Has City Of Troy been cursed with excessive adulation, despite its exceptional racing records? This horse, hailed by Aidan O’Brien as the finest he’s ever brought up, and referred to as “our Frankel” by the Coolmore owners, joined the impressive ranks of racehorse winners by taking home the victory in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.
City Of Troy set a course record with this win, finishing faster than Sea The Stars’ mark from 2009. Jockey Ryan Moore’s strategic leading ride contributed to the feat, earning O’Brien his unparalleled seventh triumph in the race.
City Of Troy’s performance was a remarkable recovery after a disappointing showing at the 2,000 Guineas, his only defeat so far. This marked his third consecutive major victory after his remarkable performances in the Epsom Derby and the Eclipse, matching Sea The Stars’ record.
Despite being first past the post once again in the Juddmonte International, City Of Troy did not live up to the expectations many held before the race, especially those comparisons to the legendary Frankel, a sentiment publicly shared by co-owner Michael Tabor.
Ruby Walsh, speaking on ITV prior to the race, suggested that to sufficiently warrant comparisons to unparalleled greats like Frankel and Sea The Stars, City Of Troy would need to decisively outperform his competition. This, however, did not occur. In the end, the 5/4 favourite held a length lead over the 110-rated French gelding, Calandagan, with Ghostwriter in third, exceeding his 33/1 odds.
Given the quicker ground conditions at York, which seemed to significantly benefit those taking the lead early, Moore’s choice to push ahead from the start may have been instrumental in the victory.
In a remarkable display of his aptitude for racing, the British jockey deviated from the initial race strategy as he headed to the line. In the race named Eclipse, City Of Troy once more proved to be a demanding horse for his rider, leaning to the right along the straight, yet achieving victory nonetheless.
Moore, despite achieving continued wins, shows signs of wear where the hype surrounding the stallion is concerned, reinforcing the sentiments stated by Coolmore’s leader, John Magnier, past the Eclipse race; pointing out that their words would have little influence over what public opinion decides.
Clearly exasperated by the subjective chatter, both Moore and O’Brien have confirmed that Justify’s offspring is indeed the finest they’ve worked with. But it was Tabor who initially drew comparisons to Frankel, and it was Coolfire who fueled these expectations around their invaluable champion. While it’s only fair to make comparisons with the best, one must also adhere to the highest standards, and by this measure, City Of Troy is yet to earn his place amongst the greatest of all time.
Rather unfairly, he is judged more for what he is not, instead of being recognized for his evident qualities. Perhaps, before he is likely taken off to stud by year-end, he’ll get the opportunity to validate some of these exaggerated claims.
For more than twenty years, Coolmore has been pursuing their ultimate goal in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. City Of Troy’s career in Europe might be nearing its end, with the possibility of one last thrilling and resounding success at Del Mar in November. Currently, he is pegged as the 3/1 favorite to outdo the best of American horses on their home turf.
“He is undoubtedly the most extraordinary horse we’ve ever had. We knew this when he was two. Despite a rocky start to the year, the progress he’s made is quite remarkable,” stated O’Brien. If there was any downside on a day filled with remarkable wins even by O’Brien’s high standards, it was the unwarranted nitpicking.
In the Great Voltigeur race, Los Angeles, the Irish Derby victor, got the better of stablemate Illinois to secure a victory for Ballydoyle. The winner might compete in the upcoming Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown before attempting the Arc.
In a field where the succeeding star usually appears annually, even before the end of this summer, the Ballydoyle squad have already identified the new favourite for next year’s Guineas and Derby. A progeny of Sea The Stars, The Lion In Winter, demonstrated his superiority over Godolphin’s Ruling Court by winning the Acomb Stakes following yet another impressive Moore turn from the lead.
“We have only one Sea The Stars offspring, and he’s quite striking, which influenced the lads’ decision to purchase him. Currently, his performance is noteworthy and impressive,” voiced O’Brien, who added, seemingly understated, “Considering his performance today, I believe he could hold his own at the highest level this year.”