Kyprios returned to action with a workmanlike win in the Bar One Racing Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.
The star stayer has begun his campaign with victory in the Listed contest twice before, taking the race in 2022 and 2024 before unbeaten runs through the following seasons.
Last season his winning streak extended to seven triumphs, including four Group Ones, so it was no surprise that he was the 1-7 favourite for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien.
In a field of six he was never hurried and did only what was required of him to secure a two-length success over Enfranchise.
The ultra-impressive Kyprios lands the Listed @BarOneRacing Vintage Crop Stakes for the third time, picking up sweetly in the hands of Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien 👏 pic.twitter.com/LPvI8Z6HNO
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) April 26, 2025
"He just does what he has to do. Ryan was very happy with him, so delighted," said O’Brien.
"The plan will be to go back to Leopardstown (for the Saval Beg Stakes in May) and then the Gold Cup.
"That’s him, just totally relaxed all the time. He’s very classy, well he’s in second gear all the time probably.
"He’s a remarkable horse, it is incredible that he is here and what he is doing. He’s as enthusiastic as he ever was, he was like that as a two-year-old as well.
"His demeanour hasn’t changed. It is pure, raw ability."
Whistlejacket was made to work as he narrowly defeated stablemate Ides Of March in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes.
Last year's Prix Morny winner was the 5-4 favourite under Ryan Moore as his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate started a 4-1 chance under Wayne Lordan for the six-furlong Listed event.
The discrepancy in price was perhaps not reflected by the half-length margin by which Whistlejacket won, but O’Brien was still pleased with both horses ahead of bigger targets.
He said: "Delighted. We thought both of them were just about ready to start. We wanted to hopefully get two runs into him before Ascot.
"The plan was to come here and then go to Naas and then go for the Commonwealth Cup.
"Ryan was very happy with his horse, he said he didn’t get any cover and got a little bit tired but he was very happy with him.
"Ryan said he didn’t want to get into a barging match when he was needing the run, he didn’t want to blow him up at that stage, so he did the right thing and took his time on him."
On Ides Of March, O’Brien added: "You would be delighted with him. I thought the ground was way too soft for him, he’s a very good mover and he’s way better on fast ground.
"He’s a good traveller, a high cruiser and he doesn’t lie down easily. I’m delighted with both really."
O’Brien’s Charles Darwin got off the mark with an effortless victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan.
The two-year-old is a full brother to Blackbeard, a dual Group One winner, but was beaten into fourth place on his debut in a Curragh maiden earlier in the month.
With that experience under his belt, he lined up the 8-11 favourite under Moore on his second start and success never looked in doubt, as he stepped up to six furlongs and won by five and a half lengths.
O’Brien said: "He’s lovely – a big, powerful, strong horse. We always thought he was an Ascot horse.
"He was very green in the Curragh and the race was a bit messy.
"He did (do everything right today), he travelled and he has loads of speed. He quickened very well."
When asked if he could be a Coventry Stakes horse, O’Brien added: "I’d say obviously Coventry or Norfolk. He’s not short of speed."
O’Brien’s eldest son Joseph was also in the money as 15-2 chance Wemightakedlongway outlined her potential Classic claims in the Group Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.
A two-and-three-quarter-length winner under Dylan Browne McMonagle, Wemighttakedlongway is quoted for the Oaks, although Epsom is not a definite target.
The trainer said: "She has won impressively. She’s a smart filly.
"The Pretty Polly is the race we are really building towards. She is out of a No Nay Never mare and she just wouldn’t be guaranteed to go a mile and a half.
"We will see whether we have a look at Epsom or whether we look at something else before the Pretty Polly."
