Daryz collars Minnie Hauk in historic Arc success for Aga Khan Studs

The Aga Khan Studs’ homebred Daryz willed his way past favored Minnie Hauk in the final yards of Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), furnishing a victory as poignant as it was history-making.

This was the first Arc after the passing of the Aga Khan IV in February, and his daughter, Princess Zahra, is carrying on a century-old legacy. She’s a fourth-generation Arc winner, a line beginning with her great-grandfather, the Aga Khan III, who campaigned *Migoli (1948) and Nuccio (1952). Her grandfather, Prince Aly Khan, raced Saint Crespin III (1959). Her father celebrated four Arc wins with Akiyda (1982), Sinndar (2000), Dalakhani (2003), and the unbeaten Zarkava (2008).

Daryz made it a record number of eight Arc trophies for the Aga Khan’s family, edging ahead of Juddmonte, which marked its record seventh win with Bluestocking a year ago. 

Fittingly, Daryz himself is a third-generation Arc winner. He’s by the all-time great Sea the Stars (2009), who stands at the Aga Khan Studs’ Gilltown Stud in Ireland. Sea the Stars is a son of the blue hen Urban Sea, heroine of the 1993 Arc. 

In addition to gilding the Aga Khan’s family history, Daryz’s success points to the future as well. The late-developing three-year-old is a breakthrough first Arc winner for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and jockey Mickael Barzalona. Graffard was already on his way to ranking as France’s champion trainer by earnings for the first time, and the Arc has clinched the title.

Daryz was one of a trio of Graffard contenders, along with the filly Gezora and the mare Quisisana. All had talking points, but some questions, that left them as double-digit chances in a deep field of 17 at ParisLongchamp.

In Daryz’s case, the overriding question was one of maturity. The bay didn’t even begin his career until April, and his only prior Group 1 experience was a debacle in the Juddmonte International (G1). Was the highly-regarded colt ready to win a test of this magnitude, in his first try at 1 1/2 miles? Daryz answered affirmatively in a coming-of-age performance.  

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Minnie Hauk had proven star quality, although post 1, in her first foray versus males, on very soft going, hinted at potential vulnerability. With the ace Christophe Soumillon subbing for the injured Ryan Moore, Minnie Hauk rose to the occasion and nearly became the latest three-year-old filly to take the honors.

Minnie Hauk was tucked just behind early leaders Hotazhell and Japan’s Croix du Nord. Daryz drafted directly in Minnie Hauk’s wake, for a crafty Barzalona who was tracking the filly’s every move. 

When Minnie Hauk shifted out in preparation to launch her bid, Daryz followed her and angled wider out for a clear path in the stretch. Even so, he couldn’t initially match her turn of foot as Minnie Hauk kicked away from the field.

Only inside the final furlong did Daryz’s stamina come to the fore in the testing conditions. Staying on determinedly in the iconic Aga Khan silks, he headed the valiant filly in a final time of 2:29.17 and returned $35.20.

Princess Zahra noticed Barzalona’s well-judged ride, amid the sun-speckled rain that added to the cinematic atmosphere of the moment. 

“Mickael positioned him perfectly, right behind Minnie Hauk. In the straight, under that driving rain, I thought: ‘Make it or break it!’ — it was all or nothing.”

“It’s a privilege to wear these famous colors,” Barzalona said, “and I try to give my best every time. I’m thrilled to win my first Arc for such an historic ownership.

“The race went perfectly — the horse was in a rhythm where he was doing everything easily. We were in our own bubble. Minnie Hauk made quite a lot of effort in front of me, and when Daryz pulled out from her slipstream, he showed tremendous fighting spirit. 

“I didn’t know exactly when we’d get on top, but I never doubted that we would. She quickened more sharply than we did, but Daryz responded immediately — I could feel his strength and his reserves.”

The top two were in a battle of their own to the wire, pulling 5 1/2 lengths clear of Sosie in third. Sosie, who had been fourth as the favorite in last year’s Arc, will retire to stud rather than try again in 2026.

Giavellotto ran a mighty race in fourth, just a head off Sosie, on ground that was much too soft for him. Byzantine Dream fared best of the Japanese in fifth, followed by Arrow Eagle, Kalpana, Leffard, Quisisana, Hotazhell, a lackluster Aventure (last year’s runner-up), White Birch, Gezora, Croix du Nord, Cualificar, Japan’s Alohi Alii, and O’Brien’s Los Angeles. Estrange was scratched a few days ago after a dirty scope. 

Although Daryz secured a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) with the “Win and You’re In” provision, it’s uncertain if he would advance to Del Mar. The Breeders’ Cup has long been on Minnie Hauk’s radar, but O’Brien wants to assess her post-Arc condition before firming up plans. 

Daryz’s scorecard now stands at 7-5-1-0. Opening his career with a four-race winning streak, he rapidly climbed the class ladder with a listed stakes coup in the June 8 Prix Ridgway here and the June 29 Prix Eugene Adam (G2) at Saint-Cloud. But he lost his perfect record in his first major test in the Juddmonte International at York, where a strangely-run race exposed his inexperience, and he wound up last of six. 

Daryz turned the page with a more characteristic near-miss to Croix du Nord in the Sept. 14 Prix du Prince d’Orange (G3) back at ParisLongchamp. Croix du Nord failed to build on that effort, from a horror draw of post 17 here, but Daryz did. 

Connections savored the triumph of a colt who was bred for this very stage. His prolific dam, the Selkirk mare Daryakana, captured the 2009 Prix de Royallieu (G2) the day before Sea the Stars crowned his career in the Arc. 

“The Prince left us at the beginning of the year,” racing manager Nemone Routh reflected, “and we didn’t know how this season would unfold. He’s clearly watching over us, because we’ve won everything we could have dreamed of. 

“To win with this colt — whose two parents both won Group 1s on Arc weekend — is extraordinary. He was born to run this race. The fact that he has won it in this way is incredibly emotional.” 

Graffard was delighted to unlock Daryz’s potential, even at the cost of a subpar run at York. 

“Daryz is a horse we’ve always held in high regard. He has that dazzling turn of foot, but he wasn’t mature enough for a race like the Jockey Club (G1) (French Derby) earlier in the season,” the trainer noted. 

“To get here, we took the long road — even crossing the Channel to run in the Juddmonte International! He needed experience, and I preferred that to an easy prep like the Prix Niel (G2) with few runners. 

“You have to risk defeat in order to win later. Even though York didn’t go his way, he learned a lot from that trip — from the race, the travel, the atmosphere. And today, it’s all paid off.”

Graffard also took in the momentous nature of the Arc.

“We’ve had big victories before, but today I realize just how special the Arc truly is. The emotions are magnified — by the crowd, the atmosphere, and especially by these colors with such history.

“When I was a boy in Burgundy, watching the races with my grandfather, I dreamed of these horses, these silks, and this race! This sport is built on emotion, and today is the ultimate example.”

The final word belongs to Princess Zahra. 

“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.

“I hope my father saw it…He was always so happy when he won the Arc. Now, I know that feeling too.”