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Daryaba (foaled 14 May 1996) was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a brief track career she won three of her five starts between April and October 1999. After finishing second on her debut she won a minor race before taking the Prix de Diane and went on to win the Prix Vermeille in autumn before coming home unplaced in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. As a broodmare, she produced several good winners including Daryakana.
She was sired by the American-bred stallion Night Shift, a son of Northern Dancer. Night Shift sired many other good racehorses in a long stud career, including In The Groove, Azamour, Well Chief and Lochangel. Daryaba's dam Darata showed some racing ability, winning a Listed race in France in 1991 She was a half-sister to Daralinsha, the ancestor of Darjina and Darsi.
On 13 June Daryaba was stepped up sharply in class to contest the Group races Prix de Diane over 2100 metres at Chantilly and started the 5.8/1 second favourite behind the Prix Vanteaux winner Star of Akkar. The other twelve runners included Calando (May Hill Stakes), Juvenia (Prix Marcel Boussac), Cerulean Sky (Prix Saint-Alary) and La Sylphide (Prix Penelope). In a change of tactics, Daryaba led from the start and stayed on well in the straight to win by a length from Star of Akkar. Mosse commented "The trainer told me to ride her the way I felt. There was no pace on, so off I went in front".
Daryaba was aimed at the Prix de la Nonette at Deauville Racecourse in August but was withdrawn after contracting a respiratory infection. After an absence of almost two months Daryaba returned for the Prix Vermeille over 2400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 12 September. Coupled in the betting with the Aga Khan's other runner Edabiya she started the 4/5 favourite ahead of nine other opponents including Fairy Queen (Ribblesdale Stakes), Etizaaz (Atalanta Stakes), Juvenia, Cerulean Sky, La Sylphide and Mother of Pearl (Prix Saint-Roman). After racing in third place behind Etizaaz, she took the lead 200 metres out and accelerated away to win by two and a half lengths. Royer-Dupre said "Daryaba was very well, so I wasn't surprised she won. What was important for her was that she won in a style which proved her victory in the Diane was no fluke. She's done very well from the spring to the autumn. The filly was always going well and now we'll be looking at the Arc de Triomphe".
On 3 October, over the same course and distance, the filly started the 7.6/1 fifth choice in a fourteen-runner field for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but after being in contention for the first half of the race she dropped out of contention and finished thirteenth.
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