Galileo's Kyprios is All Gold at Royal Ascot

While copper has its origins in his moniker, Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) was all gold after adding to his 2022 triumph in a thrilling renewal of Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, becoming the first to regain his crown in the 2 1/2-mile contest since Kayf Tara (GB) (Sadler's Wells) did so at the turn of the century. His one-length victory provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending ninth edition, while Ryan Moore, now on four, remains some way shy of Lester Piggott's haul of 11.

Kyprios stalked familiar foe Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) through the early fractions, but slipped back one spot to third before halfway. Regaining second on the home turn, the 11-10 favourite eyeballed the long-time leader approaching the final furlong and dug deep to deny that tenacious rival in game fashion nearing the line. The front two had it all to themselves inside the final quarter-mile, with Trawlerman's John and Thady Gosden stablemate Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) finishing five lengths back in third.

Kyprios went unbeaten through a six-race 2022 campaign, reeling off four straight Group 1s after opening that year with wins in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes and G3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes. On an enforced sabbatical for almost one year after an extravagant score in the G1 Prix du Cadran, he ran second in September's G1 Irish St Leger and again, to a resurgent Trawlerman, in October's G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup. Kyprios followed a familiar route this year and notched repeat victories in the Vintage Crop and Saval Beg Levmoss in preparation for this date with destiny.

“It was really impossible to come back from what he came back from and, at one stage, we weren't sure he would live,” O'Brien admitted. “This horse has got back to the very top level, which is just incredible. It shouldn't have happened and I don't know how it happened, but I think it happened because of all the people who have been around him and done so much day in, day out. They have been so committed, they communicated so well and everyone put him first. He got an infection in his joint and it got into the joint capsule. Usually what happens is that they lose the movement in the joint, and for a while he did, but it came back. Then it was getting him to stand, and then to walk, then to trot, then teaching him how to canter again, because he had to move all his body in different ways again. He always had the most incredible mind and that was always his power.”

Reflecting on the winner's battling performance, the trainer added, “He stays forever and he's an incredible horse. It's easy to say that, but to make it happen like he did out there is another thing. Every year Ryan rides, he gets better. Every year he has ridden for us, he gets better. He is the complete package and puts it all in, in every way. He is so committed, so straight, so loyal, so dedicated, such an athlete. And every year, he improves. He's only 40 now and he will definitely keep getting better well into his mid-40s the way he is going. Ryan gave him an unbelievable ride. It wasn't easy, the second horse passed him here last year, and the came back at him ahain today.”

Moore added, “It was smooth early and I was where I wanted to be, but then the filly [Caius Chorister] ran off with Benoit [de la Sayette]. I was having to go round her and Kyprios started travelling a bit too well too early. I got there going very easy and I didn't get it quite right, but he still won. He's an unbelievable horse. Aidan knows exactly what they need to do, he knows how to get them here better than anyone. It is lovely to ride a horse like this.”

John Gosden was not too downcast after Kyprios had exacted revenge for last year's reversal at the this venue. “I think with Trueshan coming out of the race, and he would have been the obvious pace, we were left in the knowledge that there was no pace and let Trawlerman go on and do his own thing,” he said. “When Kyprios came to him, there was a battle, and that's what you like to see, a ding-dong right to the line. We nailed Kyprios in the mud and he's beaten us on the fast ground today. Sweet William thinks about life and he gets there when he wants to. He does everything in his own time, but he ran really well to be third. Second and third is a great run from both horses.”

Trawlerman's rider William Buick commented, “He was foot-perfect the whole way and, when I turned in, I thought I had plenty of horse. He kept finding all the way to the line and, even when the winner headed me, he came back. It was a huge run and he stayed the trip. I'm sure [the G1] Goodwood [Cup] will be the next target. The winner's been here and done it before, so you've got to respect him, but Trawlerman has run a mighty race.”

Pedigree Notes

Kyprios is the latest of 10 foals, all winners, produced by dual Broodmare of the Year Polished Gem (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself out of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Trusted Partner (Affirmed). Trusted Partner is the third dam of Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary victrix Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}). Kyprios is kin to seven black-type winners headed by dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes-winning sire Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and G2 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes victrix Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Descendants of Polished Gem, a full-sister to GI Matriarch Stakes heroine Dress To Thrill (Ire), also include G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes hero Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Kyprios's third dam, the GI Matron Stakes and GI Spinaway Stakes-winning US champion Talking Picture (Speak John), is the ancestress of G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Sydney Cup hero Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).

Kyprios regains his Gold Cup crown! @Ascot #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/j5R3iEbW0x

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2024

Thursday, Ascot, Britain
GOLD CUP-G1, £650,000, Ascot, 6-20, 4yo/up, 19f 210yT, 4:18.06, g/f.
1–KYPRIOS (IRE), 130, h, 6, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Polished Gem (Ire) (2x Broodmare Of The Year-Ire), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Trusted Partner, by Affirmed
3rd Dam: Talking Picture, by Speak John
O-Moyglare/Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £368,615. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & Ire, 15-11-2-0, $2,020,117. *Full to Search For A Song (Ire), MG1SW-Ire, SW & GSP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $1,086,486; Falcon Eight (Ire), GSW-Ire & SW-Eng, $392,764; Amma Grace (Ire), SW & GSP-Ire; and 1/2 to Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), G1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Ire, $926,416; Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}), MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, $518,947; Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}), MGSW-Eng & Ire, $951,925; and Valac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), GSW-Aus, $448,653. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Trawlerman (Ire), 130, g, 6, Golden Horn (GB)–Tidespring (Ire), by Monsun (Ger). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £139,750.
3–Sweet William (Ire), 130, g, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Gale Force (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £69,940.
Margins: 1, 5, 3. Odds: 1.10, 7.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Vauban (Fr), Coltrane (Ire), Caius Chorister (Fr), Gregory (GB), Enemy (GB), Prydwen (Ire). Scratched: Trueshan (Fr).