€300,000 Qatar Cadran (Gr1): Kyprios extend series at Longchamp

October 5, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). – The finish of the €300,000 Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1), the marathon race of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend, run over 2m4f, was somewhat reminiscent of the Qatar Prix Chaudenay, which had been run an hour earlier. The hot favourite Kyprios (Galileo), winner of the race in 2022, led the field. In the final stages, he found himself battling with the winner of the 2021 and 2023 editions, Trueshan (Planteur), who looked like he might get the better of him but ultimately had to settle for second, with Kyprios winning by two lengths while Coltrane (Mastercraftsman), who briefly joined the fight, finished a neck behind Trueshan.

This was Kyprios's sixth victory this season, and he remains unbeaten in 2024, with his fourth consecutive Group 1 win after the Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup and the Irish St Leger. At six years old, he seems to be better than ever. A son of Galileo (Sadler's Wells), Kyprios was bred by Moyglare Stud Farm, whose colours he carries in partnership with John Magnier, Michael Tabor and co. His dam, Polished Gem (Danehill), was Group 3-placed over 7f. She has also produced Free Eagle (High Chaparral), winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot for the same connections and trainer Dermot Weld, not to mention Sapphire (Medicean), a Group 2 winner.

I've kept the French names for the races as those would be recognizable by Racing Post readers, and I've tried to make the language flow naturally while remaining faithful to the original French.

What connections said:

Aidan O'Brien – the trainer of Kyprios (1st) - Ireland

"Kyprios is such a special horse! The team have done a fantastic job to get him back on track after his health problems. He has so much class... For a stayer, he has a rare ability to quicken. We can look forward to returning to [Royal] Ascot for the Gold Cup next year. He also has such a strong mindset. That was already apparent when he was a 2-y-old! It's a great privilege to look after him every day. This was his eighth Group 1 win: and he's quite simply the horse who won the most Group 1 races for us [Ballydoyle]. It would have been disrespectful to run him in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2,400 metres, as it’s distance over which he hasn't raced for a long time."

Andrew Gemmell – the co-owner of Trueshan (2nd)

«  Trueshan ran a superb race. It's great that he's back to his best, and that he was able to hunt up a horse like Kyprios. He was really brilliant if not magnificent [today]... We’re really lucky to have a horse of this class. We're over the moon with his second place. »

Anna-Lisa Balding, the wife of Andrew Balding, the trainer of Coltrane (3rd) 

« This is Coltrane's finest performance of the season. We believed in him. He's a lovely horse and a real battler. This fine third place in a Group 1 is an excellent result. »