Daryz snatches Arc glory from grasp of Minnie Hauk

Daryz denied Minnie Hauk in a pulsating finish to the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Daryz was hot on the heels of the strong-travelling Minnie Hauk and Christophe Soumillon as they hit the front front two furlongs out in Europe’s premier middle-distance event.

As the crack Aidan O’Brien-trained filly tried to assert, Daryz – who was last in the Juddmonte International at York in August – loomed up on her outside, with the pair racing neck and neck all the way to the line.

Daryz just shaded it in a photo at the famous winning post, while Sosie made late ground to finish third, having been fourth 12 months ago, and Giavellotto ran a cracker to finish fourth for Marco Botti.

Daryz just shaded it in a photo at the famous winning post, while Sosie made late ground to finish third, having been fourth 12 months ago, and Giavellotto ran a cracker to finish fourth for Marco Botti.

Graffard, winning the race for the first time and in the colours of the late Aga Khan associated with so many great horses, said: “This race has an amazing reputation and it’s true that when you win it, it’s very, very special. I’ve experienced some big wins, but this one is very, very special, especially this year.

“He was (so tough). When I was planning to run at York, I said to Princess Zahra ‘we are not going to win, but we need to toughen him up for the autumn’ and I think the defeat at York helped us to win today because my horse was, for the first time, very professional and mature.”

He added: “It’s a great experience and today was exactly what we planned to do. My horse was very tough to catch up with the filly.

“To win the Arc today in these colours is just crazy. In the past, it was just a dream, but now it’s happening to me.”

Barzalona was also claiming his first Arc and said: “We’ve always rated him. When we went to York it was a messy race, but he came back a lot stronger. Mentally and physically he has improved a lot and today he was very relaxed.

“He travelled very well, he picked up very well. Everything combined today to win the race.

“This is the kind of race you always hope to win, the kind of race you have been watching since you were very young. It’s a privilege to be part of the Aga Khan team, I try to do my best every day. We work all year to be competitive in these kinds of races.

“I thought Minnie Hauk was going to give me a tough race, but my horse was coming. They’re two very talented horses.”

Connections of Minnie Hauk felt she had performed up to her best after her narrow defeat.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly was sent off favourite for the Group One showpiece after remaining unbeaten in four starts this term, claiming the Cheshire Oaks before registering a Classic double at Epsom and the Curragh and then adding a fourth Oaks in the Yorkshire version on her most recent start.

Her winning run was snapped in being beaten a head in the French capital, but O’Brien felt Christophe Soumillon’s mount lost little in defeat.

He said: “We’re delighted, she ran a great race, absolutely. Christophe didn’t say anything negative when he came in.

“I’m not sure if she’ll run again this year. We’ll get her home and see how she is and see what the lads want to do.”

On whether she’ll stay in training, he added: “I think so, obviously the lads will decide that at the end of the year, it’s very possible, but they won’t decide that for a little bit yet – we’ll decide those things in the next couple of months.”

Soumillon, who won the 2008 Arc with the magnificent Zarkava in the same Aga Khan colours as Daryz, felt the winner perhaps just had a little more dash on what was his first try at the 12-furlong distance.

He said: “We have no excuses, we had a clear run all the way. She was very relaxed, I could change position downhill and stay second.

“She’s a big galloper, she took to the front so easily. When I felt Mickael (Barzalona) coming in the last 200 (metres) I kept a little back for the end and we went together, but his horse has a strong dash and he loves the ground.

“He rode a good race, he was behind us and he caught me on the line. What can you say? My filly ran a great race. If you take him (Daryz) out she’d have been one of the most impressive fillies winning the Arc, but that’s racing.”

Coolmore partner Michael Tabor said: “It’s just one of those things – very proud of Minnie Hauk. She’s run a blinder, I thought she’d won.

“Of course, you have the two winning posts and at the first one she was in front, but that’s not the one that counts. We’re here to fight for another day and I’m sure she’s got a great future. I’m looking forward to seeing her run many more times.”

Giavellotto looked a doubtful runner at the start of the week, but the decision to run on soft ground nearly paid off as the six-year-old took home a nice prize in fourth, beaten six lengths by Daryz.

His trainer Marco Botti said: “I am absolutely over the moon, he ran a really good race in the ground conditions.

“It showed in the first part of the race, he took his time to find his feet in the ground. Andrea (Atzeni) knows the horse well and just let him find his feet.

“He picked up well in the straight, it’s a shame we got beaten for third but beforehand, on this ground, I’d have been delighted to be in the first four.

“He ran a blinder and we have to be happy with him. In these kinds of races you want everything to go right, but at this time of the year Longchamp tends to be soft.

“Ten days ago on the forecast it looked quite good, I thought maybe we’d be lucky this year, but it changed in the last week or so.”

“I wasn’t confident yesterday when I saw that deluge, so I think to be fourth we have to be pleased.

Giavellotto won the Hong Kong Vase last term and a defence of that title at Sha Tin on December 14 is his next target.

Botti added: “Hong Kong is the plan now, we still have a couple of months to freshen him up before we take our chance there again.”