Kyprios Retires - Royal Ascot Favourite and Two-Time Gold Cup Winner Retired Due To Injury

Superstar stayer and two-time Royal Ascot winner Kyprios has been retired after an aggravation of ringbone. Aidan O’Brien’s chestnut had won his first two starts of this season, but a recurring lesion in his joints has ensured Coolmore called an end to his career on Tuesday.

Kyprios began his racing career in 2020, since when he has scored at an astonishing strike rate, ultimately winning 17 of his 21 starts. Twice he went unbeaten through a full season, winning every race he took part in in both 2022 and 2024.

He won his first four Group 1s in the former year, which also saw him claim his debut Royal Ascot success when winning the Gold Cup by half-a-length from Mojo Star. He also won the Goodwood Cup in a clash of generations against Stradivarius, while saving his most startling performance for last, winning the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp by 20 lengths despite drifting across the width of the home straight.

An infection to his fetlock joint in 2023 threatened to end his career early, but he came back with two runner-up efforts late that season, only to regain the winning thread with second victories in each of the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and Prix du Cadran, while he also secured a first ever victory on British Champions Day.

He had won the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan, and the Group 3 Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown as his warm-ups for a hat-trick bid at Royal Ascot 2025. However, the Gold Cup favourite will now begin a hopefully lengthy retirement with Coolmore, with it yet to be announced whether he will begin stud duties as a second career.

His defection now ensures Illinois is the new Gold Cup favourite, also trained by Aidan O’Brien, with French challenger Candelari his nearest market pursuer.

Kyprios Big Race Wins