Daryz denied Minnie Hauk in a pulsating finish to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Daryz was hot on the heels of the strong-travelling favourite Minnie Hauk and Christophe Soumillon as they hit the front front two furlongs out in Europe's premier middle-distance event.
As the crack Aidan O'Brien-trained filly tried to assert, Daryz - who was last in the Juddmonte International at York in August - loomed up on her outside, with the pair racing neck and neck all the way to the line.
Daryz just shaded it in a photo at the famous winning post, while Sosie made late ground to finish third, having been fourth 12 months ago, and Giavellotto ran a cracker to finish fourth for Marco Botti.
Connections of Minnie Hauk, unbeaten in four starts this term, felt she had performed up to her best.
"We're delighted, she ran a great race, absolutely. Christophe didn't say anything negative when he came in," said Aidan O'Brien.
"I'm not sure if she'll run again this year. We'll get her home and see how she is and see what the lads want to do."
On whether she'll stay in training, O'Brien added: "I think so, obviously the lads will decide that at the end of the year, it's very possible, but they won't decide that for a little bit yet - we'll decide those things in the next couple of months."
Soumillon, who won the 2008 Arc with the magnificent Zarkava in the same Aga Khan colours as Daryz, felt the winner perhaps just had a little more dash on what was his first try at the 12-furlong distance.
He said: "We have no excuses, we had a clear run all the way. She was very relaxed, I could change position downhill and stay second.
"She's a big galloper, she took to the front so easily. When I felt Mickael (Barzalona) coming in the last 200 (metres) I kept a little back for the end and we went together, but his horse has a strong dash and he loves the ground.
"He rode a good race, he was behind us and he caught me on the line. What can you say? My filly ran a great race. If you take him (Daryz) out she'd have been one of the most impressive fillies winning the Arc, but that's racing."
