Rise for the Young Colt

Sunday’s race was just the seventh start of the colt’s racing life, all during his three-year-old season, and the first time at a mile-and-a-half. He becomes the latest Arc winner for the thoroughbred stable founded nearly a century ago, a tradition dating back to 1948, and also the first winner in the distinctive silks since an unbeaten champion’s success in the previous decade.

“It’s a great feeling and Sunday was precisely what we planned to do,” said Francis-Henri Graffard. Daryz was extremely determined to close with Minnie Hauk. Winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe now in this silks is just crazy. In the past, it was just a dream, but now it has become reality to me.”

Main Contributors in the Victory

Jockey Mickaël Barzalona, known for taking the Epsom Derby as a teenager over a decade ago, came from the pack to chase down Aidan O’Brien’s filly by a head. It marked a maiden win for each of Barzalona and Francis-Henri Graffard, capping an excellent year for the latter. Previously in July, the trainer had took the prestigious Ascot race with another horse, who was prevented from lining up in the Arc.

Among very few disappointments for the yard in the campaign was Daryz’s below-par performance during summer behind another rival. But, Graffard feels that experience contributed to toughen the horse for this race. “When I was planning to run at York, I said Princess Zahra, ‘we won’t going to win, but we need to toughen him up for later in the year,’” the trainer stated. “And I think, the defeat in that race played a part to win today because Daryz was, for the first time, fully focused and mature.”

Rider’s Reflections and Prospects for the Second Place

The winning jockey expressed great joy after his long wait for an Arc winner has ended. We always rated him,” Barzalona remarked. After going to that August race it was a disorganized contest, but he returned a lot stronger. In his mind and in condition, he has progressed a lot and today he was composed. He travelled very well, he accelerated strongly. Everything combined in this race to secure victory.”

Minnie Hauk, unbeaten in her previous races this season, performed up to her best and finished well clear of the third runner. There is likely that the filly may stay in training at four, with another attempt to the Paris track as a main goal of her plans.

The jockey on the favorite, previously piloted a past winner to success in identical silks, for a moment seemed to have executed a decisive run entering the final furlong. “No excuses,” he admitted. “When I felt Barzalona coming in the last 200 meters, I kept a bit in reserve for the end and we went side by side, but his horse has a powerful finish and he loves the track conditions. Without him out, the filly would have been one of the most dominant Arc-winning fillies, but that is horse racing.”

What’s Next and Final Words

Currently no plans so far for Daryz, but the final word on the this year’s race undoubtedly goes to the breeder, the latest representative of the family to welcome back an Arc winner. It represents the pinnacle for a breeder,” she said. “My dad was always so over the moon to claim an Arc de Triomphe, and now I know what it felt like.”