Kyprios fares best in tactical Gold Cup

Whilst there isn’t an official showpiece at Royal Ascot, it’s hard to argue against the Gold Cup being the pinnacle race of the week and this year it was scooped by Kyprios and Ryan Moore.

A race traditionally presented by Her Majesty The Queen, was this year presented by her daughter Princess Anne and the action on the track lived up to the full Royal bidding.

Stradivarius was the name on everyone’s lips. The enigmatic chestnut has captured the imagination of the public over the last five years and he was bidding for a fourth Gold Cup. A feat only ever achieved by the mighty Yeats.

His main rival, Trueshan defected on the morning of the race due to the ground not being suitable, but the market still favoured the younger pretender – Kyprios.

The bid for the fourth Gold Cup for Stradivairus started in lats year’s renewal when Frankie Dettori found himself boxed in and unable to push go at the right time to land any sort of a blow. The same couldn’t happen again could it? It could…

The race was very slowly run and Frankie again found himself on the rail with the eventual winner and second place (Mojo Star) the two horses blocking him in.

At the pivotal moment turning or home the two rivals had clear running room. Frankie and Stradivarius did not.

As soon as no gaps appeared in front Stradivarius was switched wide but the winner and eventual second had first run and had already pulled out two lengths on Stradivarius. The writing was already on the wall.

Kyprios however, despite taking a little while to get going and also not enjoying th pace set, did get the gap he needed and once galvanised, ran through the line strongly.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien is no Gold Cup newbie as he saddled Yeats to win four renewals in the 00s, and he could have another talented stayer on his hands for a few years to come.