City of Troy (foaled 7 March 2021) is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the top-rated two-year-old colt in Europe in 2023 when he was unbeaten in three races including the Superlative Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. As a three-year-old he finished unplaced in the 2000 Guineas before returning to form to win the Epsom Derby. He went on to defeat older horses in the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International Stakes.[2]
| City of Troy | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Justify |
| Grandsire | Scat Daddy |
| Dam | Together Forever |
| Damsire | Galileo |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | 7 March 2021[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt |
| Owner | Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith |
| Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
| Record | 8: 6 - 0 - 0 |
| Earnings | £2,493,850 |
| Major wins | |
| Superlative Stakes (2023) Dewhurst Stakes (2023) Epsom Derby (2024) Coral-Eclipse (2024) Juddmonte International Stakes (2024) | |
| Awards | |
| Cartier Champion Two-year-old Colt (2023) | |
| Last updated on November 3, 2024 | |
Background
editCity of Troy is a bay colt with a white star bred in Kentucky by Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt, breeding companies associated with the Coolmore Stud organisation. The colt was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Like many Coolmore horses, he raced for the partnership of Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier.
He was from the second crop of foals sired by Justify who won the American Triple Crown in 2018. Justify's other foals have included Just F Y I and Opera Singer (Nassau Stakes).[3]
City of Troy's dam Together Forever was a high-class racehorse who won the Fillies' Mile in 2014. Her dam Green Room an unraced daughter of the Breeders' Cup Turf winner Theatrical and had previously produced Lord Shanakill, a horse whose wins included the Mill Reef Stakes, Prix Jean Prat and Lennox Stakes.[4] Green Room's dam Chain Fern was full-sister of the leading racehorse and broodmare Al Bahathri.[5]
Racing career
edit2023: two-year-old season
editCity of Troy was ridden in all three of his races as a two-year-old by Ryan Moore. The colt began his racing career in a seven furlong maiden race on good ground at the Curragh on 1 July when he started the 6/4 favourite in a thirteen-runner field. He disputed the lead from the start, gained a clear advantage approaching the final furlong and won by two and a half lengths from Galen.[6] Two weeks later the colt was stepped up in class and sent to England to contest the Group 2 Superlative Stakes over the same distance at Newmarket Racecourse and went off the 4/6 favourite against eight opponents. After tracking the leaders in the early stages he went to the front two furlongs from the finish and drew away to win by six and a half lengths in "impressive" style.[7] After the race Aidan O'Brien said "He's unusual. Very unusual... He has an unbelievable rhythm and an unbelievable mind. He floats effortlessly".[8]
After a three-month break, City of Troy returned to Newmarket for the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs on soft ground. He was not expected to be suited by the conditions, having been withdrawn from the National Stakes in September on account of the soft going, but was nevertheless made the 8/15 favourite, with the best fancied of his seven opponents being the Champagne Stakes winner Iberian and the Somerville Tattersall Stakes winner Alyanaabi. City of Troy led from the start, went clear inside the final furlong, and came home three and a half lengths ahead of Alyanaabi.[9] After the race Michael Tabor compared the horse to Frankel while O'Brien commented "You needed tractor tyres to go in that [soft ground] today and he hasn't got tractor tyres, but what he has got is a jet engine. So his engine just pushed him through. An incredible horse, really. The best two-year-old I have ever trained, certainly."[10]
In December 2023, City of Troy was named the best Two-year-old colt of the year at the Cartier Racing Awards.[11] In the official classification of European juveniles for 2023, City of Troy was given a rating of 125, making him the best two-year-old of the season, five pounds clear of the Phoenix Stakes winner Bucanero Fuerte.[12]
2024: three-year-old season
editOn his three-year-old debut, City of Troy was made 4/6 favourite for the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on 4 May. He tracked the leaders in the early stages but faded badly in the last quarter mile and came home ninth of the eleven runners behind Notable Speech, beaten more than sixteen lengths by the winner. O'Brien explained "He got upset in the stalls before, which he never did before, then he jumped and Ryan just said the pace was on and he was in the middle of the pace and he just flattened on his first run."[13]
In the 245th running of the Epsom Derby on 1 June, City of Troy, with Moore in the saddle, was made the 3/1 favourite in a field of sixteen three-year-old colts. The other fancied contenders included Ambiente Friendly (Lingfield Derby Trial), Ancient Wisdom (Futurity Trophy), Los Angeles (Leopardstown Derby Trial) and Dancing Gemini (second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains). In a change of tactics Moore settled the colt towards the rear of the field as his stablemate Euphoric set the pace. After briefly struggling to obtain a clear run, the colt was switched to the inside approaching the final turn and began to make rapid progress. He gained the lead from Los Angeles two furlongs out and won "comfortably" by two and three quarter lengths from Ambiente Friendly with a gap of three and a quarter lengths back to Los Angeles in third.[14] When asked if the colt was the best of his ten Derby winners O'Brien responded "No doubt! Because he has the cruise, he has the balance, he quickens and he stays. I don't think there's any doubt about that. Ryan gave him an incredible ride and I'm so grateful to everyone for the work they have done. We knew the Guineas was totally wrong and I made mistakes training him, that's the bottom line."[15]
On 6 July City of Troy was brought back in distance and matched against older horses for the first time to contest the Eclipse Stakes over ten furlongs on soft ground at Sandown Park. The opposition was not particularly strong and he started the 1/4 favourite with the best of his five rivals appearing to be Dancing Gemini and the four-year-old Al Riffa, who had not won since taking the National Stakes in 2022. After tracking his stablemate Hans Andersen for most of the way he took the lead in the straight but came under strong pressure in the closing stages before prevailing by a length from Al Riffa.[16] Ryan Moore said "the ground is slower than what he wants... he just wasn't comfortable... I wasn't happy but he found enough to get it done".[17]
In the International Stakes over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse on 21 August City of Troy started the 5/4 favourite in a thirteen-runner field. His opponents on this occasion included Ambiente Friendly, Bluestocking (Pretty Polly Stakes), Calandagan (King Edward VII Stakes) and Durezza (Kikuka Sho). Moore sent the colt into the lead from the start and City of Troy maintained his advantage throughout the race, repelling a strong late challenge from Calandagan to win by a length in a record time of 2:04.32.[2] After the race O'Brien suggested that the colt could be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt and commented "It wasn’t the plan today [to make the running] but he hit the gates and Ryan just decided he was going along...People will measure his stride but the length of it in the last two furlongs is incredible really. He just keeps going and Ryan said he went through the line very strong. Everything he did from the day we trained him, he was just the best."[18]
Statistics
edit| Date | Distance | Race | Grade/ Group |
Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 – two-year-old season | |||||||||||
| 1 Jul 2023 | 7 furlongs | Maiden | The Curragh | 6/4* | 13 | 1 | 1:23.96 | 2+1⁄2 lengths | Ryan Moore | [6] | |
| 15 Jul 2023 | 7 furlongs | Superlative Stakes | II | Newmarket | 4/6* | 9 | 1 | 1:26.03 | 6+1⁄2 lengths | Ryan Moore | [7] |
| 14 Oct 2023 | 7 furlongs | Dewhurst Stakes | I | Newmarket | 8/15* | 8 | 1 | 1:24.85 | 3+1⁄2 lengths | Ryan Moore | [9] |
| 2024 – three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| 4 May 2024 | 1 mile | 2000 Guineas | I | Newmarket | 4/6* | 11 | 9 | 1:37.21 | (16+3⁄4 lengths) | Ryan Moore | [19] |
| 3 Jun 2023 | 1m 4f 6y | Epsom Derby | I | Epsom Downs | 3/1* | 16 | 1 | 2:38.32 | 2+3⁄4 lengths | Ryan Moore | [14] |
| 6 Jul 2024 | 1m 1f 209y | Coral-Eclipse | I | Sandown Park | 1/4* | 6 | 1 | 2:09.80 | 1 length | Ryan Moore | [16] |
| 21 Aug 2024 | 1m 2f 56y | Juddmonte International | I | York | 5/4* | 13 | 1 | 2:04.32 | 1 length | Ryan Moore | [2] |
| 2 Nov 2024 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Breeders' Cup Classic | I | Del Mar | 3.90 | 14 | 8 | 2:00.78 | (12+3⁄4 lengths) | Ryan Moore | [20] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means City Of Troy was the post-time favourite.
Pedigree
edit| Sire Justify (USA) 2015 |
Scat Daddy (USA) 2004 |
Johannesburg | Hennessy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myth | |||
| Love Style | Mr Prospector | ||
| Likeable Style | |||
| Stage Magic (USA) 2007 |
Ghostzapper | Awesome Again (CAN) | |
| Baby Zip | |||
| Magical Illusion | Pulpit | ||
| Voodoo Lily | |||
| Dam Together Forever (IRE) 2005 |
Galileo (IRE) 1998 |
Sadler's Wells (USA) | Northern Dancer (CAN) |
| Fairy Bridge | |||
| Urban Sea (USA) | Miswaki | ||
| Allegretta (GB) | |||
| Green Room (USA) 2002 |
Theatrical (IRE) | Nureyev (USA) | |
| Tree of Knowledge | |||
| Chain Fern | Blushing Groom (FR) | ||
| Chain Store (Family 9-e)[5] |
- City of Troy is a full brother to Hong Kong G3 placed and handicap London Gold Cup winner Unbelievable.
References
edit- ^ a b "City of Troy pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ a b c "Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1)". Racing Post. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Justify stud record". Racing Post.
- ^ "Lord Shanakill – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
- ^ a b "Maid Of Masham – Family 9-e". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden". Racing Post. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ a b "bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2)". Racing Post. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Superlative Stakes: City Of Troy emerges as early Classic contender with Newmarket stroll". Sky Sports. 15 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Native Trail's Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)". Racing Post. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Dewhurst Stakes: Favourite City Of Troy hailed as 'our Frankel' after fine Newmarket success". BBC Sport. 14 October 2023.
- ^ Playle, Maddy (10 November 2023). "Arc hero Ace Impact crowned 2023 Horse of the Year at Cartier Awards". Racing Post.
- ^ "City Of Troy tops European 2YO Classification for 2023". BHA. 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Aidan O'Brien shocked by City Of Troy's 2,000 Guineas flop". Irish Times. 4 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Betfred Derby (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (No Geldings)". Racing Post. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "City Of Troy gives trainer O'Brien 10th Derby win". BBC. 1 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) (British Champions Series)". Racing Post. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "City of Troy's Class Prevails in Coral-Eclipse". Bloodhorse. 6 July 2024.
- ^ Wood, Greg (21 August 2024). "City Of Troy smashes York track record to join Juddmonte International legends". Guardian.
- ^ "Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) (British Champions Series)". Racing Post. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.