Kyprios Wins Dramatic Gold Cup Over Mojo Star

There promised to be drama and high emotion in the Gold Cup (G1) June 16 and it did not disappoint, with Kyprios  crowned the new king of the stayers in a race that left as many questions as it did answers.

Youth ultimately conquered experience as Kyprios narrowly defeated fellow 4-year-old Mojo Star  by half a length, with history seeking 8-year-old Stradivarius  a further three-quarter lengths behind in third, as for a second year running his attempt to win a fourth Gold Cup came up agonizingly short.

Winning rider Ryan Moore described the centerpiece of the royal meeting as a "messy race" that wasn't enjoyable to ride in but however bad he thought his trip had been, it wasn't half as painful as it was for Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori, who, similarly to last year, found himself further back than ideal and was forced widest of all to get a run in the straight.

Kyprios also had to fan to the center of the track to make his move but he was always in front of Stradivarius off a slow pace and, while the crowd's favorite did his damnedest to close the gap once in the clear, he was never quite able to peg back the front two.

Moore said: "It wasn't a nice race to ride. I didn't like the spot we were in as we were going slow. They were getting an easy time up front and I had to move him to the outside—I don't like doing that.

"We got going and got to the front, and when Mojo Star has come to us, that's when he clicked in. It wasn't a true test today but he was much the best and there will be lots of good days with him.

"I know he's only won a short distance but I think he's a very good staying horse."

Emotions were understandably running high among the Stradivarius camp, with owner/breeder Bjorn Nielsen in particular looking 10 years older compared to five minutes earlier.

While acknowledging his trip had been less than ideal, Dettori ultimately felt younger legs had won the day. However, there was undoubtedly a sense of 'what if' from trainer John Gosden and Nielsen, having seen Stradivarius have to come from off the pace and from behind a wall of horses.

While disappointed, they have so much to be proud of as Stradivarius enters the final furlong of his career. His 20 wins include four Al Shaqab Goodwood Cups (G1), three Gold Cups, three Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cups (G2) and Paddy Power Yorkshire Cups (G2), two Doncaster Cups (G2), and a Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2) in a career unmatched over staying distances on the flat in the modern era.

Nevertheless, having run in his last Gold Cup, it felt like this was the end of one era and the beginning of the next, with Kyprios and Mojo Star two youngsters whose rivalry has the potential to sprinkle stardust on the staying division for many years to come.

Yeats, also trained by Aidan O'Brien, remains the only four-time winner of the Gold Cup but didn't start his winning run at Ascot until he was 5. Who knows where we will be in three years time with Kyprios? One thing is for sure, the Gold Cup will be his target from here on in.

O'Brien said: "It's hard to get a horse to go that extended distance. We thought he would be a Gold Cup horse last year. We brought him here last season for the Queen's Vase (G2) but he got a fright and came out underneath the stalls.

"His back was badly bruised and he didn't get to race again. He missed the St. Leger and it was always the plan that we'd train him with this race in mind. We think he's a horse who is going to come forward again."

He added: "He's brave, genuine, and a great horse. Ryan gave him a marvelous ride and had belief in him. When he really wanted him, he answered. We think he is a horse to look forward to.

"He could go to Goodwood next and there's the Irish St. Leger (G1). We'll have to see how he is but I think everybody will want to aim at the Gold Cup every year."

Mojo Star, runner-up in last year's Cazoo Derby (G1) and Cazoo St. Leger Stakes (G1), ran a mighty race on his first start for 256 days and, like the winner, looks an up-and-coming force over marathon trips.

"To run like that and get the trip was amazing," said owner Kia Joorabchian. "I think if he had a run then he would have been right up there.

"Richard Hannon has done a great job with him and Rossa Ryan gave him a great ride. He's never let us down. Derby day, Leger day—unfortunately he's hit a lot of seconds but he'll have his day."