Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1)

AN absence of nearly a year while recovering from a life-threatening injury led to Kyprios losing his Irish St Leger crown 12 months ago, but he reclaimed it in stellar fashion with a commanding victory in the final Group 1 of the Irish flat season.

Extending his winning sequence to five wins from five starts this season, the superstar stayer rubberstamped his status as the division’s champion performer in seeing off Vauban by two and a quarter lengths under Ryan Moore, with a further three parts of a length back to Giavellotto in third.

Aidan O’Brien believes the prolific six-year-old might still be getting better and connections expect him to race on in 2025, though - more immediately - a trip to ParisLongchamp for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe appears to be under some consideration.

Running in the colours of Moyglare Stud, who bred the son of Galileo and own him in partnership with the Magnier-Tabor-Smith-Westerberg combination, the 2/5 favourite was winning four years to the day that the late Pat Smullen passed away. The champion jockey had such a rich association with the same Moyglare silks and owner Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner.

O’Brien said: “This horse is so special, we see that with what he did today. And every year he seems to be improving - that even looks to be his best again and Ryan said he won so easily. Here at the Curragh, it's a special place and a special race. We’re so delighted.

“He got an infection in a joint capsule before and Eva was so patient with him. There was never any pressure with him, and the patience - combined with all the people who have done so much work with him - has paid off.

“It's a very special pedigree and Eva has brought it along all the way. For a horse like this to come along, it’s just incredible. These kinds of horses are once in a lifetime horses.

“When it comes to the Gold Cup at Ascot, very few horses are able to get that far but this horse has serious class as well. He's so genuine to get through what he did and still be the way he is. He's one in a million, really.”

Kyprios won the Prix du Cadran in spectacular fashion back in 2022, leaning across the track towards the stand’s side but still managing to score by 20 lengths in Group 1 company.

Following this second Irish St Leger win in three years, Paddy Power cut him to 25/1 (from 40/1) for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the same weekend next month.

“He doesn't have to run again this year, the way we approach every race is that we see how he is and have a chat before deciding if we go again,” explained O’Brien.

“He looked very fresh there. He could run in an Arc, we know that at any time. It's important to mind him, do the right thing for him and let him tell us how he is and where he wants to go at that time of the year. He’s open to all those things”

When he was asked if the Prix du Cadran appeared a likelier target than the Arc, O’Brien added: “I don't know. Obviously there’s only one Arc and he has a serious engine, hasn’t he? He never doesn’t get tired and just keeps going.”

An exciting prospect indeed.