Coolmore announce retirement of star stayer Kyprios

Star stayer Kyprios has been retired, his owners Coolmore announced on Tuesday morning.A statement from Coolmore on X read: "Due to an aggravation of an old ringbone lesion we have decided to take no chances with Kyprios and although he is currently sound and doing well the decision has been made to retire him from racing."

The condition of Kyprios, winner of  17 of his 21 races, has been under close scrutiny since he gained a third triumph in the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown 11 days ago.

He was again using the Saval Bag as a stepping stone towards an intended defence of his Gold Cup crown at Royal Ascot next month. 

The seven-year-old took the prize in workmanlike fashion by a length and a half from Dallas Star at odds of 1-14 and initally all seemed well as he posed for post-race photographs with his connections.

However, trainer Aidan O’Brien revealed to Racing TV’s Gary O’Brien that his equine win machine had subsequently walked away “gingerly”.

“He came back in perfect and when he went to walk off (out of the winner’s enclosure) he was moving a little bit gingerly in front," O'Brien said. "He was feeling something walking away.

“We'll investigate and see what it is. It could be something and it could be nothing. With his history, every race is a big race and take it day to day."

O'Brien issued an upbeat bulletin a couple of days later but Kyprios has been uneasy in the Gold Cup betting, with his stablemate Illinois usurping him as favourite in some lists even before Tuesday's announcemnet.

Kyprios won the biggest staying race of the year in 2022 and 2024, but missed the 2023 renewal when on the sidelines.

O'Brien has four other horses engaged in the Gold Cup, with the stable's Illinois now clear favourite.

More to follow . . .