Kyprios proves another jewel for Moyglare in Ascot's staying crown

While Galileo’s hallmark lived on in two more major Royal Ascot winners on Thursday, the Gold Cup was equally a legacy making race for another prominent thoroughbred whose loss is still felt keenly.

Kyprios was taking his extraordinary sire to a 95th Group 1 winner and his dam, Polished Gem, to a third individual hero at that level.

Carrying the colours of his breeder, Moyglare Stud, and raced in the Haefner family’s black and white silks but in partnership with Coolmore, he was following in the footsteps of his half-brother Free Eagle, who triumphed in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes seven years ago.

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The four-year-old, who had hitches in 2021, has quickly risen through Listed and Group level this year and proved a very willing partner for Ryan Moore to edge Mojo Star by half a length

Polished Gem herself made little impact in running in the 2006 Sandringham Stakes but also by Galileo has produced Search For A Song to win two renewals of the Irish Leger, Chester Cup winner Falcon Eight, also a Listed winner, and another black-type winner in Amma Grace.

In addition to Free Eagle, by High Chaparral, she has also produced multiple stakes winner Custom Cut (Notnowcato), Group 2 winner Sapphire (Medicean) and Group 3 winner Valac (Dark Angel).

"It’s just amazing and, you know, it’s all down to Polished Gem, the mare in a million," said Fiona Craig, Moyglare’s adviser.

"This is her last foal. Polished Gem was [US Grade 1 winner] Dress To Thrill’s little sister, who we didn’t really rate, out of Trusted Partner, and it all goes back to [foundation mare] Talking Picture. It’s just a great day."

The win of Kyprios follows hot on the heels of Moyglare-bred Homeless Songs, the brilliant Irish 1,000 Guineas winner who skipped this week’s Coronation Stakes.

"She spans my lifetime with Moyglare, I arrived with [Homeless Song’s ancestress] Aptostar in 1989, and for me, Homeless Songs is what you’d aim for," said Craig.

She added of the decision to miss Ascot: "There’s nothing wrong with her. It was tempting but the ground is a bit fast, and she can run on for us for a couple of years."

Unusually for Coolmore, which has enjoyed so many fine days with Galileo-sired winners in its various colour variations, the powerhouse was also the breeder of one which it had let go.

Magical Lagoon sticks her neck out for Shane Foley in the Ribblesdale StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe, who manages the racing and bloodstock interests of Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong Investments, had signed for Magical Lagoon for 305,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

In Jessica Harrington's care and a sibling of multiple Group 1 winner Novellist, she is now a priceless broodmare prospect after her determined defeat of favourite Sea Silk Road in the Ribblesdale Stakes.

"She's impeccably bred, a Galileo sister to a Derby winner, she's going to be one of the many top-class broodmares that's going to be retired to Yulong Stud eventually," said Donohoe.

"It's fantastic for Mr Zhang and all the team, they've supported the racing in Ireland, England and Europe a lot. It's great to see them getting the success at the top level here.

"It's the beauty of buying off Coolmore and John Magnier, what he's achieved as a breeder will never be repeated again; it's great to get the opportunity to buy those well-bred fillies from them.

"She'll run in the Irish Oaks next and we'll take it step by step. She's a filly who could stay in training next year as she's improving physically and mentally."

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