Henri Matisse Brings Perfect Record to National Stakes

The score stands at 4-3 between Coolmore and Godolphin in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) over the last decade and it is another showdown between the superpowers of the flat game in the Sept. 15 renewal. Henri Matisse (IRE) is the chosen one this year for Aidan O'Brien. He is unbeaten in three starts and has won the Railway (G2) and the Futurity (G2) stakes on the way here. He hasn't blown us away on any of his three starts, but he's a professional who seems to do just enough. There should be more to come, but he looks skimpy enough in the market on what he has done so far. Aomori City (FR) might not have been towards the top of Charlie Appleby's pecking order of juveniles at the start of the season, but he is working his way up the table and there was a bit of a swagger to the way he won the Vintage Stakes (G2) at Goodwood. Plenty went wrong, yet he was still well on top at the line. He strikes me as a colt who saves his best for the track. Hill Road could be anything. The Quality Road colt trained by Adrian Murray was only allowed to go off at 11-2 for a strong-looking Leopardstown maiden on his debut, which he won decisively by five lengths. Connections could have opted for the Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) over a mile back at that track Sept. 14, but they have come here instead. That probably tells you the caliber he is held in. Cowardofthecounty (IRE) probably hasn't lived up to his lofty expectations after comfortably disposing of Whistlejacket (IRE) on his debut, but perhaps he needs some cut in the ground, so any rain that arrives will suit. This trip certainly suited at Deauville. This is more open than the betting would lead you to believe. Kyprios Aims for Seventh Group 1 in Irish St Leger Is it too early to be comparing Kyprios (IRE) to Yeats? If not now, when? Victory for a second time in the Irish St Leger (G1) would be a 13th career success for Kyprios and a seventh at the top level. He has won two Gold Cups (G1) at Royal Ascot and his highest Racing Post Rating of 128, awarded for a 20-length victory in the Prix du Cadran (G1) of 2022, is 2 pounds more than Yeats ever achieved. On our figures, he is already a superior animal. But it was Yeats' longevity that made him such a legendary figure in the sport. He made his first racecourse appearance in 2003 and kept going until October of 2009. He remains the only horse to have won four Gold Cups and he ended his glorious career with seven group 1 wins on his CV. Kyprios can equal that here. Aidan O'Brien reports Kyprios to be in tip-top shape for his bid to regain the Irish St Leger. O'Brien said: "All is good and everyone is happy. He's done well since Goodwood and everything we have asked him to do he has done well. He is coming down in trip, but he's very versatile and we've been delighted with all he's done this season." However, don't be fooled into thinking this is a foregone conclusion. Far from it. Giavellotto (IRE) is dangerous, very dangerous. The strong-traveling son of Mastercraftsman (IRE) has risen to a new level of late and the way in which he swatted away Vauban (FR) in the Yorkshire Cup Stakes (G2) stamped him down as a stayer of the highest quality. He has gears to go with the stamina, too. Dropping to a mile and a half for the Princess of Wales's Stakes (G2) at Newmarket's July meeting proved no barrier as he galloped right away from Arrest (IRE). Marco Botti immediately nominated the Irish St Leger as his next target and here he is. Indeed, according to official ratings, Giavellotto is rated only 1 pound inferior to Kyprios. That doesn't seem right given what both horses have achieved in their careers, but those are the facts. Vauban is the only other realistic contender. Plenty assumed we would not see him again before the Melbourne Cup (G1) after he clung on to land the Lonsdale Cup Stakes (G2) at York's Ebor meeting, but Willie Mullins wants one more blowout before having another crack at the Flemington feature. It looks like a three-horse war between Kyprios, Giavellotto and Vauban and, if it does turn into a proper battle, there is usually only one outcome. The staying king can regain his crown at The Curragh and victory would edge him that little bit closer to Yeats in the legacy debate.