'Unbelievable' Kyprios has chance to cement his legacy but arch rival Trawlerman out to repeat last year's triumph
Just how good is Kyprios? It might seem a silly question to ask about a horse who has won eight Group1 races, but it’s hard to escape the feeling we still don’t really know the ceiling of his ability. He is already one of the greats, but could he be the greatest?
He has been so consistent that he has a median Racing Post Rating of 120 since the start of 2022, but has proved capable of a lot better than that when it has been needed. He had a highest figure of 128 at Longchamp in 2022 and ran to 124 in the Irish St Leger that year.
That suggests his median RPR could have been better than 120 had there been a serious rival to test him and that rating has probably been held back by him competing in a below-par era.
However, probably his biggest rival in recent years has been Trawlerman and the John and Thady Gosden-trained six-year-old is a welcome presence in the nine-runner line-up.
Trawlerman is the only horse in this field to have beaten Kyprios and he did it in this contest 12 months ago when fighting back after being headed to get the better of the tussle by a neck after hitting 1,000 in running on Betfair. Kyprios looked so sure to win he traded at 1.02.
Kyprios got his revenge when defeating Trawlerman by a length in the Gold Cup at this course back in June, but the pair were once again a long way clear of the rest and Trawlerman was the only one to give Kyprios a race. That made the score 1-1, so who wins the decider?
Kyprios is coming in after a hard season and returning only two weeks after winning a gruelling Prix du Cadran at Longchamp over 2m4f, while Trawlerman has had a lighter campaign and is fresh after 121 days off. That might just decide it in favour of Trawlerman.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway
Trawlerman out to net opener again
Trawlerman and Kyprios go head to head for a third time with the scores 1-1 going into the latest match up in which Trawlerman is making his third consecutive appearance.
The six-year-old was third to the absent Trueshan two years ago but stepped up on that when getting back up after initially being headed by his big rival 12 months ago when he initiated a farewell double for Frankie Dettori.
William Buick rode Trawlerman for the first time when second to Kyprios in the Gold Cup in June but did partner him in his most recent workout in Newmarket on Wednesday.
His John and Thady Gosden-trained stablemate Sweet William, who was third in this a year ago, is also back for more after his game victory in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup last month.
Thady Gosden said: “Trawlerman ran a great race in the Gold Cup and has enjoyed a nice break since. He won this last year and heading back has been the plan for quite some time. He likes Ascot and should enjoy the conditions again.
“Sweet William has had a good season and has made good progress. He should have no issues on the ground and there's no reason he can’t run a nice race.”
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What they say
Tom Clover, trainer of Al Nayyir
We’re under no illusions it is a tough race but we're hopeful he'll handle the ground as he won on soft at Newmarket and Dubawis are usually versatile in that regard.
Harry Davies, rider of Burdett Road
He’s taking a big step up in class but if he relaxes well he hopefully could pick up some prize-money. He’s going jumping after this I believe so hopefully this can be a last hurrah on the Flat.
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Kyprios and The Euphrates
Kyprios has come back from Longchamp well and we're very happy with him. He hasn’t done much since then, but seems to be in good form. He’s an unbelievable horse to do what he’s done every run this year, and last year too really, as he’d only just come back from injury. I don’t think we could even have dreamed he'd do as well as he has after his injury last year. The Euphrates ran very well in the Irish St Leger and then went back to the Curragh and won the Irish Cesarewitch. That was a big handicap prize and we think he’s very much on the upgrade.
Reporting by David Milnes
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