Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1)

THE admirable and metronomic Kyprios continued his perfect season with yet another complete and assured display as he made it three Group 1 wins on the spin with a performance which contained all the qualities which have made him the all-conquering stayer of 2022.

Already successful in the Ascot Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup this season, the Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old was looking to make it a perfect five from five this term and he lined up with simply impeccable credentials.

The one concern was whether Kyprios could win a Group 1 dropping back a mile and three quarters but such worries were allayed in typically straight-forward fashion by this top stayer.

In staying terms Kyprios is only in the formative stages of his career and the level he has performed to throughout the season would indicate that he stands on the cusp of an extended period of domination in this sphere.

Indeed it will take quite an effort for any horse to lower his colours next year assuming he takes a similar route to the one he followed in 2022.

Good position

Initially Ryan Moore niggled his mount along to take up a good position but thereafter the race went rather smoothly for the 8/11 favourite.

He moved to the head of the field turning for home and then proceeded to run the finish out of various rivals who had appeared to be going slightly better when the run for home began.

The strongest challenge of all came from the British challenger Hamish but he simply could not get on terms with an unyielding Kyprios who kept pulling out that little bit more to maintain a useful advantage.

At the finish, Kyprios, in the Moyglare Stud colours, had three-parts of a length to spare while there was seven lengths back to the winner’s elder own-sister Search For A Song who ran another fine race to secure third on her fourth appearance in this race.

“He’s very tough and relaxed and he’s only ever in the gear that you want. He’s a great horse to have. He gets a trip but he’s got a lot of class too,” observed O’Brien.

“He’s a brave, clear-winded, good moving horse with a great mind. Obviously we’ll see what everyone would like to do but he’s a very easy horse to deal with which leaves him with a lot of options going forward.

“We would love to have him around for the Gold Cup next year and he’s a unique horse really. He just does the minimum and it’s hard to know what’s in there really.”