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Bay City Roller, meanwhile, was taken forward into a prominent position by Oisin Murphy from stall 15, before striking for home upon entering the straight. The George Scott-trained colt had already finished second to Daryz in the Prix Foy four weeks earlier, and looked capable of giving the champion another serious challenge.

Daryz, however, was beginning to unwind. Barzalona switched him to the outside, and hebegan to surge. The horse rapidly closed the gap before taking control in the final furlong, pulling away to secure his second Arc. Diamond Necklace finished third, a neck behind Bay City Roller.

“He's a good horse, he's a champion,” Graffard said after the race, as quoted by Racing Post. He added that there was considerable pressure to defend the Arc crown, but Daryz showed his class when it mattered.

For Bay City Roller, the second-place finish was another indication that he belongs at the highest level. Scott was full of praise for the horse after the race. “I could see Daryz coming, but it was an incredible run,” Scott said, as quoted by Racing Post. “What an amazing racehorse he is and what an amazing ride.”

Meanwhile, Kalpana and Maltese Cross, the most market-supported British runners, finished fifth and sixth. Japan’s Arc dream remains such, as Admire Terra finished 11th, and Meisho Tabaru led for much of the race before fading to 14th.

Daryz's first Arc victory in 2025 came in a much tighter finish against favourite Minnie Hauk to distinguish himself among Europe's elite. Rather than treating that win as a one-off, though, Daryz continued to develop during his four-year-old campaign.

He began 2026 with a G1 victory in the Prix Ganay, then added the Prix d'Ispahan before finishing third behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. After returning to France, Daryz regained momentum with a dominant Prix Foy win, beating Bay City Roller by 1½ lengths. That result made him the clear Arc favourite heading into Longchamp, which he won emphatically.

Daryz now has 8 wins from 11 starts, including 4 G1s and 2 Arc titles. As the son of Sea The Stars, who won the 2009 Arc, and Daryakana, who won the Prix de Royallieu and Hong Kong Vase, plus the brother of Dariyan, winner of the 2016 Prix Ganay, he extends the golden streak of a storied Aga Khan family.

What Comes After for Daryz

The biggest question after the Arc is no longer what Daryz can achieve on the racecourse, but whether he needs to achieve anything else at all. Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who now oversees the family's breeding operation, strongly implied as much. “You get to the point where you're taking a risk every time you run the horse,” she said, as quoted by Racing TV. “His mother improved with age, but would we want him to train on for another year? I'm not sure – I think he has other things to do.”

“I wish I could be allowed to win the race with him for a third time, but I don’t think I will be allowed to,” Graffard said, as quoted by The Standard.

Considering the Aga Khan homebred’s value as a future stallion due to his proven capabilities and accolades, those comments make a 2027 campaign or even an attempt at an unprecedented Arc triple unlikely. For now, the decision appears to be leaning toward the breeding shed.

Nonetheless, from a 2025 Arc victory to a 2026 historic defence, Daryz has truly become a generation-defining racehorse.