Every sport needs heroes - and brilliant performances with an emotional backstory are a sure recipe for super-stardom.
When Kyprios crowned an astonishing comeback from life-threatening sickness to become the first horse since Kayf Tara - 24 years ago - and just the second ever to regain Royal Ascot's Gold Cup it was truly a 'dainty dish to set before the King"!
Aidan O'Brien hailed it as a "millions to one" success - though punters showed every confidence, hammering the 6yo in to a near-evens bookie basher. And it was a welcome crowd-pleaser as the Royal meeting's attendances, up again on 2023, continued to buck depressing trends.
The Ballydoyle ace had won the Group 1 Thursday highlight in 2022 but was forced to miss last year's race after suffering an infection in a fetlock joint.
But Kyprios (11/10F) stormed back to his best, becoming a record ninth winner of Royal Ascot's famous staying race for O'Brien.
It was an astonishing 89th course success for the Ballydoyle maestro but he rates it one of his greatest yet.
Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
LOOKING BRIGHT FOR IRISH STARS
Karl Hedley reports as jumps challengers pile on the heat across the water
WELL SET TO STEP AHEAD
Ben Morgan has ten warming prospects to follow in the coming weeks
CUE FOR MANY A CELEBRATION
Graham Buddry recalls the life and times of jumps legend Cue Card
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
TWISTER RUNS MASTER CLASS
John Anthony watches Nigel Twiston-Davies' star catch time judges' eye
NO LEAVES ON LINE TO SLOW THESE FLYERS
Simon Nott enjoys a West Country Weekend catching up with ring pals
EXPECTATIONS SOAR AT RIDGE
Nick Townsend talks to rising Newmarket training star James Owen
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
NORMA'S COLOURS ARE FLYING PROUD
Robert Cooper sees Percy Willis and Kaadam grace white and green spots and red cap
CHIANTI FLOWS AS NEW LION GROWLS
Prior to the National Hunt season 'proper' getting underway at Chepstow the question on many people's lips was whether or not Willie Mullins would target a second consecutive British trainers' title.
