FRANTASTIC

FRANCIS-HENRI Graffard reflected on the greatest day of his career after saddling Daryz to win a pulsating renewal of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.

- ASHLEY IVESON

The Chantilly handler (inset) has enjoyed a rapid ascent through the training ranks in the last decade, firmly establishing himself among the French elite with equine stars like The Reve-nant and the last two winners of the King George at Ascot with Goliath and Calandagan.

Daryz, unraced at two, looked like his next potential star after winning his first four starts and, while the wheels seemingly came off in high summer after he finished last of six in the Juddmonte International at York, a narrow defeat at the hands of Japanese Arc hopeful Croix Du Nord in a Group Three last month was enough to convince connections to shoot for glory in Europe's premier middle-distance contest yesterday.