When Kyprios won his Ascot Gold Cup two years ago the world seemed his oyster and the possibility of multiple wins in Europe’s premier staying event looked very real. But nature intervened when a joint injury became infected with life-threatening consequences and he was forced to miss last year’s race.
It was a long road back but on a sun-kissed afternoon in front of the King and Queen his journey was completed as he became only the third horse in history to regain the Gold Cup crown.
Jockey Ryan Moore, enjoying a great week along with trainer Aidan O’Brien, had the Galileo horse racing handily throughout and travelled into the straight looking like he had plenty to give. Moore held on to his horse as Godolphin’s Trawlerman, who had beaten Kyprios on this course last October, tried to keep on against the rail, having made all the running.
By the time they reached the furlong pole Moore had Kyprios in the lead but Trawlerman kept fighting and looked like he might get back up. Kyprios had other ideas though and on the firmer ground that clearly suits him, the short priced favourite with betting apps in Australia had enough in the tank to hold off Trawlerman’s renewed challenge.
O’Brien was keen to stress the difficulties the horse had faced on his recovery from illness. “I’d say it’s millions to one and really impossible for him to come back from what he came back from,” he said. “At one stage we weren’t sure he’d live. No horse has ever been x-rayed or scanned more in their life than him.”
While crediting the horse Ryan Moore was fulsome in praise for the trainer. “I said to Aidan that he’s the class horse in the race and he stays the best, so I’ve just got to get it right. 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.”
Moore’s win on Port Fairy in the Ribblesdale Stakes earlier in the day meant that he surpassed Frankie Dettori’s total of wins at the Royal meeting and Kyprios’s win took him to 83, second only to Lester Piggott who amassed 116 in his remarkable career. With the ammunition he has at his disposal you’d be a brave man to bet against Moore eventually overtaking Lester’s total.