TOP-CLASS stayer Kyprios is set to miss a huge chunk of the upcoming Flat season.
The five-year-old, who went unbeaten in six starts last season, has picked up an infection in one of his joints.
He suffered the setback around a month ago, with the joint having been flushed out.
But he is still not fully recovered and his legendary trainer said it is unlikely he will be back in time to defend his crown in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June.
The horse also won a thrilling Goodwood Cup and bagged the Prix du Cadran by a whopping 20 lengths last season.
A gutted O'Brien said: “He picked up an infection inside one of his joints and they had to flush it out and it has taken a while to heal.
“It happened a month ago and it hasn’t settled down yet so I would say he won’t make Royal Ascot.”
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Meanwhile, O'Brien is hoping Auguste turns up in May.
The exciting Auguste Rodin is firmly on course for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in a little over five weeks’ time.
The top three-year-old signed off last season with an emphatic win in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.
Legendary trainer O’Brien may have avoided the temptation to say he is the best horse he has ever trained – which he has playfully done many times over the years.
But he did nominate a potential Triple Crown campaign with the colt, who is expected to relish longer distances as the season goes on.
Auguste Rodin took part in a racecourse gallop after racing at the Curragh on Saturday, along with a number of other Ballydoyle big guns.
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And afterwards he was trimmed into joint 4-1 favouritism for the season's first Classic with several bookies, alongside his speedy stablemate Little Big Bear.
O’Brien said: “We’re very happy with Auguste Rodin. He worked with The Antarctic who is a very quick horse and he was very comfortable.
“We were surprised with him but he was always very classy from the first time Ryan (Moore) rode him.
“You’d imagine he will be better stretching out to a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half as the year goes on.
“If we have a horse who can go for a Triple Crown it’s him.
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“He will go to Newmarket with Little Big Bear, who will be fine at a mile but could also go back sprinting very comfortably.”
But he will have to rely on Meditate in the 1000 Guineas after leading ante-post fancy Statuette was ruled out after suffering a setback.
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