From Derby hopes to one of the greatest stayers of this generation - celebrating the career of the illustrious Kyprios

Coolmore surprised the racing world on Wednesday when announcing the retirement of star stayer Kyprios, following an aggravation of a previous injury.

We take a look back at his glittering, rollercoaster of a career and celebrate one of the greatest stayers of this generation.

The early days and Derby hopes

Kyprios offered the first glimpse of the superstar he would become when producing a strong burst to win on his debut at Galway on September 8, but it’s unlikely that Aidan O’Brien or Coolmore could have imagined what lay ahead as he crossed the line on that wet, misty day.

Despite proving a disappointing favourite in the Zetland Stakes on his second juvenile start, his entry in the Lingfield Derby Trial in 2021 spoke volumes about the regard in which his connections held him, but the race didn’t go to plan – he struggled for speed and finished well beaten.

Plans of running in the Derby were canned and he was instead sent to the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot for a first real test of his staying credentials, but an incident at the stalls meant he was withdrawn and he didn't run for the remainder of the season.

Superstar stayer emerges

After almost a full year off the track, Kyprios made his return in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in 2022, a race the trainer would continue to use as a season opener.

The step up to a mile and six furlongs suited Kyprios perfectly. He went unbeaten in all six starts that season, culminating in a career-high Racing Post Rating of 128 – the highest achieved by a stayer this century.

The baton passes in the 2022 Ascot Gold Cup as Kyprios surges past the legendary StradivariusCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

A 14-length demolition job in the Group 3 Saval Beg at Leopardstown confirmed that he was the one to beat in the Ascot Gold Cup, and he delivered. Sitting patiently in midfield, as he so often did, Kyprios pounced in the straight and galloped relentlessly to the line – his tenacity a recurrent trait that set him apart from his rivals.

He capped off his stellar 2022 campaign with the most emphatic performance of his career in the Group 1 Prix du Cadran. In a display of utter dominance, Kyprios powered clear in the home straight to win by 20 lengths. He veered badly left in the closing stages, crossing almost the full width of the track, but he was so far in front it didn’t matter.

'Miracle' return after career-threatening injury

It looked as though Stradivarius had passed the baton to a new champion in the staying division, but injury soon intervened. Kyprios developed an infection in the joint capsule of his off-fore fetlock, posing a risk of total loss of use of the limb.

Steam rises from KypriosCredit: Patrick McCann

Even the most optimistic supporters couldn’t have predicted a return to the track, let alone a return to his very best. The fact he made two appearances that season at the Curragh and Ascot was described by O'Brien as "a miracle". 

The latter, a thrilling battle with Trawlerman, ended in a narrow defeat by a neck. It would be the final time Kyprios was ever beaten.

Nine unbeaten for staying immortality

The Vintage Crop Stakes (Listed) won by Kyprios.Credit: Patrick McCann

Kyprios bows out on a remarkable winning streak, the highlight being his second Gold Cup victory at Ascot where he exacted revenge on Trawlerman, beating him by a length.

Other Group 1 triumphs included the Goodwood Cup, the Irish St Leger, and the Prix du Cadran. Winning all four in a single season that also culminated with a first victory in the Long Distance Cup on British Champions Day cemented his legacy in the stayers’ division.

Another dominant season looked in the offing when he returned with wins in the Vintage Crop and Saval Beg this season before a reoccurrence of a previous injury forced his retirement.

In an extraordinary career, he won 17 of his 21 starts, earning £2,690,414. His story is a testament to resilience, elite training and the sheer class of a top-tier stayer.

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Aidan O'Brien hails 'incredible' Kyprios following retirement of dual Gold Cup hero 

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