Retiring Daryz 'would have sent the wrong message' says Aga Khan Studs with Arc hero to return in 2026

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz will stay in training as a four-year-old, Aga Khan Studs revealed on Thursday. 

The Francis Graffard-trained three-year-old got the better of a thrilling duel with Minnie Hauk under Mickael Barzalona at Longchamp on Sunday, but his future was unclear following the race.

However, unlike his sire Sea The Stars, Daryz could bid to retain his Arc crown as a four-year-old after his connections decided he would race on next season rather than head to stud. He will not run again this year. 

Nemone Routh, racing manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: "Daryz has taken his race very well and is in good form following his top-class performance. He is a beautiful horse who resembles his sire and has a great constitution. He progressed throughout the season and we are very much looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish next year."

Daryz (near) battles past Minnie Hauk to win the ArcCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Expanding on the decision, she added: "On the day we decided we weren't going to talk much about the future as we wanted to enjoy the moment as it was a very emotional day. We said we'd regroup towards the end of the week when the dust had settled and see how the horse came out of the race.

"We had a call this morning with Francis and Princess Zahra and the team, and I spoke to Mickael during the week as well, and discussed everything. We just felt that he's only really coming to himself now and if we rushed him off to stud it would almost look like we didn't have confidence in him, which isn't the case at all.

"It wasn't a surprise he won on Sunday because we held him in very high regard and we believed he was capable of a performance like that. He's a May foal and his sire and dam tend to produce horses who improve. Mickael said he'd got better with everything he's done this year. He's a very genuine horse and we thought sending him to stud would send the wrong message."

Daryz could be versatile with regards to trip in the future, with connections already eyeing a drop back down to ten furlongs.

Daryz soaks up all the attention after winning the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de TriompheCredit: Edward Whitaker

Routh added: "He's at his best in a race with pace as he's a big horse with a long stride and he relaxes better. If anything we were concerned about soft ground for him, but he showed he was just as good on it in the Prix du Prince d'Orange before the Arc.

"We'll probably keep him in Europe as we have some nice geldings who can run at the big international meetings. You'd imagine we'd prepare him for races over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half."

Daryz produced an excellent performance to win his first Group 1 on Sunday, achieving a Racing Post Rating of 128. Only Enable in 2017 and Ace Impact in 2023 have recorded higher figures in the last decade.

The colt was unraced at two and made a winning debut at Longchamp in April. He then added two more victories at the same track, including the Listed Prix Ridgway in June, before taking his unbeaten run to four in the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud later that month.

He was then sent to Britain to contest the Juddmonte International at York, but raced too keenly in the rear and eventually trailed in last of the six runners behind outstanding winner Ombudsman. 

However, he enhanced his Arc claims when catching the eye in his prep run when second to Croix Du Nord in the Prix du Prince d'Orange in September before going one better on his first try over a mile and a half on Sunday. 

Daryz has the pedigree to make an excellent sire as not only is he by the great Sea The Stars, but his dam Daryakana won the Hong Kong Vase in 2009. He is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Dariyan and four other winners.

French colts who have won the Arc since 1990 and what they did next

From 15 French-trained colts to win the Arc since 1990, six retired immediately including the last four, two went to the Breeders' Cup then retired and seven raced on the following season. The last to not be retired immediately was Hurricane Run in 2005.

2023 Ace Impact - retired
2020 Sottsass (won as a four-year-old) - retired
2019 Waldgeist (won as a four-year-old) - retired
2006 Rail Link - retired
2005 Hurricane Run - raced on, won King George
2004 Bago - raced on, won Ganay
2003 Dalakhani - retired
1999 Montjeu - raced on, won King George
1998 Sagamix - raced on
1997 Peintre Célèbre - retired
1996 Helissio - raced on
1993 Carnegie - raced on
1992 Subotica (won as a four-year-old) - ran in Breeders' Cup Turf, then retired
1991 Suave Dancer - raced on, 3rd in Ganay on only start
1990 Saumarez - ran in Breeders' Cup Turf, then retired.

Read more:

Arc hero Daryz bounces out of Longchamp 'in great form' but no decision made on whether he stays in training 

'This is the pinnacle' - Daryz camp in dreamland after thrilling Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe success over Minnie Hauk 

How Daryz went from unraced in March to a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe champion 

To celebrate The Story of Horseracing in 20 Races, the Racing Post's epic weekly series that has run through 2025, you can get your first month of Racing Post+ Ultimate for £20 when you sign up via web using code STORY20 – that's a whopping 60% discount. Available only to new and returning customers. Subscription will auto-renew at £49.95 unless you call our cancellation line to cancel. Sign up now.