With the retirement of the great stayer Stradivarius last month, Gold Cup winner Kyprios announced himself as the next star of the staying ranks when annihilating 11 rivals in the Gr1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp over the weekend.
Gr1 Prix du Cadran winner Kyprios – the new star of the staying ranks? (Pic – Facebook – Irish Thoroughbred Marketing)
Despite hanging across the track to the stands rail over the final furlong, the well-backed 4/7 favourite came home lonely by a staggering 20 lengths in Saturday’s feature.
Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old son of Galileo confirmed his lofty status adding the coveted French staying prize to his Ascot success and the Irish St Leger. A clear favourite after winning each of his five runs this campaign, the chestnut ran in mid-division under Ryan Moore until the home straight, when he quickened into a significant lead.
Though there was not a horse close enough to challenge for victory, the colt did create a little drama in the final furlong as he veered dramatically left before the line.
With the stand rails to help, Moore managed to straighten the Moyglare owned colt close to the line and he romped home well clear of outsider Almacado Gree back in second. English raider Quickthorn finished a long way back in sixth, as two failed to finish the two-and-a-half-mile marathon in the gruelling soft ground.
Aidan O’Brien noted post-race: “He’s an incredible horse and has an unbelievable capacity. He’s always in second gear.”
“Halfway up the straight he thought: ‘My race is done, and this is where I came out!’ He gets so lazy and relaxed, and I think he decided he was coming home.”
Asked if Kyprios would run again this year, O’Brien said: “I’m not sure where he’d go if we were to. There’s the mile-and-a-half in America and Hong Kong but he’s done plenty, so we’ll take him home and see. He won’t rush back.”
On Sunday, English raider The Platinum Queen (7/5F) made history as the first two-year-filly in 44 years to win the Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines over the straight 5-furlongs. Raced on very soft ground, the Richard Fahey trained daughter of Cotai Glory was very quick throughout the race leading on the far-rail under Hollie Doyle.
She found plenty in the finish under a hard ride to prevail by a neck from fellow UK raider White Lavender.
