Daryz blinds in Arc de Triomphe to catch hot favorite Minnie Hawuk in dying steps

Family tree was the key to the puzzle of the 104th Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while Daryz remained strong for Minnie Hauk, the favorite, in the legendary green and red colors of the late Aga Khan IV, his breeder, who died in February. “He was born before,” said Princess Zahra Aga Khan, his daughter. “On both sides, Sire and Dam, they were group one winners on the distance, so he was born to get 2,400m and I think it turned out.”

Sunday’s race was only the seventh start of Daryz’s career, all in his three -year season, and his first in one and a half miles. He is the seventh arch winner for the racing and breeding operation founded by the Third Aga Khan in 1921, a series that extends to the success of Migoli in 1948, and also the first winner in the Green and Red Silks since the unbeaten Zarkava’s success, with Christophe Soumillon.

Soumillon, who also drove to victory in the same colors in 2003, was also an important player in the last running and seemed to have briefly taken a winning step on the way to the last Furlong. In the end, however, it was in a supporting role, when Mickaël Barzalona and Daryz came from the peloton to chase Aidan O’Brien’s Merrievefeulen through a head, with Sosie, fourth last year, last year one place better this time but almost six length behind second place.

This was a first arch success for Barzalona and for Francis-Henri Graffard, the trainer of Daryz, and put the seal on an excellent season for graffard, who also took the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Ascot in Ascot with the ringing Calandagan, who was excluded.

One of the few setbacks for the stable this season was in fact the disappointing Run by Daryz behind Ombudsman in the international effort in York in August, but Graffard believes that the experience here contributed to the success of his foal.

“When I was planning to run in York, I said to Princess Zahra:” We’re not going to win, but we have to make him harder for autumn, “Gaffard said. “I think the defeat in York helped us to win today because my horse was very professional and mature for the first time.

“It is a great experience and today was exactly what we were planning to do. My horse was very difficult to catch up with the mandriage. It’s just crazy to win the bow in these colors. In the past it was just a dream, but now it happens me.”

Barzalona won the derby in Epsom as a 19-year-old in 2011 on board André Fabre’s Pour Moi, when he was in the saddle to celebrate, which was a very narrow victory. There was no chance of a similar flowering on Sunday, but still enormous satisfaction that his extensive waiting for an arch winner is over.

“We have always assessed him,” said Barzalona. “When we went to York, it was a messy race, but he came back a lot stronger. Mentally and physically he improved a lot and today he was very relaxed. He traveled very well, he picked up very well. Combined today to win the race.”

Minnie Hauk, unbeaten in her four previous starts this season, walked to her best form and was a long way free from the third horse house. There is every chance that she will stay in training at four o’clock, with a return trip to Longchamp at the top of her task list.

“No apologies,” said Soumillon. “When I felt Mickaël coming in the last 200, I kept back a bit before the end and we went together, but his horse has a strong line and he likes the ground. If you take it out, she would have been one of the most impressive arch -winning mares, but that’s racing.”

There are no plans for the winner yet, but the last word about the 2025 arch is undoubtedly from the owner of Daryz, the third generation of her family to welcome a arch winner. “This is the highlight for a breeder,” said Princess Zahra. “My father was always in the clouds to win an arc, and now I know how it felt.”