Daryz wins the 2026 Arc and secures a historic repeat

Daryz won the 2026 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, October 4, at ParisLongchamp. Ridden by Mickaël Barzalona and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, he defeated runner-up Bay City Roller and third-placed Diamond Necklace. The result made Daryz the first male horse since Alleged in 1978 to win consecutive editions of the race.

Official result of the 2026 Arc

The standings published by France Galop list Daryz first, followed by Bay City Roller and Diamond Necklace. Friendly Soul finished fourth and Kalpana fifth.

Daryz completed the race in 2:27.11. He beat Bay City Roller by one and a quarter lengths, while a neck separated the runner-up from Diamond Necklace. Friendly Soul followed a short neck behind third place, with Kalpana another two lengths back.

The podium jockeys were Mickaël Barzalona, Oisin Murphy and Christophe Soumillon, in that order. The official pre-race list also shows that Daryz started from stall 5, Bay City Roller from 15 and Diamond Necklace from 16.

How Daryz built his victory

Barzalona kept Daryz near the rear of the field for much of the race. In the straight, he switched the horse to the outside, with considerable ground still to recover on Bay City Roller. The runner-up had moved forward early on the outside before crossing into a prominent position.

With 300 metres remaining, Daryz first passed Diamond Necklace, who had also advanced after starting from an outside stall. He then caught Bay City Roller and established the decisive advantage. The official account identifies that late change of pace as the move that settled the contest.

Why the repeat is historic

The 2025–2026 sequence ended a wait of almost half a century for another male horse to win consecutive Arcs. Alleged, the previous one, won in 1977 and 1978. In the intervening period, only the mares Trêve and Enable had repeated in successive years.

The victory also extended the Aga Khan family’s record in the Arc to nine wins. According to France Galop, the run began with victories associated with Aga Khan III in 1948 and 1952, followed by Ali Khan in 1959 and Aga Khan IV in 1982, 2000, 2003 and 2008. Under Princess Zahra Aga Khan’s leadership, the operation added Daryz’s titles in 2025 and 2026.

The route to the title defence

Daryz arrived at the Arc after winning the Qatar Prix Foy, also at ParisLongchamp. In that prep race, he beat Bay City Roller by one and three-quarter lengths, with Uthred third.

It was his fourth start of the year. He had previously won the Prix Ganay and Prix d’Ispahan and finished third at Royal Ascot. The Prix Foy marked his return after nearly three months away from competition and confirmed his status as the favourite to defend the Arc.

What the result shows about the draw

The official list of 16 runners helps put the performances of the second- and third-placed horses in context. Bay City Roller and Diamond Necklace started from the two widest stalls, while Daryz broke from stall 5.

That fact alone did not determine the result, but it clarifies the tactics in the race account: Murphy took Bay City Roller forward on the outside before seeking a position closer to the lead; Soumillon also helped Diamond Necklace improve gradually. Daryz, meanwhile, had to find room and deliver his acceleration in the straight.

After the victory

France Galop reported that Daryz’s connections intended to discuss his future during the week after the race. Princess Zahra Aga Khan expressed a preference for seeing him safely at home, preparing for a future stallion career. Because no definitive decision had been published, any later development should be checked through the official page.

For now, the 2026 Arc confirms a rare campaign: although he was the defending champion and the favourite after the Prix Foy, Daryz still had to overcome a position near the rear to finish first again.