Kyprios can regain Irish St Leger crown and edge that little bit closer to Yeats in the legacy debate

Is it too early to be comparing Kyprios to Yeats? If not now, when? 

Victory for a second time in the Irish St Leger would be a 13th career success for Kyprios and a seventh at the top level. He has won two Gold Cups at Royal Ascot and his highest Racing Post Rating of 128, awarded for a 20-length victory in the Prix du Cadran of 2022, is 2lb more than Yeats ever achieved. On our figures, he is already a superior animal. 

But it was Yeats's longevity that made him such a legendary figure in the sport. He made his first racecourse appearance in 2003 and kept going until October of 2009. He remains the only horse to have won four Gold Cups and he ended his glorious career with seven Group 1 wins on his CV. Kyprios can equal that here. 

However, don't be fooled into thinking this is a foregone conclusion. Far from it. Giavellotto is dangerous, very dangerous. The strong-travelling son of Mastercraftsman has risen to a new level of late and the way in which he swatted away Vauban in the Yorkshire Cup stamped him down as a stayer of the highest quality. 

He has gears to go with the stamina, too. Dropping to a mile and a half for the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting proved no barrier as he galloped right away from Arrest. That, according to RPRs, was the best display of his career by some 3lb. 

Marco Botti immediately nominated the Irish St Leger as his next target and here he is. Indeed, according to official ratings, Giavellotto is rated only 1lb inferior to Kyprios. That doesn't seem right given what both horses have achieved in their careers, but those are the facts. 

Giavellotto: Yorkshire Cup winner rates a big danger to KypriosCredit: Edward Whitaker

The worry for Kyprios is the trip. He is such a stout stayer over two and a half miles that six furlongs less has to take its toll, although he won his maiden over a mile at Galway and had enough speed to win at Cork over 1m2f a few years ago as well. Maybe he is quicker than we give him credit for. 

Vauban is the only other realistic contender. Plenty assumed we would not see him again before the Melbourne Cup after he clung on to land the Lonsdale Cup at York's Ebor meeting, but Willie Mullins wants one more blowout before having another crack at the Flemington feature. 

Given the pace he showed at York, this trip is probably his optimum. It is worth pointing out he won the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot over this trip and that, according to RPRs, was the best performance of his Flat career. 

It is hard to weigh up the chances of the German pair – Waldadler and Nastaria – but both would appear to have plenty on their plates with official ratings of 104 and 100. 

It looks like a three-horse war between Kyprios, Giavellotto and Vauban and, if it does turn into a proper battle, there is usually only one outcome. The staying king can regain his crown at the Curragh and victory would edge him that little bit closer to Yeats in the legacy debate.

'We've been delighted with Kyprios since Goodwood' 

Aidan O'Brien reports Kyprios to be in tip-top shape for his bid to regain the Irish St Leger. 

This will be his third appearance in the race. He narrowly scored by a neck from Hamish in 2022 before being beaten by Eldar Eldarov on his belated reappearance from a life-threatening injury last year. There were valid excuses for that defeat. Indeed, O'Brien was surprised about how well he performed. 

This time he arrives at the Curragh in rude health. He is four from four this season and he has already regained his Gold Cup crown. He was even more impressive in the Goodwood Cup and the form of that four-length victory received a boost on Friday when the runner-up Sweet William landed the Doncaster Cup in decisive fashion. 

O'Brien said: "All is good and everyone is happy. He's done well since Goodwood and everything we have asked him to do he has done well. He is coming down in trip, but he's very versatile and we've been delighted with all he's done this season."

The trainer also runs The Euphrates, and added: "He’s a good, solid horse and this will be his first time over the trip. We think it should suit and he seems in good form.”

What they say

Marco Botti, trainer of Giavellotto
He arrived there this morning in good shape and enjoys travelling anyway. It looks a tough race but we expect him to run well as long as the ground is not too soft. We've waited for this race as we feel that this is his best trip He likes spaces between his races and he goes there a fresh horse.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Vauban
He's in good shape and I wanted to get another run into him before he headed to Australia. He will handle the trip and the ground fine. We'd be delighted if he were placed.

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