Kyprios after his win in the Long Distance Cup (Megan Coggin)
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British Champions Day Press Release
Kyprios underlined his superiority in the staying division with a commanding two-and-a-quarter length victory in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.
The 8/11 favourite was always front-rank under Ryan Moore and, having assumed control turning for home, the imperious stayer kept on rolling to make it seven wins from seven starts this year.
The same 1-2-3 from the 2023 edition came to the fore again, with Sweet William (8/1) in second and last year’s winner Trawlerman (5/1) a length and a half further back in third.
Aidan O’Brien, registering his first winner at the meeting since 2019, said: “All credit goes to the team – everyone at home who has done all the work with him and have a very close connection to him. It is incredible to have him back [Kyprios had a serious infection in a joint capsule after the 2022 season]. We thought the best that would happen would be that we could save him to go to stud. He still has a massive team around him. His stable is outside the front door and we see him every day.
“He is a very special horse. Ryan was in total control on him after the first furlong, and it was a joy to watch it. He is relentless and has an unbelievable amount of quality, so it doesn’t matter if you go slow or if you go fast, he just goes there and he switches off. Ryan rides him incredibly and knows him inside out.
“He is very relaxed, loves racing, and he loves this distance and finds it very comfortable. Credit to the lads for leaving him at this distance – he enjoys it. You wouldn’t have known he had had a race the last day and he didn’t lose any weight. He is so laidback, his blood doesn’t get up until after the race – you can see him now, having a buck – but it takes a race to get his blood up.
“The plan was to come here, give him the winter off, then give him two trials before the Gold Cup next year. So that’s what we are working for – we will get through the winter and the spring, and try to come back here for the Gold Cup.”
Moore said: “It worked out very smoothly and I was always happy, although on paper I thought there might be more pace in the race. Good horses, they make it smooth.
“The ground is soft. You’re not going to see the best form on this ground, but it’s a great race to win.”
Winning co-owner Michael Tabor said: “Absolutely magical. Ryan knows Kyprios so well now; just very, very special. Ryan knows where to place him early in a race, gets in a good position and, for me, he was never going to get beat today.”
John Gosden said of the second and third: “Both of Aidan’s horses controlled the pace up front. Everybody thought there would be a good gallop, all the front runners took back, so the fractions were pretty steady and then they gradually increased and kicked off the bend. Both of ours ran really well, they probably would have preferred a stronger even pace. There was not much William [Buick] could do about it, as he was tucked down on the inside, and Sweet William was three wide the whole way. But they’ve run exceptionally well. The other horse has just got a gear more than the rest – simple as that. I think we will come back with these horses next year. They are lovely horses for the staying races, both of them have great enthusiasm for it still and they make it fun these long distance horses.”
Sweet William’s jockey Robert Havlin said: “Great run. We thought they’d go a lot quicker than they did, so that was a surprise. He has done nothing but improve all year and is still improving at his age, so it will be really nice to look forward to him next year.”
Owner Clive Washbourne said of the fourth Caius Chorister: “We have always known she is a proper stayer. That was the best staying race of the season and she has run a blinder.’’
