DARYZ, The New King of the Arc!

DARYZ, The New King of the Arc!

Daryz writes history at Longchamp after a breathtaking duel, snatching victory from Minnie Hauk by a nose.

On Sunday, October 5th, 2025, at Longchamp Racecourse in France, the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe — Europe’s most prestigious flat race — was captured by Daryz (Sea The Stars – Daryakana, by Selkirk), owned and bred by Aga Khan Studs and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard. Ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, the 4-year-old colt delivered the most important victory of his career.

Throughout the race, Minnie Hauk dictated the pace up front and maintained her lead until the final 200 meters. However, Daryz, coming with a powerful late surge down the outside, reeled in his rival in the dying strides to get up by a nose, stopping the clock at 2’29″17 on heavy ground to claim the 2025 Arc crown. Sosie finished third, followed by Giavellotto in fourth and Byzantine Dream in fifth.

A Historic 8th Arc Triumph for the Aga Khan Dynasty

This victory marked the eighth Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe win for the famous Aga Khan colors, cementing their remarkable legacy in the race’s rich history. For Barzalona, it was a first success in the iconic contest, while Daryz’s victory also secured him automatic qualification for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Reactions from Graffard and Barzalona

After the race, both trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and jockey Mickaël Barzalona shared their emotions with the press:

Francis-Henri Graffard: “The reputation of this race is immense, and once you win it, it’s truly something special. The defeat at York was actually the key to today’s victory — it made the horse grow up. We’ve had easier wins before, but winning the Arc in these colors is a completely different feeling.”

Mickaël Barzalona: “When you’re young, you dream about winning this race one day — especially wearing these silks. It’s emotional. Things didn’t go our way at York, but Daryz came out of it much stronger. Today, everything clicked; he travelled beautifully, controlled the tempo, and finished with real power.”