Aidan O’Brien has hailed Kyprios as “the horse of a lifetime” following his remarkable eighth Group One victory in the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp. After a challenging 2022 season, where Kyprios only raced twice due to a serious injury, he has made a stellar comeback this year, reclaiming the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the Goodwood Cup, and the Irish St Leger.
The six-year-old chestnut raced as a heavy favorite in the Cadran, establishing an early lead under jockey Ryan Moore. Despite some urging to maintain his pace, he displayed dominance throughout the race. Veteran competitor Trueshan, trained by Alan King, put up a worthy challenge but ultimately couldn’t match Kyprios’s class.
O’Brien expressed immense gratitude to those who supported Kyprios during his recovery, emphasizing the horse’s exceptional talent and ability to compete effortlessly against strong opponents. “At those distances he’s only playing with horses,” O’Brien remarked, highlighting Kyprios’s unique capabilities.
With his eighth Group One victory, Kyprios surpasses other legends of O’Brien’s stable, including four-time Gold Cup winner Yeats and other notable champions. Looking ahead, O’Brien indicated that Kyprios could potentially compete again at Ascot in just two weeks for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, where he is the favorite.
“He’s an incredible horse, the horse of a lifetime really,” O’Brien noted. “If everything goes well, we might look to bring him back to Ascot before giving him a winter break to prepare for another Gold Cup challenge next year.”
In a separate event, Illinois celebrated victory in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay, giving O’Brien and Moore a promising start to the Arc weekend. The Galileo colt, who was coming off strong performances, led the race with determination. Despite being challenged, he rallied back to secure a two-length win, confirming O’Brien’s faith in his ability to adapt and perform under pressure.
While Illinois has been cut to 8/1 for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, O’Brien hinted that the horse might take a break for the season. “That will probably be it for him for this year, but he should be a lovely four-year-old with a strong start planned for early spring,” he added.
