Daryz leads Aga Khan dominance in Arc dress rehearsals

‘With just one month to go before the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the dress rehearsals arrived,’ with Daryz and Varandir victorious in the prestigious green of the Aga Khan Studs.

And it was all about Daryz going into the Group 2 Qatar Prix Foy over 2400m, and living up to expectations with victory over his three rivals, again ridden by Mickael Barzalona for Francis Graffard.

Winner of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2025, he is already the $3.25 favourite with Australia-wide betting agencies for the 2026 edition on Sunday, October 4 at ParisLongchamp.

With the British-trained Bay City Roller as the race leader and Daryz following, he challenged at the 400m before sweeping past him to win by 1½ lengths, with Uthred three lengths behind in third.

“It was important for Daryz to show this kind of behaviour and this calmness on his return to racing,” said trainer Francis Graffard. “The horse was very professional to ride and really relaxed.

“The race also unfolded well, with Bay City Roller going to the front and getting the race going at the top of the rise. Daryz took hold of the bit at that point and accelerated well in the straight.”

In his fourth start for the year, and having not raced since June 17 when third at Royal Ascot, he won his first two starts in the Prix Ganay and the Prix Aga Khan IV – Prix d’Ispahan.

Now a four-year-old and already a Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Daryz could eventually retire to Haras de Bonneval. The Aga Khan homebred is by 2009 Arc winner Sea The Stars out of Daryakana.

And with Daryz winning the Qatar Prix Foy, an Arc Races Series event that earns a Wild Card for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, it was also a successful day for Varandir in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Niel.

In capturing the 2400m Prix Niel for three-year-olds, Varandir scored by 1¾ lengths over Alam, who made ground along the inside, while Varandir had to chase down runaway leader Montreal.

It was his second Group victory, having won the Prix Hocquart earlier in the season, and he was coming off a fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris on July 14 over the same course and distance.

“It’s not really a surprise,” said Nemone Routh, French Racing Manager for the Aga Khan Studs, “as we were already very pleased with Varandir’s performance in the Grand Prix de Paris.

“In the Grand Prix de Paris he was able to get involved in the race and he was the one who made all the effort to go after the victory before flattening out a little – now he has really progressed.”

Varandir is also an Aga Khan homebred, sired by Caravaggio, and has entries in the Qatar Prix Dollar and Qatar Prix Chaudenay in addition to the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Aga Khan Studs also secured the principal Group 1 with Erdenali in the Prix du Moulin, with the colt breaking the ParisLongchamp 1600m course record in 1:33.01 to give Francis Graffard his eighth Group 1 victory of the season.

Again with Mickael Barzalona as the winning jockey, the Aga Khan Studs homebred defeated Ten Bob Tony by 1¼ lengths, with odds-on favourite Gstaad ahead of Opera Ballo.

“Really, I want to take him to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, so we’ll work out a way to get there,” said Francis Graffard. “We’re planning to go to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes.”

On reflection, Nemone Routh said: “We needed to find out if he was a Group 1 horse, and he’s done it quite convincingly. He should have won that Group 3 very easily, but it was a nightmare.”

With Erdenali emulating his granddam Ervedya by winning the Group 1 event, he is now favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, but is unlikely to start with Rayif the likely runner for the Aga Khan Studs.