Kyprios wins thrilling Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup as festival begins

Vice Chairman of QREC and Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiya (fourth left) presented the trophies to the winners of the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup yesterday.

•The five-day festival sponsored by QREC is one of the highlights of the flat racing season in the UK and Europe

In the presence Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, the Qatar Goodwood Festival kicked off yesterday. The world-famous five-day Festival is one of the highlights of the flat racing season in the UK and Europe. Held on the world’s most beautiful racecourse, the festival features class racing, with several black type races bearing the name of Qatar. The opening day of the 2022 renewal of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club-sponsored festival had an eight-race card, where top-class racing was on display at the beautiful racecourse which was built in 1802. Yesterday’s feature event was the Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes. Present on the opening day as well were Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United Kingdom, HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Thani bin Khalid al-Thani CEO of Qatar Media Corporation, Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi Chairman of QREC, QREC Board Members and Essa al-Hitmi, General Manager of Al Kass Sports Channels. The highlight on the first day of Festival, the Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes is renowned for its enthralling finishes, and this year was no exception as Kyprios (Galileo) ground out a narrow success in the two-mile race. Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiya, Vice Chairman of QREC and Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation presented the trophies to the winners after the race. The youngest of the nine that lined up for the £500,000 staying contest, Kyprios added a second top-flight success to his flourishing CV, following an excellent success in the Gr.1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last month. Trained by Aiden O’Brien and owned in partnership by superpowers, Moyglare Stud, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Westerberg, the May-born colt showed extreme tenacity on only his eighth-career start. Ridden prominently by Ryan Moore, Kyprios sat behind the early leaders, before ranging up to share the lead on the run into the straight. Four-time winner of the race Stradivarius (Sea The Stars) was briefly checked by Trueshan (Planteur), who made ground on the eventual winner. Gutsy in front, Kyprios held on to get the better of an extended battle with Stradivarius by a neck, while Trueshan finished a further length and a quarter back in third. “He’s a fabulous horse”, said the winning trainer Aiden O’Brien after the race. “It’s great for everyone and for Patrick, who rides him every morning. Ryan gave him a beautiful ride and he is a horse that only does enough. He is very lazy, and you need to ask him to change gear, but he loves a battle. I think there is plenty more to come from him too. The plan has always been to go to the Irish St.Leger (Sunday, 11th September) with him.” The superbly-bred son of Galileo is out of the superb broodmare Polished Gem (Danehill). The outstanding mare has produced ten winners, including Gr.1 winners Free Eagle (High Chapparal) and Search For A Song (Galileo), the Gr.2 winning pair of Custom Cut (Notnowcato) and Sapphire (Medicean), along with Gr.3 winner Valac (Dark Angel), and the Listed-winning pair of Falcon Eight (Galileo) and Amma Grace (Galileo).

Ryan Moore leads Kyprios to Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup victory on the opening day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday. PICTURES: Zuzanna Lupa