Kyprios made an incredible comeback at the Royal Ascot, winning the Gold Cup in a thrilling duel against Trawlerman. Despite suffering a serious leg injury last year, Kyprios prevailed by a length under jockey Ryan Moore, becoming only the third horse to regain the title. Trainer Aidan O’Brien, who described as a “genius” by one of the winning owners, revealed that Kyprios had recovered from a serious fetlock joint injury that became badly infected.
The race saw Kyprios and Trawlerman engage in a gripping battle up the home straight, with Sweet William finishing third. O’Brien expressed his amazement at Kyprios’ comeback, likening it to a human athlete going from a horrific injury to winning the Olympics. It was a remarkable achievement for the horse and the team behind him.
In addition to the Gold Cup victory, Moore and O’Brien also secured a win in the Ribblesdale Stakes with 12-1 shot Port Fairy. Moore’s victory in this race meant he surpassed Frankie Dettori as the active jockey with the most wins at Royal Ascot, trailing only the legendary Lester Piggott in the all-time standings.
Other notable wins at the Royal Ascot included Going The Distance’s victory in the King George V Stakes and Shareholder’s win in the Norfolk Stakes. Shareholder’s victory gave trainer Karl Burke a second victory with a juvenile at the 2024 meeting. The day also saw Gilded Water, the favorite watched by owners King Charles and Queen Camilla, finish 12th in the race.
The Britannia Stakes saw Mickley provide jockey Callum Rodriguez and trainer Ed Bethell with their first Royal Ascot triumph, while the Hampton Court Stakes was won by Jayarebe, giving rider Sean Levey and trainer Brian Meehan their second win of the week. The final race of the day, the Buckingham Palace Stakes, was won by English Oak, trained by Ed Walker.
Overall, the Royal Ascot 2024 was filled with thrilling races and remarkable comebacks, showcasing the talent and resilience of both the horses and the teams behind them. It was a week of triumphs and victories, with Kyprios’ Gold Cup win standing out as a testament to the spirit of competition and determination in horse racing.