City Of Troy dazzles to join Juddmonte International legends

City Of Troy

cemented his superstar status when dazzling from the front in the Juddmonte International Stakes at on Wednesday.

All conquering at two, Aidan O’Brien’s son of Justify left 2000 Guineas disappointment in the past with redemption both in the Derby at Epsom and then when registering a battling success in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

With many far from wowed by his heroics in Esher, an all-star cast assembled to take him on in the Ebor Festival’s opening-day highlight.

City Of Troy jumped out alertly in the hands of Ryan Moore, with the rider eager to make the most of his Classic-winning stamina.

Royal Rhyme, City Of Troy’s stablemate Hans Andersen and Ghostwriter were in his immediate slipstream, with Japanese raider Durezza also close by, while those from further back were keen to work their way into contention swinging into the straight.

The Aga Khan’s Calandagan burst out of the pack to lay down his challenge and continue Francis-Henri Graffard’s fine season, but as both the French raider and City Of Troy scorched clear of the field, the Royal Ascot winner was unable to reel in Ballydoyle’s star performer as he broke the course record.

City Of Troy crossed the line a length clear of Calandagan in a record time, with Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter claiming third, as the 5-4 favourite silenced any remaining doubters in scintillating style.

His victory came after his stablemates The Lion In Winter and Los Angeles had starred under Moore in the supporting races.

"I'm obviously always saying too much about him and they are saying he smashed the course record there and it didn't go according to plan," said O'Brien.

"Ryan decided to make the running on him and what an incredible ride he gave him.

"I'm so delighted for the lads and we always felt he was something very different. Things haven't gone right for him some days, but he still overcomes them which makes it very special.

"He is a horse who loves to be up with the pace and a strong pace and he gets it really well. Everything he does, he stays, he is tough and we're hoping the lads might go to the (Breeders' Cup) Classic with him, that would be some dream.

"He has natural pace out the stalls like Giant's Causeway had but quicker. What happened in the Guineas frightened us and we didn't want to do that any more, we wanted to drop him in and teach him to relax and do all the right things.

"He did it with Ryan unplanned today, so it was in there wanting to come out. It was incredible what he did there and the last half of the race, what he was doing was incredible, I thought he went through the line really strong.

"He is the best I have trained and we thought that as a two-year-old, we always thought that. He is the most special horse we've ever had. We went off the road the first run this year and right into the swamp, but for him to come out of it and to get to where he is today is incredible."

As ever in racing, the question is always 'what next?' and being by American Triple Crown winner Justify, the dream of a Breeders' Cup Classic bid, for which he is 4-1 favourite with Betfair, is very much alive.

O'Brien said: "The lads can do whatever they want but we always dreamed he would be a Classic horse. That's what we always dreamed.

"It wasn't the plan today (to make the running) but he hit the gates and Ryan just decided he was going along.

"What happened in the Guineas, we went away from that (making the running) because he frightened us. As a two-year-old, he was very quick early and he would dominate and keep going, which is what he did today but Ryan gave him a brilliant ride, he controlled it brilliantly and finished off very strong.

"I think we'll see the best of him when he bounces out very strong and is left to roll, he gets into a massive tempo and keeps going.

"People will measure his stride but the length of it in the last two furlongs is incredible really. That's what he was like at two, he just keeps going and Ryan said he went through the line very strong."

While there is still a remote possibility of City Of Troy running in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - something Moore is keen on - America seems favourite at this stage.

"I know Ryan would love to do the Arc and anything is possible, but the lads will decide where they want to go. You need a very special horse for the Arc and that is what Ryan always thought he was, but it will be discussed," said O'Brien.

"Everything he did from the day we trained him, he was just the best. The first day we ran him this year, it was like he got covered in a swamp, so we didn't know where we were. We had to re-do everything to get him back doing things right.

"Today it came back out what we were trying to contain at two and do everything to make sure it didn't happen again, today it just came naturally back out.

"Ryan contained him as long as he could in front, he didn't want to over-race and it was only going to the two marker that he really piled it on, but that's what he used to do at two.

"We wanted to keep him sharp, as we had the Classic in our mind, we didn't want a slog anywhere. The last day didn't go right, the ground was soft and the pace was slow, but he still won. That's what we were hoping, beautiful ground and a flat track.

"It's incredible the condition of the track, when we walked it, it didn't feel good to firm, they've done an incredible job with the cover of grass."

One of the Coolmore triumvirate, Michael Tabor, will be part of the decision-making process and he was in no doubt City Of Troy is the best they have had.

He said: "That was better than anything, and I mean anything!

"He never looked like getting beaten and there's much more in the tank. He's a special horse, as Aidan has always said."