News & Media

Kyprios storms to second Irish St Leger title at Irish Champions Festival

Aidan O'Brien strikes twice at the Curragh as son Joseph also lands Group 1 success

Sunday, 15 September 2024
Kyprios storms to second Irish St Leger title at Irish Champions Festival

Kyprios made it 13 wins from 17 races with victory in the Irish St Leger

He’s a very, very special horse and every year he seems to be improving. That even looks to be his best again. Ryan said he won so easy - Aidan O'Brien on Kyprios
Leading stayer Kyprios made it a hat-trick of Group 1 victories in 2024 after storming to his second Irish St Leger victory at the Curragh. 

Beaten by Eldar Elgarov last year, the superstar six-year-old regained his crown with a dominant performance under Ryan Moore for a seventh career Group 1 success. 

The son of Galileo is now firmly back to his best after a life-threatening injury in the spring of 2023 and trainer Aidan O’Brien refused to rule out a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“He’s so special and we can see what he did there today,” O’Brien said.
“He’s a very, very special horse and every year he seems to be improving. That even looks to be his best again. Ryan said he won so easy.

“It’s a special place and a special race and these kinds of horses are once in a lifetime.

“In the Ascot Gold Cup very few horses are able to get that far (two and a half miles), but this horse has serious class as well. He’s so genuine to get through what he did and still be the way he is and stay the way he does and relax the way he does. He’s one in a million.

“He could run in an Arc, we knew that, at any time. It’s important to mind him, do the right thing for him, and let him tell us how he is and where he wants to go at that time of the year.

“There is only one Arc and he has a serious engine. He just doesn’t get tired, he keeps going.”
O’Brien secured the first Group 1 on day two of the Irish Champions Festival, as Lake Victoria upstaged stablemate Bedtime Story for the Moyglare Stud Stakes. 

Arguably the race of the day, there was nothing to split the five runners 50 yards from the line, but Wayne Lordan pulled clear of the rest to make it three from three for the impressive two-year-old prospect. 

"I'm delighted for Wayne," O'Brien said after recording his tenth win in the race. "He is a great fella and does a lot of work day in, day out, at home.

"We're lucky to have him here after the Irish Derby incident. He had a tough time for four or five months so nobody deserves it more.

“The filly is very classy, she is fast. She is by Frankel but she is made like a sprinter."
Hollie Doyle and Archie Watson recorded a win for the visitors in the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes with Bradsell, while Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle scooped the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes thanks to 12/1 shot Scorthy Champ. 

Speaking after her first win in Ireland, Doyle said: "He's just proven how good he is, it wasn't a one off. He's never been in better form, he's improved with age and has got stronger and quicker.”
Colin Keane piloted My Mate Alfie to glory in the opener before Shane Foley steered Hanalia to Moyglare ''Jewels'' Blandford Stakes success, with both jockeys winning the corresponding races on day one at Leopardstown. 

Invincible Spirit filly Spirit d'Or stormed to the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes for a maiden victory at her fourth attempt and This Songisforyou triumphed in the finale for Emmet Mullins. 


Back to News List