Arc hero Daryz out to lay claim to Prix Aga Khan IV
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 20 May 2026
Daryz is ready to show ParisLongchamp is very much his patch in the Prix Aga Khan IV on Thursday.
Francis-Henri Graffard’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner has only once suffered defeat in six outings at France’s flagship racecourse and having returned with an impressive display in the Prix Ganay, the Aga Khan Studs-owned four-year-old would prove a fitting winner of the race formally known as the Prix d’Ispahan.
“His first start of the season was very impressive, he has been very well since that and it has always been my plan to run in this race after the Ganay,” said Graffard, who could bring Daryz to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes after this assignment.
“He’s a strong horse with good speed on him and I’m not scared of dropping him back in distance. The way he gallops in the morning, I don’t think the trip will be a problem.”
He went on: “We will have to see about Royal Ascot after this. This week is another Group One and hopefully after that we can come to Ascot.”
The Group One contest over the unique distance of nine furlongs was won by Sosie 12 months ago, with Andre Fabre’s son of Sea The Stars holding off Sardinian Warrior by a length.
Following his third-placed finish behind Daryz in the Arc, Sosie went on to land the Hong Kong Vase in December before finishing an excellent length and a half behind the imperious Romantic Warrior in the QEII Cup back at Sha Tin last month.
Fabre is slightly concerned by the small field and feels the strength of this year’s race is much stronger.
He said: “I’m happy with the condition of Sosie, but not the ground, it is very soft and he would prefer better ground. The lack of runners is also a concern so we will see what happens.
“It was a weaker race when he won it last year, it is much stronger this year.
“Travelling over to Hong Kong does not seem to affect him, he is used to it and we know he likes this track.”
Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for owners the Wertheimer brothers, said: “I think Sosie ran one of his best races last time.
“He had enough speed last year to win this race, but it’s a stronger field this year and of course Daryz was very impressive in his last two races.”
Jean-Claude Rouget’s Grand Prix de Paris winner Leffard was unlucky on his reappearance in the Prix d’Harcourt last month, meeting trouble during the closing stages before eventually thundering home to finish a neck behind Bright Picture.
“He did very good finishing fractions and I think that influenced the decision a bit to not be afraid to drop back in distance,” said former Arc-winning trainer John Hammond, racing and bloodstock adviser to Gerard Augustin-Normand, who owns the colt in company with Ecurie Antonio Caro.
“I don’t think there is a whole lot between him and Sosie. If Daryz runs to his best, he will be very hard to beat – he was incredibly impressive last time. There are only five runners, but it looks an interesting race.
“Jean-Claude felt the Prix Ganay came a bit too quick after the Prix d’Harcourt, he likes to space the races out so that had an influence too.
“Daryz, Sosie and Leffard have all got good form over a mile and a half, but basically mile-and-a-half horses have a lot of speed, they just stay as well.
“I’d imagine we will see how things go on Thursday, and then Jean-Claude and Gerard will have a chat and Antonio Caro as well and make a plan after that. Leffard appears to be pretty flexible in terms in distance so far anyway.”
There is British interest as Qilin Queen – a Group Two winner here in July last year – lines up for Ed Walker, while Christophe Plisson’s Divine Chrisnat completes the field.
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