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26 Jul 2022

Kyprios denies Stradivarius in exhilarating Goodwood Cup

The Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup certainly lived up to expectations, with Aidan O’Brien’s Kyprios prevailing in a thrilling renewal. The Ascot Gold Cup winner denied superstar-stayer Stradivarius by a neck, with last year’s Goodwood Cup winner Trueshan finishing in third.

Ryan Moore kept his mount handy throughout and two furlongs out pressed on with Alan King’s Trueshan. Stradivarius, who again endured a bumpy ride, eventually found his way out of the pack to chase the leading pair. The eight-year-old looked as if he headed the two, but fell short on the line behind Kyprios who gave his trainer a third win in the race.

I think there’s more to come

Following the win, jockey Ryan Moore said: “It was a steadily run race and he was in front a long way out and he was just waiting, I’ve never felt like I’ve got to the bottom of him. There’s no doubt he’s a proper Group 1 horse. He’s always been held in high regard and he’s a  pleasure to ride. I think there’s more to come and we don’t know where he’ll end up.”

The show goes on

It was widely regarded that this would be the last time we saw Stradivarius on a racetrack. The John & Thady Gosden-trained horse was bidding for an incredible fifth race win. Racegoers were eager to hear whether we would see him back on track again, but his owner, Bjorn Nielsen confirmed he will stay in training, and most likely head to York for the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup.

Kyprios and Ryan Moore (red cap black star)wins from Stradivarius -Andrea Atzeni (yellow Cap) 2nd The Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)

Joint-trainer John Gosden said: “He ran his heart out again. The race went quite smoothly, they went a nice pace, and then Trueshan appears at the four furlong marker, but it was a long way out from home and I didn’t want to get racing early. We made our challenge away from the winner but he ran all the way to the line like a champion.”