Glorious Goodwood. A traditional mid-summer marker for the flat season, which this year could confirm Kyprios as back to his very best.
As West Sussex welcomes the racing world for five days of elite competition, Tuesday’s Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes opens the week in sparkling fashion.
A race won recently four times consecutively by the great Stradivarius, one of his former rivals looks to get back what was his.
And for Kyprios, a winner of this contest in 2022, his return to the throne can complete a superb comeback season.
Return to glory
It’s fair to say the 2023 season was a term of huge frustration for Kyprios. However, that gnawing itch now looks to have been successfully scratched.
On the back of a six-race unbeaten campaign two years ago, Kyprios, was on fire.
With the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and Prix du Cadran under the belt, the son of Galileo was arguably the best horse around.
But after injury sustained at the end of 2022, Kyprios was forced to the sidelines.
Absent for almost a calendar year, and having missed Goodwood last term, the 6yo made his comeback on home soil at the Curragh last September, before an end-of-season trip to Ascot for British Champions Day.
A Gold Cup battle for the ages!
Kyprios reclaims the Gold Cup to give Aidan O’Brien a ninth win in the race! 🏆#ITVRacing | #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/038MMWAbiz
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 20, 2024
His full return this year has seen Kyprios barely miss a step.
With two wins on Irish soil, a return to Royal Ascot saw his ascent to the Ascot Gold Cup throne once more.
This week, Kyprios looks to get back his other former prized possession.
Given his showing at the Royal Meeting and given the firm and pacy ground set to welcome him on Tuesday, Kyprios is one of the big favourites of the week.
The 4/9f for regain the Goodwood Cup, he will once more however, be in the company of some familiar foes.
Reunions
This year’s renewal of the Goodwood Cup has been whittled down to just six runners.
Three of field lined up alongside Kyprios in the Ascot Gold Cup just over a month back, two of which ran in this race in 2022.
All three have failed to toppled their dominant adversary, but on their respective day, can figure.
With no Trawlerman – who pushed Kyprios hard last time out – it is hard to decipher the stronger challenger, but Sweet William did come home third at the Royal Meet.
Coltrane, meanwhile, still waits to break a Group 1 duck, a fourth-placed finisher two years ago, whilst Gregory will still fancy the fast ground but needs huge improvement.
There could be one other player in the contest, Trueshan, the most familiar with Kyprios, but again with no rain in sight ahead of a marquee contest, trainer Alan King looks likely to pull the 8yo.
Al Qarem is the the rank outsider.
Since his return, Kyprios has won three from five, and is three from three this term. If he makes it four, Kyprios could be on to equal his best year yet.
It is hard to make a case against.
The Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes takes place on Tuesday at 3:35pm UK time.
