The triumph of City Of Troy in the Betfred Derby at Epsom this past Saturday revitalised speculation that he could be the finest horse Aidan O’Brien has ever trained, while leaving many critics scurrying for comfort. Naturally, retroactive reasoning will impose a sense of rationality to City Of Troy’s triumph in the 245th “Blue Riband”. The phrase that it’s acceptable to forgive a horse for one poor show will presumably also resurface, alongside the assertion that form is ephemeral, whereas class is eternal. All of which simply underscores the magnitude of O’Brien’s feat.
The horse, once praised as “our Frankel” by his Coolmore owners and begun as 3/1 favourite, had his chance of mimicking Auguste Rodin’s feat of turning a Guineas disaster into Derby victory a year prior, not merely overlooked by critics. O’Brien included three horses in the contest, and some impartial professional commentary suggested that not only was Los Angeles superior, but that jockey Ryan Moore might ironically be backing the least favoured of the Ballydoyle trio, irrespective of what the betting entailed.
So be cautious of those professing post-race knowledge; never before has a classic favourite been met with such doubt, and never before have so many had to confess that the all-time most victorious Derby trainer may indeed be onto something.
O’Brien’s career, with its remarkable 10 Derby victories – one above the famed jockey Lester Piggott – has brought him considerable wealth. But the 54-year-old Irishman’s decision to back City Of Troy fervently after his lacklustre performance at the Guineas four weeks prior represented a colossal gamble on O’Brien’s credibility banking on the horse restoring his reputation in Epsom.
The common justifications following the Newmarket debacle about unsettled heart rates and whatnot were viewed by many as shallow, seemingly no more than a marketing spiel aimed at rescuing City Of Troy’s commercial worth as a stallion participant hyped prematurely.
Ever so modest, O’Brien wouldn’t stoop to the level of public “I told you so”. However, his palpable relief post-race strongly insinuated a massive vindication. Trusting in City Of Troy’s Derby chance ultimately equated to having faith in O’Brien, which undoubtedly paid huge dividends.
Michael Tabor, one of the stakeholders of Coolmore, fully accredited Aidan’s description of City Of Troy’s distinguished two-year-old profession, saying everything has come true. Tabor’s remarks render an earlier unpleasant Guineas performance irrelevant, reducing hopes for a flawless track record. History teaches us that untarnished records, although admirable, are not a prerequisite for horse racing acceptance.
City Of Troy’s three-length win over Ambiente Friendly does not fully validate high predictions on its own. Nonetheless, this does not overlook the fact that the renowned equine prodigies from Coolmore usually stand unparalleled. The fact that Aidan O’Brien believes City Of Troy is the best among his Derby competitors signifies their prospects are bright yet again. O’Brien’s assurance, along with a fresh sense of aspiration, contributes to the overall momentum.
The colt’s agenda could once again include participation in the Travers Stakes in Saratoga on the 24th of August, where he would compete with some of America’s leading competitors on the track. Already betting firms are labelling him the 2/1 favourite over other horse racing successes, including Mystik Dan, recognised for last month’s triumph at the Kentucky Derby.
The Breeders Cup Classic at Del Mar in November, a long-standing objective for Coolmore, is also in the consideration for future engagements. In comparison, even a low enough Paris de l’Arc de Triomphe odd of 3-1 would be deemed almost expected.
Most intriguing would be the potential conflict with Oaks champion Ezeliya in Paris this October. Dermot Weld suggests the idea of avoiding the coming month’s Curragh Oaks in favour of preparing for the Arc.
He hinted plans of skipping the Irish Oaks, giving her some rest in June and bring her back for a later year campaign. Weld expressed interest in the Prix Vermeille, a competition that has previously proved fruitful. If the horse progresses as expected, they might try their luck at the Arc, though this is yet to be finalised, concluded Weld.