Daryz successfully defended his title in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, securing victory over a distance of 2,400 meters. The race, held as the centerpiece of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Weekend on October 4, featured a competitive field of 16 horses aged three and older. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, the four-year-old colt, owned and bred by Aga Khan Studs, crossed the finish line one and a quarter lengths ahead of his rivals. This marked Daryz’s second consecutive win in the Arc, adding to his four overall Group 1 victories this season, which include wins in the Prix Ganay and Prix d’Ispahan.
Barzalona commented on the challenging early pace of the race, noting the importance of securing a favorable position to allow Daryz to settle before making his decisive move in the final stages. Prior to the Arc, Daryz claimed victory in the Group 2 Prix Foy at the same venue.
In the Group 1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup, the six-year-old Purebred Arabian horse HM Alchahine triumphed over 2,000 meters, winning by three-quarters of a length. Owned by Helal Alalawi, trained by Madame Jean-Francois Bernard, and ridden by Cristian Demuro, HM Alchahine continued his remarkable record with a sixth Group 1 (PA) victory. The horse had previously finished second in this event in 2023 and most recently won the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon.
Demuro praised HM Alchahine’s performance, especially highlighting the horse’s powerful finish. Despite being last as they entered the final straight, HM Alchahine made significant ground to overtake the field, demonstrating exceptional speed and resilience.
Other notable winners on the card included Green Empress, who claimed her first Group 1 success in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac over 1,600 meters. The two-year-old filly, trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, won against a field of twelve while racing for The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation.
In the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret over 1,400 meters, three-year-old filly True Love secured victory in a field of eight, marking another Group 1 win for the filly. Ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O’Brien, True Love represents owners Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith. This win came following a sixth-place finish in the Matron Stakes and added to her previous Group 1 victories this year in the 1000 Guineas and, at two years old, the Cheveley Park Stakes.
The event was attended by prominent Qatari dignitaries including HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani, who presented trophies alongside officials from the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and France Galop. The ten-race card also featured a total of five other Group 1 contests, highlighting the prestigious nature of the weekend at ParisLongchamp.