Daryz crowned a remarkable six-month journey from maiden winner to Arc hero when getting up in the final strides to deny favourite Minnie Hauk in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. The victory delivered a record eighth Arc success for the Aga Khan family.

The three-year-old Sea The Stars colt, unraced at two, made a winning debut at Longchamp in April before quickly progressing through maiden, conditions, and Listed company through June. His Group 2 victory in the Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud as the evens favourite saw him cut to 14-1 for the Arc, although connections felt he still needed more experience.

A sixth-place finish in York's Juddmonte International proved a setback in the lightly-raced colt's education. In a strangely-run contest where the field ignored the pacemaker, Daryz showed immaturity and raced too keenly, with Aga Khan racing manager Nemone Routh noting afterwards that the performance had left them frustrated and feeling they hadn't learned much from the race.

The Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp provided the ideal final prep despite a short-head defeat to Croix Du Nord, with Daryz running on strongly after being held up. The improved performance was enough to convince connections he was ready for Europe's middle-distance championship.

Racing from a favorable draw in stall two, Mickael Barzalona tracked the pace before setting his sights on Minnie Hauk after she hit the front in the straight. Trailing with 200 meters remaining, Daryz fought back strongly to pass the favourite in the closing stages and win by a head at 12-1.

The race was run on soft turf with rain falling and a rainbow arcing over the Parisian track as the field of 16 battled down the stretch. The victory carried particular poignancy, with the late Aga Khan, who died in February, never seeing Daryz race.

The result completed a perfect record at Longchamp for Daryz, who has now won four times at the track, and marked a stunning rise through the ranks for a colt making just his seventh career start.