Kyprios emerges as main challenger to Baaeed in race for Horse of the Year

Staying star Kyprios has moved into second in the race to be named Cartier Horse of the Year after maintaining his unbeaten record this season with a brave success in the Irish St Leger on Sunday.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old is now on 120 points, 56 behind Baaeed (176), who is set to defend his immaculate record in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe or Qipco Champion Stakes next month.

Kyprios made it three Group 1 victories in a row at the Curragh and extended his lead at the top of the stayers' division to 56 points, with Eldar Eldarov (64) entering the reckoning courtesy of his St Leger triumph at Doncaster.

Highfield Princess (112), who was also completing a Group 1 hat-trick, went clear at the top of the sprinter standings after comfortably landing the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh and following the retirement of Sprint Cup winner Minzaal through injury.

Highfield Princess (right) lands the Flying Five for Group 1 hat-trickCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The three-year-old colt division is still headed by Vadeni (100) despite the Eclipse winner finishing only third behind Luxembourg (68) and Onesto (72) in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Baaeed continues to head the older horse standings, with Dreamloper (88) the biggest mover after she collected her second French Group 1 of the season in the Prix du Moulin.

In the two-year-old filly category Tahiyra (32) emerged as a strong contender after inflicting a first defeat on Meditate (48) in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Dominant displays from Chaldean (24) in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and Al Riffa (32) in the National Stakes at the Curragh moved the pair up the standings in the two-year-old colt division, which is still headed by Prix Morny winner Blackbeard (64).

Prix Jacques le Marois winner Inspiral (96) and Oaks winner Tuesday (92) are clear at the top of the three-year-old filly rankings.

Cartier Horse of the Year

176 Baaeed
120 Kyprios
112 Highfield Princess
100 Vadeni
96 Inspiral
92 Tuesday
88 State Of Rest
80 Coroebus
80 Dreamloper
76 Nashwa
76 Native Trail

Older Horse

176 Baaeed
88 State Of Rest
80 Dreamloper
64 Alpinista
64 Pyledriver
64 Saffron Beach
60 Mishriff
56 Aristia
56 Pearls Galore

Three-Year-Old Colt

100 Vadeni
80 Coroebus
76 Native Trail
72 Onesto
69 Sammarco
68 Luxembourg
64 Desert Crown
64 Eldar Eldarov
64 Modern Games

Three-Year-Old Filly

96 Inspiral
92 Tuesday
76 Nashwa
72 Cachet
56 Prosperous Voyage
56 Tenebrism
48 Above The Curve
48 Magical Lagoon

Sprinter

112 Highfield Princess
60 Minzaal
48 Naval Crown
32 Alcohol Free
32 Nature Strip
32 Perfect Power
31 A Case Of You
24 Emaraaty Ana
24 Flaming Rib
24 Flotus
24 Khaadem
24 Twilight Calls

Stayer

120 Kyprios
64 Eldar Eldarov
44 Quickthorn
44 Stradivarius
24 Coltrane
24 Hamish
24 Loft
24 Mojo Star
24 New London

Two-Year-Old Colt

64 Blackbeard
56 Persian Force
40 Little Big Bear
32 Al Riffa
32 Shartash
28 Proud And Regal
24 Chaldean
24 The Antarctic
20 Royal Scotsman

Two-Year-Old Filly

48 Meditate
32 Tahiyra
24 The Platinum Queen
24 Trillium
20 Mawj
16 Dramatised
16 Lezoo
16 Polly Pott
16 Statuette
16 Swingalong
16 Wed

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