THE possibility of Daryz standing alongside his own sire Sea The Stars at Gilltown Stud has not been ruled out by the Aga Khan Studs team.

On Friday it was confirmed that the brilliant dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner has been retired from racing. He retires as a four-time Group 1 winner, from nine to 12 furlongs.

“Stud arrangements will be announced in due course,” the statement said.

Now aged 20, Sea The Stars is at the peak of his powers but his best sons - Baaeed and Stradivarius - stand in England. Harzand is his most successful son at stud in this country.

French breeders will be hoping that Daryz joins Siyouni, Vadeni, Erevann and Zarak at Haras de Bonneval.

Daryz is the first colt in almost half a century to achieve back-to-back Arc victories, joining an illustrious roll of honour that includes Ksar (1921-1922), Tantieme (1950-1951), Ribot (1955-1956) and Alleged (1977-1978) – all of whom later became influential stallions.

Not only did Daryz’ sire win the Arc in 2006, on the same weekend his dam Daryakana won the Prix de Royallieu.

This high-class mare later took the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase and has since established herself as one of the outstanding broodmares of her generation, producing seven stakes horses including two Group 1 winners. She herself is out of champion three-year-old filly Daryaba, winner of both the Prix de Diane and the Prix Vermeille.

Daryz also represents a good outcross, with his pedigree free of Danehill, Dubawi and Sadler’s Wells.