Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 5 October 2026

After all the discussions and previews in the days leading up to Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, it all went according to plan for Daryz.

To his great credit, the colt’s trainer Francis Graffard had never wavered in his belief that Daryz was not only the best horse in the field but also that he had him in peak condition for the race.

There were a few moments of concern in the paddock beforehand, when one of the ATR team – I’m not sure who it was – noted the colt had turned in his coat, while others were not entirely overwhelmed with his physical presence.

By contrast Maltese Cross looked outstanding, but having not seen either horse in the flesh I’m unable to pass further comment.

In the end, and after much deliberation, I suggested each-way bets on Diamond Necklace and Varandir.

In the case of Diamond Necklace, I argued that even allowing for her high draw, in stall 16 of 16, a price of 20/1 was too big for a dual-Classic winner who had also won the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at the meeting last year.

I also made a strong case for her appreciating the step up to a mile and a half, based on her stamina-endowed pedigree.

Evidently someone agreed with me, as she became the gamble of the race, shortening in price to around 14/1.

Her rider Christophe Soumillon, who had ridden her twice as a two-year-old including here, made light of her draw and soon had her perfectly positioned in sixth place on the outside of the field.

She looked the winner when she was brought to challenge entering the final furlong but had no answer to the favourite’s change of gear.

Diamond Necklace is very tough and having proved that she’s a good traveller I expect her to be sent across the water for the Breeders’ Cup.

If there was an unlucky horse in the race, then it was Varandir.

Behind from the outset, he was second last as the field turned for home and had to switch twice to get a clear run. Only the winner ran a faster final 600m and the colt would have been a couple of lengths closer had his effort started sooner.

I expect the Aga Khan’s family will be keen to make him a Group 1 winner so he should stay in training next year. He gets the mile and a half very well.

Although I wasn’t sure who would win the race, I did have strong feelings that Maltese Cross, Kalpana and Thundering On would struggle.

Kalpana has improved significantly from last year, but she had a very hard race in the Yorkshire Oaks last month and a little voice suggested that she might not like Longchamp, having underperformed in the race last year.

I felt that Maltese Cross, for all his courage and tenacity, lacked the finishing kick to win an Arc, while Thundering On wouldn’t be good enough unless the heavens opened.

Bay City Roller owed his fine effort to Oisin Murphy’s superb tactical acumen. The four-year-old kept finding in the closing stages to repel the late challenge of Diamond Necklace and will probably next run in the Champion Stakes.

Time may show that although Daryz has the distinction of being the first male to win back-to-back Arcs since Alleged, this will not go down as a vintage renewal.

What it appears to have confirmed is that this year’s crop of three-year-olds is distinctly average.

Bye for now

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