Kyprios set a course record and confirmed his place as Europe’s top stayer with an emphatic victory in the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, the highlight on day one of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Ridden by Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O’Brien, Kyprios (8/13 favourite) followed up last month’s Group 1 Gold Cup success with a six-length verdict in a time of 3m 21.53s, eclipsing the previous record of 3m 24.86s. John & Thady Gosden runners filled the places, with Sweet William second and Gregory a head further back in third.

Six-year-old Kyprios, a son of the late Galileo, was landing his sixth victory at the top level and his second Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, having initially won the two-mile feature during an unbeaten 2022 campaign.

Early the following year, Kyprios was struck down with infection in a joint that seemed likely to end his career but, with skillful handling and patience by O’Brien’s team, he has returned seemingly at the top of his game.

O’Brien said: “Kyprios an incredible horse. All the people around him, credit to them. It is the team that makes it happen. I am so delighted for them. He’s a very special horse. He has so much class, really he’s going along in second gear all the time. It wasn’t easy for Ryan because he nearly slipped on the top bend and Ryan was always trying to gather him and help him. Incredible ride. Incredible horse – we know he stays well but he has a lot of class.

“The Gold Cup is a very important race for him every year and we will mind him for that. We thought if he was ok today, we might bring him back to an Irish St Leger again. If we got him through that, we’d have him for next year. We have to be respectful of him and to him, because if you saw where he came from, it’s hard to believe that he is here today. He did find the undulations of the track a little more challenging than he did before, but I couldn’t say enough great things about him.

Resilience

“People go through very tough times in life and this horse is a perfect example of the animal side of that – we thought he couldn’t come back but he did come back. So genuine, he wears his heart on his sleeve every day. He sweated a lot today and didn’t stop sweating, probably because it is so warm, so we were a bit worried about that. He was a little different to how he normally is, so we were so relieved when it was over. Anyone who follows a thoroughbred will see the genuineness – and he always keeps a little bit.

“He’s like an athlete with an awful lot of miles on him, so all his needs have to be tended to on a daily basis, all the time. We are very lucky that we have the facilities and the people to be able to do that. And obviously you need the character, with the will to be able to take it and to want to do it. We have to be very respectful of him all the time and appreciate him.

“He does have an eye for a filly now, which is what you would expect at his age. Between the heat and the fillies, everyone did well to get him here today and for him to do what he did.”

Moore said: “I thought there would be pace with Al Qareem; he’s usually a free-going horse. It took a while to get there, but my horse obviously stays well. It was very smooth and we’ve obviously done the track record.

“The only thing that happened was that he slipped on the top turn, then he was just on the back foot and dropped away from the horse who was going to take me into the race. He still got there with two to run going very easy, and he was a bit idle in front there, but it was a tremendous performance.

On the back foot

“That slip did put him on the back foot down the hill a little bit, you know, and I wasn’t able to control the race the way I would have liked. But when you ask him and he picks up the bridle, he’s got pace. He does save a little bit for himself, really, but when you get it out of him, he’s got that speed there.

“He’s been a great horse for a long time now and his record is incredible, really. Since we stepped him up in trip there’s only been two defeats last year, neither of which was completely his fault.

“He is just very high class. This fella is very, very good. He wouldn't show you how good he is, but he's very good. He is not an Arc horse – he stays well but he wouldn't be disgraced.

"I remember Aidan ringing and telling me what happened to him at the end of his good year. I never thought we would see him run again, so all credit to everyone at Ballydoyle for a massive effort.

“It is fun to ride him because you know he's that much better than the rest."

Over in the blink of an eye

Kyprios’ co-owner Michael Tabor said: “When you see a turn of foot like he has against these, it’s over in the blink of an eye. Kyprios just seems to perform in every race. Ryan gave me confidence before the race – you had to be confident – and the only way he would get beaten, I suppose, was if he didn’t run his race as normal. He cruised in.

“It’s down to Aidan and he’s obviously done a great job in to get him back to where he is now. We have been fortunate enough to have so many good horses, it’s probably not fair to put them in any order. He certainly ranks very high.

“I think it’s open to discussion [his trip] and nothing is cast in stone. I think two miles is possibly ideal for him, but he could go back a bit or go longer, as he has proven.”

John Gosden said of the placed horses: “They were two solid runs behind a very good horse. We are delighted. Races like the Lonsdale Cup at York and Doncaster Cup will be the direction we will go. I am pleased with Gregory. He scoped perfectly going into Royal Ascot but not perfectly coming out of it. That can happen when you have everything spot on. Something can just come along. I don’t know where Kyprios will go next. Irish St Leger? But we won’t be afraid to take him on again. They all have off days, you know.”

Philippa Cooper, owner-breeder of Sweet William, said: “I am so proud of him, I can't tell you. He was on the bridle, off the bridle, which I love because that's why I love these races – it gives them a chance to come back on that bridle. I think he's maturing as well. He put his head down at the end. I know he got a couple of smacks but he's mature enough to take it.”

James Doyle said of Gregory: “It is well documented that he wasn’t right after Royal Ascot, so he has proved he is back to his best today. It was a good run.”