As the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe approaches this weekend, attention is focused on the four-year-old runner Daryz. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by jockey Mickael Barzalona, Daryz enters the race with odds of 7-4 and will start from gate 5. The horse is sired by Sea The Stars out of Daryakana, a mare by Selkirk.

The narrative surrounding Daryz centers on the historical difficulty of winning the Arc twice. According to racing records, only three colts have achieved back-to-back victories in the race since the end of World War II, with the most recent being Alleged in 1977 and 1978. While other notable horses such as Bago, Hurricane Run, and Workforce have attempted to repeat their three-year-old success in the event, none have succeeded in the modern era. Analysts note that this historical trend is influenced by the common practice of retiring successful Arc winners to stud shortly after their initial victory, which limits the number of horses that return to compete in subsequent years.