Daryz is set to defend his title in the 2026 edition of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the most lucrative flat race in Europe, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing at 3:05 p.m. The colt’s connections are hoping to achieve a rare feat: winning the Arc in consecutive years, something no horse has done since Alleged completed the double in 1978.
Francis‑Henri Graffard’s three‑year‑old looked as impressive as ever when he returned to the track in the Prix Ganay, then followed that up with a sparkling run in the Prix Aga Khan IV. A subsequent attempt at Royal Ascot in June, where he contested the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, fell short – he finished third and was later found to have a minor blood issue that required treatment. After a brief spell, the horse returned in the Prix Foy, where he faced the previous year’s Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller.
Despite being described by his trainer as only 75 percent fit, Daryz made light work of the older rival, winning comfortably and confirming his status as the short‑priced favourite for the Arc. He draws stall five, a position that should suit his running style, and his connections are confident he can handle any challenge. Kalpana, who was seventh in the same race last year, is back in the field with a strong desire for redemption. The filly aims to emulate Juddmonte’s Bluestocking, who captured the Arc two years ago.
Kalpana has already secured two Group 1 victories this season, including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and she looks in peak condition. Drawn in stall six, the race conditions appear to suit her, and with veteran jockey Colin Keane now in his second year aboard, she could be a serious contender for a top‑three finish. Maltese Cross is another hopeful, representing trainer William Haggas, who is eager for his first Arc winner.
The three‑year‑old, a son of Sea The Stars, has been on a steady upward trajectory: after a runner‑up finish in the Derby, he claimed the Grand Prix de Paris and then added the Great Voltigeur Stakes to his résumé. However, his chances have been slightly compromised by an unfavorable draw in stall eleven, which may force him to navigate a crowded field.
Aidan O'Brien will have three Classic winners in the race. Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Irish Derby victor Benvenuto Cellini, leaving Diamond Necklace – who draws the notoriously difficult stall sixteen – to another rider. The third O'Brien entry is last year’s runner‑up Minnie Hauk, who will be partnered by William Buick in an attempt to improve on her second‑place finish from 2025.
The programme also includes a strong female contingent. Aventure, a proven Group 1 performer, heads the nine‑horse field in the Prix de l’Opéra Longines.
Christophe Ferland’s star mare has contested the Arc twice before, finishing second and eleventh, and this year she returns to race exclusively against fillies and mares, a division where she boasts eight wins from twelve starts, including two Group 1 triumphs. Another mare, Calandagan, rebounded from a defeat to Daryz in the Prix Ganay by winning the Prix Corrida. Although she was outclassed by the winner of the Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud, she later captured the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet at Deauville, beating the unbeaten Diamond Necklace in the process.
Among the three‑year‑old fillies, Pink Panthera appears to be the most promising of the remaining runners. She has been close to victory at the highest level twice this season, first in the Prix de Diane and then most recently in the Prix Vermeille, where she narrowly missed the win.
Historically, three‑year‑olds have excelled in the Arc, winning eight of the last ten editions, which adds further optimism to her prospects. Precise, the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner, has been heavily campaigned this year and will be taking the lead for the first time in the Arc, with Ryan Moore aboard. The race also features a repeat clash between Samangan and Thesecretadversary in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Forêt over seven furlongs. Thesecretadversary previously bested Samangan in the Prix Jean Prat after a victory in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The son of St Mark’s Basilica then stepped up in distance for the Prix Jacques le Marois, where he was beaten by Rayif, another Aga Khan‑trained colt. Samangan finished fourth in that race, with True Love (also re‑opposing) in second place. Samangan later secured his first Group 1 win in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, holding off a fast‑finishing Division.
True Love, a classic winner of the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, has not won since that triumph in May but has remained competitive, placing in three Group 1 contests. Nighttime is expected to rebound for trainer Christopher Head, while Marvelman will represent Andrew Balding.
Other notable entries include Green Express heading an open contest in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, National Stakes champion Folsom Blues returning for the G1 Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère, Naana’s Shadow contesting the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye, and the Arabian World Cup featuring Rb Kingmaker and HM Alchahine. In the United States, Rebecca Menzies will ride Adonius in the G3 Summer Stakes at Keeneland, and Fully Subscribed will target the G1 Spinster Stakes as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Racing fans can stay up to date with the latest news, interviews, and features from Sky Sports Racing on their mobile devices, ensuring they never miss a moment of the action as the world’s best thoroughbreds line up for the 2026 Arc, a race that promises drama, history, and the chance for a new legend to be written.