By Sean Cronin
Dominant in the stayers' sphere following an unbeaten five-race streak this term, Aidan O'Brien trainee Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) sealed the divisional crown with an extravagant victory in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp. The May-foaled chestnut, sent off as the 7-10 favourite for the 2 1/2-mile contest, had already devoured Royal Ascot's G1 Gold Cup, the G1 Goodwood Cup and the G1 Irish St Leger, but was bustled along to occupy a forward pitch in third entering the straight first time. Easing to the fore on the run to the home turn proper, he was in isolation approaching the quarter-mile marker and, despite veering across the track to the stands' side rail inside the final furlong, stayed on strongly to easily outclass 71-1 outsider Almacado Gree (Fr) (Domedriver {Ire}) by a facile 20 lengths.
“He's an incredible stayer, he has a massive engine, a huge heart and an incredible mind,” trumpeted Aidan O'Brien. “Ryan [Moore] rode him handy, they went a good gallop and they just fell away before they turned in. He got left in front, but got lazy and lonely in the straight. The horse thought it was time to pull up and he thought the race was over. He also lost a shoe in the straight, so that might be a little bit of a reason behind what happened as well. He's an amazing horse, but never moves from second gear in his work. We can't get him up into third, fourth or fifth gear, so he must have an unbelievable capacity for covering distance at pace. I think that's probably him done for the year and I'd imagine we'll go down the same route next season.”
Kyprios is the latest of 10 foals, all winners, produced by 2015 Broodmare of the Year Polished Gem (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself a winning daughter of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Trusted Partner (Affirmed). He 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 S.-winning sire Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and MGSW G2 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. victress Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Descendants of Polished Gem, who is also a full-sister to GI Matriarch S. victrix Dress To Thrill (Ire), also include G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Kyprios's third dam Talking Picture (Speak John), the GI Matron S. and GI Spinaway S.-winning US champion, is the ancestress of G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Sydney Cup hero Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DU CADRAN-G1, €300,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-1, 4yo/up, 20fT, 4:31.62, vsf.
1–KYPRIOS (IRE), 128, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Polished Gem (Ire) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ire), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Trusted Partner, by Affirmed
3rd Dam: Talking Picture, by Speak John
O-Moyglare Stud, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €171,240. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng & G1SW-Ire, 10-8-0-0, €1,218,320. *Full to Search For A Song (Ire), MG1SW-Ire, SW & GSP-Eng, $1,007,582; Falcon Eight (Ire), SW-Eng & GSP-Ire, $223,187; 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, $426,780. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Almacado Gree (Fr), 128, g, 6, Domedriver (Ire)–Polka De La Tour (Fr), by Daliapour (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Bruno Audouin & Claude Le Lay; B-Frederic Bellanger, Dominique Salle & Alain Bellanger (FR); T-Bruno Audouin. €68,580.
3–Tashkhan (Ire), 128, g, 4, Born To Sea (Ire)–Tarziyna (Ire), by Raven's Pass. (€11,000 2yo '20 GOFAUT). O-Patrick Boyle; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Brian Ellison. €34,290.
Margins: 20, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.70, 71.00, 15.00.
Also Ran: Princess Zoe (Ger), Lismore (Ire), Quickthorn (GB), Sapienti (Cze), Lubiane (Ger), Goya Senora (Fr), Vivienne Wells (Fr). DNF: Skazino (Fr), Joie De Soir (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.
Wow! Kyprios is a superstar! Aidan O'Brien's stayer hangs dramatically towards the stands but destroys his rivals in the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran for Ryan Moore at @paris_longchamp pic.twitter.com/NrnZLrFa90
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 1, 2022
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