Arc hero Daryz to stay in training as a four-year-old
STAYING ON: Daryz gets the better of Minnie Hauk to win the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe. Picture: Healy Racing
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Daryz will stay in training at four, but will not run again this season, connections have announced.
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and owned by the Aga Khan Studs, the son of Sea The Stars battled on gamely to beat Aidan O'Brien's filly Minnie Hauk.
Nemone Routh, racing manager for the stud, indicated it had always been the plan orginally to keep him in training next season as he was unraced at two. However, when he won the stallion-making race there was suddenly a question to answer.
"We let the dust settle a bit and we decided on Sunday to enjoy the moment before we regrouped to think about it, which we did this morning," Routh said.
"There was Francis Graffard, Princess Zahra and the team and we just felt he's only really coming into maturity now and everything aligned for him on Sunday.
"Whilst he wasn't among the favourites, it wasn't a huge surprise to us as we always felt he was top class, which was why we took him to York (Juddmonte International) in the summer — which all just came too soon.
"We felt if we rushed him off to stud it would look like we didn't have confidence in the horse and that is entirely not the case.
"There's risk involved keeping him in training, but we felt there was more to come from him, there are lots of good races in Europe over 10 or 12 furlongs he can run in, so we thought it was the right thing to do.
"He was a May foal and he didn't race at two. He's never put a foot wrong — apart from that one race at York when everyone came away thinking it was a strange race, so I think people will forgive him that and we'd like to show what he's capable of next year.
"We all just felt it was the right thing to do and I think it's good for the sport.
"What's exciting is along with the best three-year-old filly they were five lengths clear of some very good horses."
The Breeders' Cup, however, was never realistically on his agenda.
"Because the Arc is a 'win and you're in' race we did take the blood tests and everything because you do have to get sorted early if there's even a small chance of going," said Routh.
"We weren't ever really thinking about it, though. Even before Sunday to be honest as we always thought he would be staying in training until he won on Sunday!
"We'll leave him alone now, he really gave his all and he has earned a rest."
