As Royal Ascot‘s centre piece – on both the schedule and in hierarchy – Thursday’s Gold Cup is once again the jewel in the crown. A crown Kyprios wants back.
Traditionally the mid-way marker of the Royal Meet, a race established in 1807 has seen the likes of Sagaro and Lester Piggott win three years on the trot between 1975 and 1977, whilst Yeats went one better between 2006 and 2009.
And more recently of course, the mighty Stradivarius between 2018 and 2020.
This week, Kyprios will still be some way off the legends of this race, but even with a blockbuster field, his chances of a return to glory are strong.
Success
Since the untimely retirement of the great Stradivarius to stud in 2022, the Ascot Gold Cup has lost a little of its sheen.
However, his former rival can add that bit of sparkle back.
A winner of this race two years ago, Kyprios missed Royal Ascot 12 months ago and having seen Courage Mon Ami take the throne, he and trainer Aidan O’Brien are fairly keen to reclaim it.
The King of Ballydoyle trained Yeats to a four-year tenure of the Cup, but in the last decade still trails John and Thady Gosden 3-4.
2024 can see the scorecards leveled up.
Absence
Royal Ascot 2024 will be Kyprios’ first trip to the Berkshire showpiece in 24 months.
Having edged Richard Hannon’s Mojo Star in the 2022 edition – a race where Stradivarius came third – Kyprios went unbeaten in six during that year.
With a Goodwood Cup and Irish St Leger part of the Chestnut’s spoils, then came an untimely absence from the track through injury.
Almost a calendar year later – 344 days to be exact – the 6yo returned to defend the Leger crown, but was taken down by Eldar Eldarov.
Perhaps significantly, his final run of last year in the season-closing Long Distance Cup then saw Trawlerman become the latest to pip Kyprios to a first win in over a year.
We say significantly, but in his two runs this term, Kyprios has looked his old dominant self, returning to his roots in the Vintage Crop and Levmoss Stakes on Irish soil last month.
Kyprios may be back to his impenetrable best.
Familiar foes
Kyprios’ designs on another Ascot Gold Cup will be met by the face of familiar foes.
Not least least Trawlerman, as the only runner in the field to have beaten Kyprios, as documented.
Despite beaten into third on his last appearance in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, the 6yo of Godolphin had won the three contests prior.
Callum Hutchinson rises to salute the crowd as he crosses the line to win the Ascot Stakes with Coltrane 🙌#ITVRacing | #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/fi0K9uKafd
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 14, 2022
In his only Royal Ascot outing, an 11th place in the Edinburgh was far from memorable but Trawlerman returns for Act 2 a different horse and an 8/1 fancy with BetUK.
In the absence of Kyprios, Coltrane has become the new kid on campus and looks a tidy threat at price.
Fourth to Kyprios in their only meeting at Glorious Goodwood 2022, Andrew Balding’s 7yo was fourth however, since then, was runner-up to Courage Mon Ami last year.
Already boasting a bullish 2022 Ascot Stakes win, Coltrane’s most recent trip saw a victory in the Sagaro Stakes – named after the three-time winner.
The ground will be very different on Thursday, but we have already seen that is not an issue. Looks a smart alternative at 14/1 with QuinnBet.
Then there is the returning warrior that is Trueshan.
Yet to make his Royal Meeting debut due to the going year-in-year-out, the fortunes of Hollie Doyle and the journeyman 8yo have become something of a lottery.
With the ground on Tuesday fast and slick, there will be no rain in sight by the time Trueshan arrives in the parade ring.
It is very possible that the gelding will again be named a non-runner, but if he does run, do not bet against the heart of a horse and her mount at a tall 33/1 with Betfred.
The Group 1 British Champions Series Ascot Gold Cup takes place on Thursday at 4:25pm UK time.
