Francis-Henri Graffard will saddle three horses in a bid to land his first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with Daryz expected to be joined by both Gezora and Quisisana at Longchamp on Sunday.

A winner of ten Group 1's in Europe this year, Graffard remains empty-handed when it comes to France's premier middle-distance prize but with a three-strong attack on the contest, he'll be hopeful that might change come Sunday afternoon.

Heading the Graffard-trained trio is the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old Daryz, who has gone from strength to strength this season, winning the Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud in June before bouncing back from a lesser effort in the Juddmonte International with a narrow second-place finish behind Croix Du Nord in the Prix du Prince d'Orange in September.

"We always thought he was a very nice three-year-old," said Graffard. "But he was very immature mentally and physically, so we decided to go step by step with him, so we found some easy races in the spring with him before it was time to really challenge him."

Whilst disappointed with his effort in the Juddmonte International, Graffard believes there should be more to come from his son of Arc hero Sea The Stars when he steps up to a mile and a half for the first time.

He added: "I took him to York for the Juddmonte International, but the race didn't work out at all for him, it was a non-event. We were obviously disappointed about the run, but we always thought a mile and a half would be his trip.

"We ran him in the Prix du Prince d'Orange and he ran really well. He was a little bit unlucky in the straight and finished off very strongly, proving that cut in the ground wouldn't be a problem for him.

"Because the Prix du Prince d'Orange is now three weeks before the Arc, we said if the horse is well, we'll give it a go for the big race.

"A mile and a half will be better; he's a strong horse with a turn of foot and cut in the ground clearly isn't an issue.

"On form, if we compare the form with the Prix Neil, he beat the second horse (Bay City Roller) in the Neil easily at Saint-Cloud in the spring. So that gives us a good form-line against Cualificar. Against him will be his immaturity and the big field, but he deserves to take his chance, and we'll find out on the day."

On the chances of this year's Prix de Diane heroine Gezora, who was last seen in action chasing home Christophe Ferland's Aventure in the Prix Vermeille, Graffard said: "She kept doing physically through the spring but she's a filly that doesn't show anything in the morning. We don't ask too much of her because of her light frame.

"I was very impressed when she won the Prix Saint-Alary, so being a Group 2 winner, we decided to go to the Prix de Diane and that day she was unbelievable. She proved she was up to that calibre.

"After the Diane, she went for a spell of three weeks, and we decided that because she won an entry in the Arc that we would aim for it.

"She made a very pleasing comeback in the Prix Vermeille. She galloped out really nicely and Barzalona was very pleased with the run. Aventure was going to be difficult to beat that day anyway, so we rode her to prep for the Arc.

"A mile and a half will be perfect, soft ground will not be a problem and she's a very easy filly to ride. She will give it her all and is a very able filly that is in very good shape and deserves to take her chance."

Graffard, who also confirmed that Tom Marquand will take the ride on Gezora, with Mickael Barzalona retained to partner Daryz.

"As usual Mickael Barzalona will ride Daryz, Alexis Pouchin has ridden Quisisana before and Tom Marquand has been booked for Gezora," confirmed Graffard.

He also provided an update on his third contender Quisisana, who took her career record to six from eight when successfully stepping up to Group 1 level with a smooth success in the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August.

Graffard said: "I like her a lot, she had health issues at three and four, but she's a lovely mare,"

"She's beautiful, she has a lot of quality and a turn of foot, a mile and a half will be perfect for her. I just wouldn't want the ground to become too heavy."