Prix De l'Arc De Triomphe Preview for 2026
Scenic of ParisLongchamp on 2021 Arc Day (Photo by Scoopdyga)
Updated:
Europe’s richest race is upon us. It’s a historic edition, not because of an especially strong field, but because it’s the last time geldings will be barred. If there’s another Calandagan around next year, we’ll get to see him.
As always, the winner gets a free pass into the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), though only once has this led to a victory – Enable in 2018. That came after a truncated season for the star filly, so if the Arc winner is going to be a Breeders’ Cup prospect, maybe look for one with very limited racing for the year. Arc participants who haven’t won have had more success.
Anyway, the race is an intriguing one as ever, so let’s try to sort it out.
Longchamp, Race 5, 10:05 a.m. Sunday ET
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), 2,400m (about 1 1/2 miles), three-year-olds and up, no geldings
The market is all about last year’s winner #1 Daryz (8-5). A stylish winner over #8 Minnie Hauk (15-1) last year, he’s gone on with it in 2026 with three wins from four starts, the last a facile victory in the Prix Foy (G2) over wet-track specialist #7 Bay City Roller (30-1). Importantly, the Prix Foy proved he could handle good-to-firm conditions, under which he’d earlier run a below-par third in the Price of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
The gods have smiled on Daryz with a very nice barrier, so on paper he has every chance of becoming the 10th dual winner of the race. It’s debatable that he’s in the class of other dual winners such as Ribot, Alleged, and Enable, but this isn’t the strongest Arc field, and he can only beat what’s in front of him.
Three-year-olds generally run well in this race and their best representative, according to the market, is #14 Maltese Cross (4-1). The English colt’s only defeat in five starts this year was on very soft ground in the Derby (G1), and he’s had success on this track, winning the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) in July. The biggest doubt is that he hasn’t encountered a field this strong yet.
Fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris was Daryz's stable companion #11 Varandir (10-1). He has since come back and won the Prix Niel (G2). This race often goes to a French three-year-old hitting his peak in autumn, and Varandir definitely fits the bill. He also has a nice gate.
Three-year-old fillies also perform well in this race, and there are two good representatives here. Aidan O’Brien’s #16 Diamond Necklace (15-1) was unbeaten until coming up short in the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet (G1) in August to Aventure, who will start in the Prix de l’Opera instead of the Arc on Sunday. Many expected her to atone here, but her chances were severely compromised by drawing gate 16. She’ll need to be good to win from there.
A better chance among the distaff three-year-olds might be #15 Thundering On (8-1). Her Epsom Oaks win was as soft as could be imagined, and though she was beaten in the Pretty Polly (G1), she returned to form in the Blandford (G2). This is much tougher, but she’s a hope from gate three.
Japan has two representatives in their continuing quest to finally win this race. Generally, their best have been undone by wet tracks, but though this year’s edition might give them firmer footing, their class level isn’t as strong as some previous Japanese representatives. The best is probably #5 Meisho Tabaru (30-1), winner of the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) in June for a second time, ironically on wet ground. However, his first victory in that race was on good footing, and he might be worth including in exotics.
Perhaps the best chances of beating Daryz are among the older distaffers. In particular, #9 Kalpana (5-1) looks a great chance. She was seventh in the Arc last year but probably didn’t appreciate the very soft going. She’s gone to another level this year as a five-year-old, beating Calandagan in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) before winning the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) on less-than-ideal footing. She’ll get better ground than last year and must be a great chance.
The other mare worth watching is #10 Friendly Soul (20-1), owned by American George Strawbridge. She caused a mild upset when winning the Prix Vermeille (G1) and may have found her best now that she’s running at a mile and a half.
Daryz can easily win this, but I’m going to tip Kalpana to beat her. She looks to have a bit in common with another five-year-old English mare that won this, Alpinista in 2022, and is well served with barrier six. I’m also putting these two on top in exotics.
ADVERTISEMENT
