Dual Arc Winner Daryz Retired From Racing

The Aga Khan Studs has announced the retirement of Daryz (FR), five days after the 4-year-old won a second consecutive Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp. The winner of four group 1s, Daryz will stand at stud for his owner/breeders, although a decision is yet to be made about whether the son of Sea The Stars (IRE) will be stationed in France at Haras de Bonneval, or alongside his sire at Gilltown Stud in Kildare, Ireland. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said: "Since I began training, Daryz is clearly one of the best horses I have ever been responsible for. I am fortunate to work with many very good horses, but he is truly exceptional: beautifully bred, with a remarkable physique, particularly an outstanding hindquarter." Jockey Mickael Barzalona, who partnered him in all nine of his career victories, said: "He is the kind of horse every jockey dreams of riding. He is a force of nature with an exceptional engine." Owner/breeder Princess Zahra Aga Khan said after the homebred colt's first Arc triumph: "As a breeder, and as part of a legacy that stretches back more than a century, winning this race is the pinnacle of what one can achieve." Unraced as a juvenile, Daryz won his first four starts at the age of three, including the Prix Eugene Adam (G2). After defeats in the Juddmonte International (G1) and the Prix du Prince d'Orange (G3), trainer Francis Graffard sent Daryz to the Arc in 2025, untested over 1 1/2 miles But, under a nerveless ride from Mickael Barzalona, he overcame both the step-up in trip and soft ground to run down Minnie Hauk (IRE). In contrast to many 3-year-old Arc winners, Daryz was kept in training at 4, and repaid the faith shown in him by the Aga Khan Studs team when producing a pair of scintillating group 1 successes over shorter distances at Longchamp in the spring. Daryz became the first Arc winner since Bago in 2004 to score in the following season's Prix Ganay (G1) over 1 5/16 miles, and supplemented that win with an even speedier performance in taking the Prix d'Ispahan—now renamed for his late breeder as the Prix Aga Khan IV—over 1 1/8 miles. In doing so he completed a trilogy of group 1 victories last achieved in 1985 by Sagace. An eagerly anticipated meeting with Ombudsman (IRE) in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot failed to show Daryz in his true light, as he labored to third place. Tests on his return to Chantilly revealed an infection. Graffard and Princess Zahra Aga Khan then set their sights on a repeat victory in the Arc—a feat no colt or older horse had achieved since Alleged 48 years earlier—and, after defeating Bay City Roller (IRE) in the Prix Foy (G2), Daryz again proved too strong for that rival when taking Europe's greatest prize by a 1 1/4 lengths. Last Sunday Daryz became the ninth horse to win two Arcs and the third this century, following the fillies Treve (2013 and 2014) and Enable (2017 and 2018). Daryz retires with earnings of more than $7.3 million in prize money and, armed with an impeccable pedigree to match his brilliant race record, heads to stud as an extremely valuable commodity. His dam, Daryakana (FR), won the (then) Prix de Royallieu (G2). She exceeded her racecourse exploits as a broodmare, with Daryz becoming her sixth stakes winner and second group 1 winner. The Aga Khan Studs will announce a covering fee for Daryz in due course.