© Photo Healy Racing
Kyprios can cement himself as the star stayer of his generation when he attempts to secure the Qatar Prix du Cadran for the second time on Saturday.
When it comes to the marathon division, Aidan O’Brien’s six-year-old is the undoubted star attraction, with his 2024 renaissance following injury marking him out as a true champion.
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Having taken over the baton from Stradivarius in the long-distance ranks, he reeled off six-straight victories before his enforced 344-day break following this very race in 2022.
After being nursed back to full fitness by the team at Ballydoyle, defeats at the latter end of 2023 may have seen some questioning if Kyprios’ best days were behind him.
However, the patience and perseverance has been rewarded with an unblemished 2024 campaign featuring a second Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, Goodwood Cup glory and he most recently recaptured the Irish St Leger trophy.
“Everything has gone well since the Irish St Leger and he’s an amazing horse with a lot of class,” said O’Brien.
Kyprios and Ryan Moore win for trainer Aidan O Brien© Photo Healy Racing
“He’s very comfortable going those staying distances and we just thought it might be a bit disrespectful to the horse to ask him to run in an Arc after what he’s after doing for us.
“He’s comfortable going those longer trips, he’s going in an easier gear than he would be in an Arc.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him running again. He’s very special and we really appreciate him and really respect him.”
Few can forget the extraordinary way in which Kyprios landed his first Cadran.
The record books show an emphatic 20-length victory, but that distance could have been longer without the son of Galileo hanging dramatically towards the stands rail in the home straight.
“Ryan (Moore) rode him handy and the pace just fell down when he turned in and he just got left in front,” explained O’Brien.
“He obviously thought he was just going back to the stables and was heading for the gates. Ryan will be aware of that this time and he seems to be going there in really good form.”
Trueshan and Hollie Doyle winning the Qatar Prix du Cadran© Photo Healy Racing
Kyprios may be the dominant force of the division, but any discussion surrounding the leading stayers of recent times has to involve the now eight-year-old Trueshan, with Alan King’s stalwart is back in the French capital in search of a third victory in the Group One event.
Winner in both 2021 and 12 months ago, Trueshan will be partnered by his 2021-winning pilot James Doyle with Hollie Doyle at Newmarket to ride Nashwa
“The ground looks to be very much in our favour, we know he loves the track and he’s been a model of consistency for years now so we go into the race full of hope,” said King.
“We’d love him to get over that £2million mark and this is, surely, the race where he can do that for the Singula Partnership and for all of us at Barbury.”
Andrew Balding’s Coltrane and Sir Mark Prescott’s Miss Cynthia make this a British and Irish-dominated contest, but the sole representative from the home team warrants the utmost respect heading into the race on recent form.
Christophe Ferland’s Double Major was a winner of the Prix Chaudenay on this card 12 months ago before winning the Group One Prix Royal-Oak.
He has proven too good for his rivals in both the Prix Maurice de Nieuil and Prix Kergorlay this summer and now tests his credentials over two and a half miles for the first time.
“I think Kyprios is a real champion and we look more like a challenger at this time,” said Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for owners the Wertheimer brothers.
“Double Major has never been over this distance, but is in good form and has won plenty of Group races. His last run in Deauville was very impressive and he showed a great turn of foot.
“I think he has a good chance, but Kyprios is a champion and in my mind we have to be at our very best and at this stage have to be seen as a challenger.”
