Daryz is set to defend his title in the 2026 edition of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s most prestigious and valuable race, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing at 3:05 p.m. The colt’s connections are hoping he will become the first horse since Alleged in 1978 to win the Arc in consecutive years, a feat that would cement his place in racing history.
Francis‑Henri Graffard’s star has already shown his class this season. After a brilliant performance in the Prix Ganay, Daryz followed it up with another sparkling run in the Prix Aga Khan IV.
A subsequent appearance at Royal Ascot in June, where he contested the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, ended in a disappointing third place, but post‑race examinations revealed a blood‑related issue that may have hampered his effort. Following a brief spell, Daryz returned in the Prix Foy and made light work of the former Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller, who also lines up today.
Graffard noted that the colt was only about 75 % fit at the time, yet he still produced a dominant display. Drawn from stall five, the short‑priced favourite will be under intense scrutiny, but his team remains supremely confident that he can withstand any challenge.
Kalpana, who finished seventh in the same race last year, is back in ParisLongchamp with the aim of redemption. The filly is trying to emulate Juddmonte’s Bluestocking, who captured the same prize two years ago. The King George winner has added two Group 1 victories to her résumé this season and looks well‑suited to the conditions. Starting from stall six, she will be ridden again by Colin Keane, who has spent another year guiding her, and she could be a serious contender.
Maltese Cross represents William Haggas’s bid for his first Arc win. The three‑year‑old, a son of Sea The Stars, has already secured two Group 1 successes this year, including the Grand Prix de Paris after a runner‑up finish in the Derby, and a win in the Great Voltigeur Stakes. However, his prospects have been slightly compromised by an unfavorable draw in stall eleven. Aidan O’Brien will field three classic winners in the race.
Ryan Moore has elected to ride the Irish Derby victor Benvenuto Cellini, leaving Diamond Necklace, who draws the notorious stall sixteen, to be partnered by another jockey. The previous year’s runner‑up, Minnie Hauk, completes the trio and will be ridden by William Buick, who hopes to improve on last year’s second‑place finish. Never miss a story – the latest racing news, interviews and features are now available on your mobile device.
Stay informed and never miss a beat. Aventure, a proven Group 1 performer against her own sex, heads a nine‑horse field in the Prix de l’Opéra Longines.
Christophe Ferland’s mare has contested the Arc in the past two years, finishing second and eleventh respectively. This time she returns to a race restricted to fillies and mares, where she boasts an impressive record of eight wins from twelve starts, including two Group 1 victories.
She rebounded from a defeat by Daryz in the Prix Ganay by winning the Prix Corrida, where she beat Sunly. Although she was outclassed by Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud, she later captured the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet at Deauville, defeating the unbeaten Diamond Necklace. Three‑year‑old Pink Panthera appears to be the most promising of the remaining contenders. She has been tantalisingly close at the highest level twice this season – first in the Prix de Diane and then most recently in the Prix Vermeille.
Historically, three‑year‑olds have excelled in the Arc, winning eight of the last ten runnings, which bodes well for her chances. Precise, the Irish 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner, has been heavily campaigned this year and will be making her first appearance over the Arc distance. Ryan Moore will take the mount, hoping to translate her proven mile‑plus ability into a strong performance over 2 400 metres. The Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Forêt over seven furlongs will see Samangan and Thesecretadversary clash again.
Thesecretadversary bested Samangan in the Prix Jean Prat after a win in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. The St Mark’s Basilica colt then stepped up to the Prix Jacques le Marois, where he was beaten by Rayif, another Aga Khan‑trained runner. Samangan finished fourth in that race, with True Love (also re‑opposing) in second.
Samangan later captured his first Group 1 in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, edging out the fast‑finishing Division. True Love has not won since her classic triumph in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas in May, but she has remained competitive, placing three times in Group 1 company.
Nighttime is expected to rebound under Christopher Head, while Marvelman will carry the colours of Andrew Balding. Other notable contests include the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp (12.31), where Green Express leads an open field; the G1 Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère (1.09) featuring National Stakes hero Folsom Blues; the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye (1.47) with Naana’s Shadow against a strong field; the G1 Arabian World Cup (2.25) showcasing Rb Kingmaker and HM Alchahine; the G3 Summer Stakes at Keeneland (10.10) where Rebecca Menzies rides Adonius against Queen Mary third Ruiva; and the G1 Spinster Stakes (10.45) at Keeneland, where Fully Subscribed aims to use the race as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.