Daryz wins the eighth Arc de Triomphe for The Aga Khan Studs

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – known simply as the Arc in racing circles – is the pinnacle of the European racing season. Since 1920, when it was inaugurated at Longchamp in tribute to French soldiers who fought in World War I, this 2400-meter contest has been held every first Sunday of October on Parisian turf. Its prestige is such that many breeders consider it the “race of champions,” where victory exponentially increases the value of a stallion or a broodmare. Numerous legends have etched their names into Arc history: Sea Bird, Alleged, Dancing Brave, Zarkava, and Enable, among others.

The 2025 Arc carried additional anticipation: not only was it the 104th edition, but it also followed the recent passing of Aga Khan IV, whose iconic green and red silks were seeking a historic eighth win. Despite unstable weather, Longchamp was packed. The morning dawned humid with intermittent showers; during the undercard races, sunlight filtered through low clouds, but rain showers persisted, leading the course to be rated “soft.” A specialized report warned that the ground was soft and that more rain was expected on Friday and Saturday, though Sunday might dry out. This mix of sun and rain made for a tactically complex afternoon, with deep but not extreme turf. As a result, horses fanned out to the middle of the track in the stretch.

Daryz (Sea The Stars) and Minnie Hauk (Frankel) in the Arc definiton.

The 2025 edition assembled a field of 18 runners, headed by the undefeated Minnie Hauk (Frankel), who had swept the 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks, and Irish Oaks. Japanese contenders Byzantine Dream and Croix du Nord were also among the favorites. The script partially held: Coolmore’s filly tracked the early leaders Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot) and Croix du Nord (Kitasan Black). Midway through the race, Minnie Hauk made her move and took the lead entering the final straight. It seemed she might emulate Enable by defeating males as a three-year-old filly.

However, stalking her throughout was Daryz (Sea The Stars). The French colt, third choice in the betting at 12/1, traveled smoothly near the pace, biding his time while Minnie Hauk showed her cards. In the final 200 meters, jockey Mickaël Barzalona angled him wide and asked for acceleration. Daryz responded with a powerful surge, catching the favorite in the final fifty meters and edging past her by just a head, stopping the clock at 2:29.17.

Behind them, Sosie (Siyouni) finished third, over five lengths back. The Japanese hopes faded: Byzantine Dream came in fifth, while Croix du Nord weakened sharply to finish 14th. The result reaffirmed the Arc’s status as a race where tactics and the ability to quicken on soft ground are decisive.

The man behind the green and red silks, Karim al-Husaynī, Aga Khan IV, passed away on February 4, 2025, at the age of 88. He was the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims and one of the most influential breeders of the 20th and 21st centuries. After succeeding his grandfather as Imam in 1957, he seriously considered leaving the family’s racing tradition, but after winning the French owners’ championship in his first season, he was “hooked” on the turf.

His breeding philosophy combined passion and science. In a memorable interview, he compared Thoroughbred breeding to “a game of chess against nature”: every mating decision is a strategic move whose results are revealed years later on the track. He also cautioned newcomers that learning is a long journey and each breeder must define their own criteria, grounded in both genetics and economics.

Over six decades, the Aga Khan built a network of stud farms in Ireland and France with about 200 broodmares. He did not hesitate to strengthen his bloodstock by acquiring the herds of legendary breeders: in 1977, he bought the mares of François Dupré, and in 1978, those of Marcel Boussac, including Darazina, ancestress of the family that would produce Darykana (Selkirk) and eventually Daryz. His program produced Classic winners like Shergar, Sinndar, Dalakhani, Zarkava, and more recently, the filly Ezeliya (Oaks 2024).

With Daryz’s victory, the green and red silks claimed their eighth Arc de Triomphe. The list begins with Migoli in 1948 and Saint Crespin III in 1959 (under Aga Khan III and his son Prince Aly Khan), followed by Akiyda (1982), Sinndar (2000), Dalakhani (2003), Zarkava (2008), and now Daryz in 2025.

This win holds symbolic weight: it is the first since the death of Aga Khan IV and affirms the continuity of his vision. It also breaks the tie with Juddmonte (Khalid Abdullah), both previously with seven Arc victories, placing the Aga Khan operation at the top of the all-time Arc leaderboard.

Daryz (Sea The Stars) belongs to an “Arc dynasty.” His damsire is Cape Cross (Green Desert), but most notably, Sea The Stars is a son of Urban Sea (Miswaki), the 1993 Arc winner, who herself produced Daryz’s sire. These three consecutive generations—Urban Sea, Sea The Stars, and Daryz—have each won the Arc de Triomphe. Sea The Stars, European Horse of the Year in 2009, is a top sire with over 140 stakes winners, including Stradivarius and Baaeed. However, Daryz is his first Arc-winning offspring.

Daryz’s success is also rooted in his female line. His dam Daryakana (Selkirk) was an exceptional filly: undefeated at three, she won the Prix de Royallieu (G2), and against older males, captured the 2009 Hong Kong Vase (G1), storming from the rear to defeat Spanish Moon by half a length. According to Equineline, she retired with 5 wins in 8 starts and earnings of $1,372,923. At stud, she has produced seven winners, including Dariyan (Shamardal), winner of the Prix Ganay (G1), Devamani (Dubawi), a G2 winner in the U.S., and now Daryz.

The second dam, Daryaba (Night Shift), was also a champion, having won the Prix de Diane (G1) and Prix Vermeille (G1) in 1999, two of France’s top races. Daryaba produced other group winners like Darmasar and Daraybi. This family branch, cataloged as family 1-e, entered the Aga Khan Studs when he acquired Boussac’s mares, including Darazina. From this line, the Aga Khan has bred standouts like Darshaan (sire of Dalakhani) and Dariyan, showcasing the family’s enduring quality. Overall, Daryz’s pedigree blends the stamina and class of Sea The Stars, the finishing power of Daryakana, and the classic depth of Daryaba—an embodiment of the Aga Khan’s philosophy: merging strong sire lines with high-performance female families.

The Irish filly Minnie Hauk (Frankel), trained by Aidan O’Brien for Coolmore and Juddmonte, entered the Arc undefeated after victories in the Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, and Yorkshire Oaks, emulating the path of the legendary Enable. At Longchamp, she seized the lead in the stretch but was caught late by Daryz, holding second place. With five wins in six starts, she is the standout three-year-old filly in Europe.

Minnie Hauk is by Frankel (Galileo), the unbeaten champion who has become a leading sire in France and Ireland. Her dam is Multilingual (Dansili), a winless mare but full sister to Remote (Dansili) and half-sister to Kingman (Invincible Spirit). Multilingual has produced five runners, including Minnie Hauk and Tilsit (First Defence), winner of the Summer Mile Stakes (G2).

Her second dam, Zenda (Zamindar), adds even more brilliance: she won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) in 2002 and was second in Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1). Zenda is a half-sister to top sprinter Oasis Dream and dam of the sensational Kingman, an undefeated miler who captured the Irish 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes. This pedigree belongs to Juddmonte’s celebrated family 16. Its root traces back to the mare Bahamian (Mill Reef), a modest Oaks Trial winner at Lingfield, purchased by Prince Khalid Abdullah for 310,000 guineas in 1986. Bahamian, by Mill Reef out of Sorbus (Busted), produced, among others, multiple G1 winner Beat Hollow (Sadler’s Wells). Zenda and Minnie Hauk descend from this line, reflecting Juddmonte’s foresight in acquiring a seemingly modest mare with immense potential. Thus, Minnie Hauk embodies the blood of three Juddmonte pillars—Frankel, Dansili, and Zamindar—reinforced by the Bahamian family. Her exceptional finishing kick and domination over fillies explain her bold challenge against colts in the Arc.

Daryz’s victory earned him an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar, as the Arc is part of the Win and You’re In series. Trainer Francis Graffard will consider whether to keep him in training at four. Should he continue, Daryz may aim for the elusive Arc–Turf double, a rare feat for Europeans due to the travel and short turnaround.

Daryz (Sea The Stars) and Mikael Barzalona at the Longchamp post.

Minnie Hauk, despite the loss, maintained her reputation as the best filly of her generation. She is likely to stay in training at four, with hopes of Arc redemption in 2026 and other major targets. Japan’s representatives will continue their pursuit of Arc glory, a dream still unfulfilled despite massive investment and high-caliber runners.

The 2025 Arc de Triomphe will be remembered as a race of symbols and emotions. Paris’s fickle weather and the soft track added layers of tactical complexity. Mickaël Barzalona’s patient ride allowed Daryz (Sea The Stars) to reel in favorite Minnie Hauk (Frankel) and capture the race by a head. The victory paid tribute to the late Aga Khan IV, extended his operation’s Arc tally to eight, and reaffirmed the brilliance of his breeding vision.

From a genetic standpoint, Daryz is the result of meticulous planning: he combines the paternal endurance of Sea The Stars, the class of Daryakana (Selkirk), and the foundational strength of Daryaba (Night Shift), all from the prolific 1‑e family. His triumph proves that great matriarchal lines can transmit excellence across generations to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

Though defeated, Minnie Hauk confirmed the depth of Juddmonte’s legacy—her lineage from Frankel, Multilingual (Dansili), and Zenda (Zamindar), descendant of Bahamian (Mill Reef), exemplifies the genetic consistency sought by Prince Khalid Abdullah.

The 2025 Arc crowned a new champion and delivered a masterclass in breeding, strategy, and legacy. Daryz’s win reminds us that in Thoroughbred racing, results are the fruit of decades of selection, investment, and passion—and that even under skies of rain and sun, the Sport of Kings continues to write stories worthy of legend.