Deadly Daryz: Graffard Wants It Good for ‘Devastating’ Arc Hero

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is confident that his defending champion Daryz, who has been in strong form this season, will perform well on good ground at this year’s Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Daryz aims to become the first male horse since Alleged in the late 1970s to win back-to-back titles, with stablemate Varandir also entered as a promising contender.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard has expressed confidence in his defending Arc de Triomphe champion Daryz ahead of this year's race at Longchamp. Owned by Aga Khan Studs, the four-year-old colt secured victory in Europe’s richest race last year by a neck over Minnie Hauk on very soft ground. Graffard emphasized that while Daryz won the 2023 Arc on soft going, the horse’s performance was primarily due to his exceptional ability, and he believes good ground would better showcase the colt’s strengths.

"Daryz needs a strong pace," Graffard said, noting that the faster the tempo, the more the horse’s remarkable acceleration can be utilized. He added that over 2,000 meters on good ground, Daryz displays a “devastating” turn of foot. The trainer highlighted that the ground did not define last year’s success, and he would be pleased to see conditions that allow Daryz to fully demonstrate his capabilities.

This season, Daryz has won three of four starts, his only defeat coming at Royal Ascot, where he finished behind Ombudsman. He recently prepared for his title defense with a win in the Prix Foy, defeating Bay City Roller. Graffard reported that Daryz completed a final fast workout at Longchamp in good form, showing sharpness and ease while finishing strongly.

During the gallop, Daryz was positioned fourth among four horses and responded well under his jockey. "The horse was in very good physical condition. It was exactly the kind of work I had hoped for before the Arc," Graffard said.

In addition to Daryz, Graffard also has another contender in the race, his stablemate Varandir, the winner of the Prix Niel. The younger colt, three years old, has shown marked improvement over the summer. Graffard noted Varandir’s enhanced physical and mental suppleness and expressed belief that he deserves the opportunity to compete and be competitive in the Arc.

The Arc de Triomphe is scheduled to take place at Longchamp later this calendar year, with Daryz aiming to become the first male horse to claim consecutive victories since Alleged in 1977 and 1978.

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