Dalakhani confirmed his status as the outstanding horse of the season yesterday afternoon at Longchamp with a memorable victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The grey Darshaan colt received universal acclaim after defeating Mubtaker by three parts of a length, with High Chaparral a distant five lengths away in third place. Now a winner of eight out of his nine starts, including the Prix du Jockey-Club, Dalakhani showed his characteristic turn of foot to cruise past his rivals early in the straight. He set off after Mubtaker who had gained an early lead and the pair soon drew clear of the rest of the field.

An emotional Soumillon commented after the race: “I had plenty in hand on the turn into the straight and knew he’d win. He is a real champion and I love him so much. He is a horse of a lifetime and I don’t think I’ll ever have the opportunity to ride such a great horse again.”

His Highness the Aga Khan added: “He has a concentration of unusual talent. He has got to be outstanding on the basis that he has proved a champion at two and three, over all distances and all going and he is such a beautiful mover.”

Drawing parallels between Dalakhani and his sire, the great Darshaan, Alain de Royer Dupre noted: “He is different from Darshaan as he has a more fluent action and more natural speed. His ability to quicken is tremendous and he came in for a beautiful ride from Christophe who knows him so well.”