It was a poignant moment of racing for the Aga Khan Studs, as a rainbow stretched across ParisLongchamp racecourse just moments before the gates opened for the 2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Daryz, a three-year-old son of Sea The Stars bred by the Aga Khan IV, was lining up from stall 2, fresh from a close second place in the Gr.2 Prix du Prince d’Orange.

Racing on the rail through the first half of the contest, he travelled relaxed in the slipstream of favourite Minnie Hauk, who quickened clear into the straight. An epic duel followed, and Daryz showed remarkable grit and tenacity to overhaul the triple Group 1-winning filly, with 5½ lengths back to the third.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan, present with her children, said after the race:

“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. Daryz was bred to win a Group 1 over 2,400 metres. He has both the stamina and the turn of foot for this race – both his parents had it – and the ground didn’t bother him at all. I also want to thank Francis for bringing him here through such an unusual but effective campaign.”

It was a first Arc triumph for both jockey Mickaël Barzalona and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who commented:

“That was a great horse race and everything worked to plan. The spirit of the horse at the end! We’ve had big victories before, but today I realise just how special the Arc truly is. The emotions are magnified by the crowd, the atmosphere and, especially, by these colours with such history. When I was a boy in Burgundy, watching 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.”

A winner on debut in April, Daryz has now amassed five wins from seven starts in the past seven months. His Stakes record also includes victories in the LR Prix Ridgway and the Gr.2 Prix Eugène Adam, both over ten furlongs. His Arc success could be said to have been written in the stars, as both his parents won on Arc weekend in 2009, sixteen years ago. His sire, Sea The Stars, sealed his brilliant career in the Arc itself, while his dam, Daryakana, captured the Gr.2 Prix de Royallieu before going on to win the Gr.1 Hong Kong Vase.

Sea The Stars has been enjoying another stellar season and was responsible for a 1–3 finish in this year’s Arc, with triple Group 1 winner Sosie back in third. Daryakana has proven to be one of the Aga Khan Studs’ most outstanding producers, as the dam of six Stakes winners, including now two Group 1 scorers. She has a two-year-old by Zarak named Daryzan and this year foaled a filly by Erevann.

The last victory for the Aga Khan silks in the Arc dated back to 2008 with the Champion Zarkava, and Daryz has now given the family a record eighth win in the race:

• Migoli (1948) – Aga Khan III
• Nuccio (1952) – Aga Khan III
• Saint Crespin (1959) – Prince Aly Khan
• Akiyda (1982) – Aga Khan IV
• Sinndar (2001) – Aga Khan IV
• Dalakhani (2003) – Aga Khan IV
• Zarkava (2008) – Aga Khan IV

The operation enjoyed further success over the weekend, with Ridari showing great determination to win the Gr.2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, his second Group win this season. More black-type results came from Surabad, third in the Gr.2 Prix Chaudenay, Rayif, third in the Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, and from the daughters of Siyouni Zarigana and Narissa, who bith finished fast to take second in the Gr.1 Prix de la Forêt and third in the Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac. That latest contest was won by Diamond Necklace, a granddaughter of Siyouni, who was celebrating his first Group 1 victory as a sire of sires.