PARIS (AP) — Daryz made it back-to-back wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with victory by 1 1/4 lengths in Europe’s most prestigious flat race on Sunday.
The favorite, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, finished ahead of Bay City Roller in second and Diamond Necklace in third. Friendly Soul was fourth.
The first prize was around $3.2 million.
The four-year-old Daryz became the first colt for almost 50 years to win the race in successive seasons by emulating the Vincent O’Brien-trained Alleged in 1977 and 1978.
It is the ninth two-time winner and the first to win back-to-back since Enable in 2017 and '18.
“He’s a champion," Graffard told Sky Sports. "I said that it’s rare that I am confident in the race. I always try to keep my feet on the ground because it’s so hard to win these races, but I knew if things were going right for him during the trip, he was very hard to beat because he’s a real champion.”
Daryz, who gave the Aga Khan family a record ninth victory in the Arc, may not get a chance for a hat trick of wins.
“I don’t think he has to prove anything else," Graffard said.
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