Daryz, ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for a second successive year at Longchamp, becoming the first horse to go back-to-back in the race since Alleged in 1978.
Key facts
- Daryz won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for a second consecutive year on Sunday.
- It is the first back-to-back Arc victory since Alleged in 1978, 48 years ago.
- Mickaël Barzalona rode the winning colt and hailed him as an 'exceptional horse'.
- Daryz took the lead inside the final furlong after reeling in Bay City Roller.
- A move to stud now beckons over any bid for an unprecedented third win.
Daryz etched his name into racing history on Sunday, securing a second consecutive victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and becoming the first colt to go back-to-back in the showpiece race since 1978.
The last horse to achieve the feat was Alleged, ridden by Lester Piggott to his second Arc win in 1978. According to the Guardian, 48 years on, the course’s new uber-modernist, distinctly brutalist grandstand rose to acclaim its first legend as Daryz repeated his winning form.
The colt produced the same overwhelming turn of finishing speed down the straight that had carried him to victory in the race 12 months earlier. Daryz and rider Mickaël Barzalona did not hit the front until inside the final furlong.
They had, however, been closing on Bay City Roller, who had disputed the lead for much of the way, to such effect from well over a furlong out that the result was in no real doubt by the closing stages.
Barzalona hailed Daryz as an ‘exceptional horse’ after the win. With his place in the record books secured, attention now turns to the colt’s future, with a move to stud beckoning over any bid for an unprecedented third victory in the race.
Why it matters
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is one of the most prestigious races in flat horse racing, and back-to-back winners are extremely rare. Daryz's repeat triumph places him among the sport's modern greats and raises the tantalising question of whether he could attempt a record-breaking third win.
Frequently asked questions
When was the last horse to win the Arc twice in a row?
The last horse to go back-to-back in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before Daryz was Alleged, who recorded his second victory in 1978, 48 years earlier.
Who rode Daryz to victory?
Daryz was ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, who described the colt as an 'exceptional horse' after the win.
Will Daryz try for a third Arc win?
According to the Guardian, a move to stud beckons over any bid for an unprecedented third win.