When Kyprios crossed the finish line at Leopardstown, it was business as usual — a smooth, confident win that stretched his unbeaten streak to 10 races.

Everyone expected nothing less from this incredible seven-year-old stayer.

But behind the scenes, trainer Aidan O’Brien had a worry that overshadowed the celebration.

Kyprios has had an extraordinary journey. After battling through a serious health scare in 2023 that almost ended his career, he came back stronger than ever to dominate every big cup race last season.

So seeing him limp in the winner’s enclosure after the Levmoss Stakes was an unwelcome surprise for O’Brien and his team.

The Race Went Perfectly, But Something Didn’t Feel Right

On paper, the Levmoss Stakes was exactly the kind of race O’Brien wanted — a gentle tune-up that reaffirmed Kyprios’s dominance without any real challenge.

The horse went off at incredibly short odds of 1/14, signaling just how sure everyone was of the outcome.

Kyprios cruised to victory with ease, looking as composed and in control as ever.

The plan was clear: get him ready for a big push at Royal Ascot.

But after the race, as he posed for photos with the team, O’Brien noticed something off — Kyprios was taking a few cautious, limping steps.

At first, it wasn’t obvious if it was serious or just a minor issue like a loose shoe, but with Kyprios’s history, O’Brien wasn’t about to take any risks.

No Risk Will Be Taken With This Champion

“He might have just sprung a shoe,” O’Brien explained. “He’s scanned and checked before every race because of his history.

If it’s just a shoe, that’s easy to fix. But we’ll see once we look at him properly. No chances will be taken.”

This was a worrying moment because Kyprios had been undefeated since October 2023 — over 80 weeks without defeat.

If he stays healthy, nothing seemed like it could stop him from going for a third Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next month.

Still, O’Brien knows that’s not guaranteed. “He’s been unbelievable,” he said.

“Ryan Moore was very happy with him after the race, which is a good sign for Ascot.

But maybe he stood on his shoe. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

A Bright Start to the Evening With New Talent Italy

Before the concern over Kyprios, O’Brien had some great news from another horse on the card — Italy.

This promising young colt, also from Coolmore’s rising star stallion Wootton Bassett, impressed with a strong finishing burst in his race.

Italy was the favorite at 4/9 and, although he got a scare when Thesecretadversary broke away mid-race, he powered back in the final furlong to take the win convincingly.

O’Brien was full of praise: “This fella has got a bit of quality.

Wayne Lordan gave him a lovely ride and he’ll have learned a lot today.

We think he’s got what it takes for the Tyros Stakes coming up.”

Looking Ahead to More Action in the UK and Royal Ascot

O’Brien’s team isn’t slowing down. Over in the UK, they have several runners on a busy Newbury card, including Ides Of March in the Carnarvon Stakes.

Although there’s no Ballydoyle horse in the Lockinge Stakes, Rosallion, last year’s Irish 2000 Guineas winner, is the hot favorite.

His trainer, Richard Hannon, says, “It’s probably the best Lockinge we’ve seen for a long time.

We just hope he comes back the same horse he was last season. If he does, it should be a great year.”

All eyes now turn to Royal Ascot, where Kyprios will either continue his extraordinary unbeaten streak or face the reality of this unexpected setback.