Top Stayer Kyprios Back From 1-Year Layoff in St Leger

King Kyprios (IRE) is back to defend his crown. Last year's outstanding stayer won six on the spin last year and the fifth leg of that winning sequence arrived in this very race, the Irish St Leger (G1), when he fought off the challenge of Hamish (GB) to win a thriller. A 20-length romp in the Prix du Cadran (G1) followed and we all presumed he would dominate the staying division in 2023. It hasn't panned out like that, though, as an infection in a joint ruled him out for most of the season and this will be his first outing for 344 days. If anyone can get him back, Aidan O'Brien can, and the fact he is here suggests he has been showing all the right signs at home. O'Brien cannot believe Kyprios has made it back to the Irish St Leger and the master trainer has made no secret of the fact he didn't think he would make it back at all. An infection on the inside of a joint, suffered in the spring, has deprived us from seeing last year's Ascot Gold Cup (G1) hero until now and O'Brien believes he will improve hugely for the run given he does everything in second gear at home. O'Brien said: "I didn't think he would come back at all and there are a lot of people we have to thank for getting him back. We have had to be very careful with him. He's ready to start back and it will be interesting to see how he gets on. "Hopefully he will pull up okay and we will be able to plan forward with him after the race. He's moving well and seems in good form, but I didn't think he would make it back." The real Kyprios is a far superior animal to Eldar Eldarov (GB). We know that for certain, but the aforementioned setback in the spring, combined with fast ground over a trip that is on the sharp side makes him vulnerable and it will be interesting to see what sort of market confidence is behind him. A 90% Kyprios would win this, an 80% one might not. Eldar Eldarov is two from three over trips in and around a mile and six furlongs. He won the Queen's Vase (G2) and the St Leger, and his sole reversal at the distance was back in May, when touched off by Giavellotto (IRE) having met traffic in running in the Yorkshire Cup (G2). These are his terms and conditions and if Kyprios is badly in need of his reappearance, this son of Dubawi will be ready to gobble up the scraps. This small field could get even smaller if Emily Dickinson (IRE) does not show her face. She is a different animal altogether on softer ground so it remains to be seen whether she will be allowed to take her chance on a rattling quick surface again if no rain arrives. On soft ground she might even be favorite, but it looks as though the weather gods are not going to shine on her. Yashin (IRE) has a mountain to climb on the figures. He is only rated 105, but his Ebor effort can certainly be upgraded. He was beaten three lengths into seventh by Absurde (FR), but that doesn't tell the whole story as he was short of room for most of the closing stages on the nearside rail. He is more dangerous than his rating would suggest. It is hard to imagine Dawn Rising (IRE) having the pace to trouble the big two. He is a thorough stayer who will presumably make the running, but it seems unlikely he will be staying at the head of affairs. Four of the last eight favorites have obliged in the Irish St Leger, but Order Of St George (IRE) was beaten at 1-7 by Wicklow Brave (GB) in 2016. Incidentally, the last 5-year-old to win the race was also Order Of St George the following year. Highfield Princess Leads British Assault on Flying Five British-trained sprinters have outscored the home team by three to two in the five years since the Flying Five was raised to group 1 status in 2018. That lead, symptomatic of a general Irish weakness in this division, is likely to be extended in the Sept. 10 renewal at the Curragh. Last year's blistering winner Highfield Princess (FR) bids to become the first back-to-back scorer since Benbaun (IRE), who won it three times in a row (2005-07) in its group 3 days. The John Quinn-trained mare is one of five runners from Britain in a field that has also attracted a rare French sprint raider. Bouttemont (IRE) has done most of his racing over six furlongs but captured a listed event over the minimum at Chantilly in June. The Flying Five is a "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In" event offering a fees- and travel-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. The spotlight falls on Highfield Princess and Bradsell (GB), a colt half her age and winner of last year's Coventry Stakes (G2). The pair meet for a third time as Archie Watson was inspired to supplement Bradsell for the King's Stand (G1) at Royal Ascot after two early-season defeats over six furlongs. Taking the lead around two furlongs down, Bradsell was strongly challenged by Highfield Princess inside the last furlong and Hollie Doyle was unable to prevent him from drifting left in the closing stages. However, it was a case of intimidation rather than direct interference, and the mare was not generally deemed an unlucky loser. After a game effort in taking third place behind two rivals running down the centre in the six-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) on the final day of the royal meeting, Highfield Princess regained the winning thread with a comfortable odds-on success in the King George Stakes (G1) at Goodwood. From there she went to York, bidding for a repeat of last year's Nunthorpe (G1) triumph. Though unable to get to grips with the front-running outsider Live In The Dream (IRE), she got the better of the rematch with Bradsell to the tune of three-quarters of a length. That could be the crucial piece of evidence as the pair meet again in the race in which the mare bolted up 12 months ago. The Tim Easterby-trained Art Power (IRE) presents contrasting statistical claims. On one hand, he is a very appealing contender due to his perfect record in four visits to the Curragh. On the other hand, he has contested 12 group 1 races over the course of three seasons without winning one, a distinct negative. Speedy Ylang Ylang Represents Ballydoyle in Moyglare O'Brien has landed the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) with some exceptional fillies such as Love (IRE), Misty For Me (IRE), and the outstanding Minding (IRE), and hopes will be high Ylang Ylang (GB) is of that ilk in Sunday's renewal. The Moyglare is a "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In" event offering a fees- and travel-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Frankel filly Ylang Ylang has looked a consummate professional in her two starts. She had little trouble making a winning debut over seven furlongs at this track in June, racing with plenty of zest out in front under Ryan Moore before putting the race to bed with a potent turn of foot just after the two-furlong pole to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Her victory in the Silver Flash Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown was similar as she again led from pillar to post, going through the race with ease while leaving the impression she could prove an even more formidable proposition if she got pace to aim at. While there is no confirmed front-runner in the field, there might be some pressure applied to her at the head of affairs by the likes of Fallen Angel (GB) and She's Quality (IRE). The Willie McCreery-trained Vespertilio (FR) shaped encouragingly in second behind Ylang Ylang in the Silver Flash and confirmed herself an exciting filly when she produced an electric turn of foot to go from last to first on her next start in the Debutante Stakes (G2) over course and distance. She would appreciate a decent pace to aim at, which might not be forthcoming here, but if Ylang Ylang is unduly bothered on the front end then she could be the one coming home fast late. The one filly with group 1 experience is Porta Fortuna (IRE), who represents Donnacha O'Brien. She lost her unbeaten status when taking on the colts in the Phoenix Stakes (G1) over six furlongs last month, but there was little shame in chasing home the talented Bucanero Fuerte (GB) on that occasion. The Caravaggio filly is reunited with Frankie Dettori, who partnered her to victory in the Albany Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot. The extra furlong is the question mark, although she did stay on to good effect in a strongly run Phoenix. 2024 Guineas, Derby Favorite City of Troy Favored in National Stakes There is something of an anomaly on the roll of honor for the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1). Aidan O'Brien, who has won the race 11 times during his stellar career, has not trained the winner of it since Churchill (IRE) in 2016. Ryan Moore has been booked for City Of Troy and the Superlative Stakes (G2) winner is likely to be the one to bring up the dozen for O'Brien and end his unusually long drought in the race. It is rare for a juvenile to earn a three-figure Racing Post Rating on their debut but City Of Troy was given 103 for his maiden win over course and distance in July. The third horse won next time out and the form looks solid. It was his performance at Newmarket's July Cup meeting that took our breath away. He looked in his comfort zone throughout there and what he did from the furlong pole to the line was extremely easy on the eye. He put 6 1/2 lengths between himself and Haatem (IRE), who won the Vintage Stakes (G2) at Goodwood on his next start, and an RPR of 117 followed. Everything about City Of Troy oozes class and he is a strong stayer over this seven-furlong trip. Moore will be keen to ensure this doesn't develop into a sprint given his main market rival Bucanero Fuerte(GB) displayed an explosive turn of foot when running away with the Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs. Warm Heart Could Give O'Brien First Prix Vermeille Win O'Brien has found the Prix Vermeille (G1) a hard nut to crack and, even allowing for a few long-priced pacemakers among his 15 previous starters, it is still something of a surprise that he is yet to win this prestigious French prize. It is certainly not for the want of trying. Having hit the bar at the first attempt when Yesterday (IRE) was beaten a head by Mezzo Soprano in 2003, O'Brien has saddled high-class runners-up in Magic Wand (IRE) and Snowfall (JPN), while Tuesday (IRE) was only fourth 12 months ago. None of that is to denigrate the claims of Warm Heart (IRE), who showed her liking for fast ground when defeating her elders in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) last month and who is reunited with the winning rider from that day, James Doyle. The Coolmore partners also send the Joseph O'Brien-trained Above The Curve, who has shown high-class form at group 1 level over 10 furlongs and looks ready for a first try at 1 1/2 miles.