Daryz bids for rare double as Arc returns to Longchamp
Daryz will try to win the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe again as the 7-4 favourite. The four-year-old heads the field for the 105th running of the race at Longchamp, with the horse-by-horse guide published on 3 October putting him top of the list. The Guardian France Galop
History is against him. Only three colts have won the Arc twice since the Second World War. The most recent was Alleged in 1977 and 1978.
Daryz is runner No. 1. He is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona from stall 5. The draw decides where each horse starts. Barzalona will attempt to guide him to victory again. Daryz is by Sea The Stars out of Daryakana, by Selkirk.
Saddadd is next in the list at 40-1. The four-year-old is trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Ray Dawson from draw 9. He is by Pinatubo out of Talmada, by Cape Cross. He broke through at Group One level last time in Germany. Group One means the highest level of racing.
That German win came over a mile-and-a-half for the first time. It was the same race Torquator Tasso won before causing a massive upset in the 2021 Arc. The link gives his form a familiar shape.
Chestnut Rocket is the outsider at 200-1. The four-year-old is trained by Alicja Karkosa and ridden by Marvin Grandin from draw 2. He is by Intells out of Rocaille, by Anabaa. He began his career in Poland before moving to Chantilly.
His latest run was encouraging. He was beaten only a short nose into second by Al Aasy in a Group Two at Deauville. A short nose is the smallest winning margin.
Japan sends two five-year-olds with strong home form. Admire Terra is runner No. 4 at 50-1 for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi and jockey Cristian Demuro from draw 12. He is by Rey De Oro out of Admire Miyabi, by Heart's Cry. He finished third in the Tenno Sho in May, a half-length behind the winner.
Meisho Tabaru is runner No. 5 at 40-1. He is trained by Mamoru Ishibashi and ridden by Yutaka Take from draw 13. He is by Gold Ship out of Meisho Tsubakuro, by French Deputy. This will be Take's 12th Arc ride.
Meisho Tabaru has already made history at home. He is only the third horse in the 67-year history of the Group One Takarazuka Kinen to win that race in consecutive years. Caution is needed. Gold Ship and Chrono Genesis, the previous back-to-back winners, both finished unplaced in the Arc.
Arrow Eagle completes this group as runner No. 6. He is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal from draw 14. The wide draws for Admire Terra, Meisho Tabaru and Arrow Eagle will ask questions of their jockeys early. The stall draw was shown live on the Equidia channel on Thursday 1 October. France Galop
For fans, this means a clear shape. One proven champion. A German Group One winner trying the distance. A Polish recruit, two Japanese stayers and a French runner drawn wide. Aidan O'Brien's record underlines how hard the race is for older horses to crack, with 35 of his 59 Arc runners since 1999 being three-year-olds. Racing TV Longchamp will decide. Sky Sports
