Kyprios sealed a outstanding comeback by beating Trawlerman in an exciting Gold Cup duel at Royal Ascot to develop into solely the third horse to regain the title.
The 2022 winner, who missed the race final 12 months with a life-threatening leg damage, prevailed by a size below Ryan Moore for coach Aidan O’Brien.
Kyprios, despatched off the 11-10 favorite, got here out on high after a gripping battle up the house straight, with Candy William in third.
It was a ninth win within the week’s greatest race for O’Brien, who was described as a “genius” by Michael Tabor, one of many profitable homeowners.
The coach revealed Kyprios had recovered from a critical fetlock joint damage which grew to become badly contaminated.
“It is one million to at least one, it is nearly inconceivable to come back again from what he got here again from,” O’Brien mentioned.
“At one stage, we weren’t positive that he would reside, however then he got here again, we needed to educate him how you can stroll and get him on a treadmill.
“It was like somebody having essentially the most horrific damage, a human being, and going from profitable the Olympics to having to study to maneuver and stroll, then getting again to the very high degree.”
Kyprios hit the entrance approaching the ultimate furlong and fended off the problem of Trawlerman, below William Buick for John and Thady Gosden.
Trawlerman had overwhelmed Kyprios on softer floor at Ascot on British Champions Day in October.
“That is what you wish to see – a ding-dong proper to the road on the finish of a Gold Cup. Having nailed him on the mud, Kyprios beat us on the quick floor right this moment,” mentioned John Gosden, who additionally trains Candy William.
Anticipation (1819) and Kayf Tara (2020) are the one different horses to have regained the Gold Cup crown.
