Daryz wins Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for second straight year

PARIS — Daryz made it back-to-back wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with victory in Europe’s most prestigious flat race on Sunday.

The favorite, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, finished ahead of Bay City Roller in second and Diamond Necklace in third. Friendly Soul was fourth.

The four-year-old Daryz became the first colt for almost 50 years to win the race in successive seasons by emulating the Vincent O’Brien-trained Alleged in 1977 and 1978.

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It is the ninth two-time winner and the first to win back-to-back since Enable in 2017 and 18.

“He’s a champion,” trainer Graffard told Sky Sports. “I said that it’s rare that I am confident in the race. I always try to keep my feet on the ground because it’s so hard to win these races, but I knew if things were going right for him during the trip, he was very hard to beat because he’s a real champion.”