Trueshan, Kyprios Spar in Long Distance Cup

Forget Frankel , it is only Trueshan  who has recorded three victories at flat racing's season-ending showstopper since its 2011 creation but a fantastic fourth, in the Oct. 21 British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2), could be his biggest challenge yet.

The 7-year-old was humbled at short odds at the start of the season but came roaring back to life with success in the Doncaster Cup Stakes (G2) and a smooth four-length win when ridden more prominently in the Prix du Cadran (G1).

As impressive as he was under Hollie Doyle at Longchamp, he faces just a 21-day turnaround—although he won off a shorter layoff two years ago—and meets a higher-rated opponent in this race for the first time since his breakthrough win in 2020. He will, however, benefit from his favored ground.

Doyle said: "He's staged quite a comeback this year and proved a lot of people wrong by winning the Doncaster Cup and the Prix du Cadran again.

"A fourth win here would be incredible and it could definitely happen, as he feels as good as ever. It looks a strong renewal, as it is most years, but Trueshan is in great form, and the ground should be much more to his liking than it was at Goodwood."

O'Brien: 'Kyprios was barely ready last time'

Kyprios  was described by Aidan O'Brien as "barely ready" when suffering a shock defeat on his comeback in the Irish St. Leger (G1) but the vibes are more positive as he looks to re-establish his position as Europe's top stayer.

The 5-year-old was unstoppable in six starts last season, including being crowned Gold Cup (G1) champion here last June and memorably holding off Stradivarius  and Trueshan in a juggernaut Goodwood Cup Stakes (G1) clash a month later.

Injury kept him off the track until September this season and he was well held at the Curragh by Eldar Eldarov , but the Kyprios camp are more upbeat a month on and have no concerns regarding the ground as he posted a 20-length success in the Prix du Cadran on a similar surface at the back end of last season.

"He's in good form," O'Brien said. "We think he's made progress from the Curragh, and we thought going there that he was just barely ready to go racing. Everything has gone well with him since and he's improved an awful lot since his run. He's a lazy worker but everyone is happy with him, he's made great progress.

"He's a very good mover but he seems to keep going through deep ground and he has good form on it. There probably won't be much left for him this year and the plan and hope would be that we will have him again for next year."

He is joined by stablemate Broome , who was a winner over this trip in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2) in March but has failed to land a blow in five starts since.

O'Brien added: "Broome is in good form and he has form in soft ground. He ran a good race at Doncaster last time, so we're hoping that he'll run a good race."