Daryz worthy favourite but Friendly Soul team pleased with Arc draw for ‘exceptional filly’

Thady Gosden acknowledges Daryz is a “worthy favourite” as Friendly Soul prepares to gatecrash the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe party at her beloved ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

After edging out Minnie Hauk 12 months ago, Francis-Henri Graffard's Daryz will bid to become the first colt since Alleged in 1978 and 1979 to go back-to-back in the Arc, a double last achieved by Clarehaven's great filly Enable in 2017 and 2018.

It was John Gosden overseeing preparations then, with Thady a key part of the back-room set-up of the family's Newmarket base at the time, and he is now relishing being a part of what he describes as a “fascinating race”, dreaming of adding his own name to the illustrious roll of honour.

He said: “Daryz is an exceptional colt and his record speaks for itself. To win one Arc is no mean feat and it is great for racing he is back to try to win it again – he's definitely a worthy favourite.

“There's a lot of depth in the race this year and a lot of horses going there in great form, the Arc is always full of depth and it's always interesting to see the generations clash at the end of the year over a mile and a half.

“It's definitely a fascinating race this year and it's great to have our horse in there.”

Friendly Soul is no stranger to success in the French capital having landed the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day in 2024 and after returning from a long spell on the sidelines this term, added the Prix Vermeille last month.

That victory when stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time bought her a free ticket to Europe's richest middle-distance contest that has now been cashed in by connections, who have since been handed a plum draw in stall seven with James Doyle taking the ride.

Arc glory would be a fine way to cap a season that almost began in disaster when Friendly Soul stepped in a collapsed drain at Haydock, with the five-year-old reported to be in rude health ahead of a return to a course she is two from two.

Gosden added: “She has taken a step forward every run this season and has been in great form since the Vermeille, very well in herself and training great at home.

“Longchamp is obviously a place she loves, she has won both her Group Ones there, one over a mile and a quarter and one over the Arc distance.

“We've been fortunate to be drawn seven and hopefully she can use that draw to the best of her advantage. Seven is in and around where you want to be and you can be unlucky with the draw at Longchamp, but thankfully she hasn't been.

“She's an exceptional filly and it was an incredibly sporting decision by George Strawbridge to keep her in training, let alone run her in the Arc.

“She's had a rather unusual season this season, but it was brilliant it all worked out in the Vermeille and hopefully she can run another nice race on Sunday.”