- City Of Troy stormed to victory in the Juddmonte International on Wednesday
- Aidan O’Brien hailed the horse as the best he has trained before the historic win
When it was all said and done, Aidan O’Brien found himself alone and quietly puffed out his cheeks. Others were free to celebrate, he was simply relieved.
O’Brien, the master trainer, has gone out on a limb this year to explain why City Of Troy was the best he had trained. But, even with an Epsom Derby and a Coral Eclipse under his belt, plenty felt compelled to doubt him, with his blowout in the 2,000 Guineas still in mind.
‘One bad day,’ his jockey, Ryan Moore, pointed out. ‘That was it.’
Doubt no more. Greatness came thundering up the Knavesmire straight in navy blue silks, City Of Troy running a high-class field in the Juddmonte International ragged and shattering the mile-and-a-quarter course record in the process.
His time of 2min 4.32sec was a second quicker than the wonderful Sea The Stars clocked in 2009. To give you an idea of the company City Of Troy is keeping, Frankel’s winning time in this race in 2012 was 2min 6.59sec.
City of Troy stormed to a historic victory at the Juddmonte International on Wednesday
‘It was very impressive,’ O’Brien mused. ‘I think we will see the best of him when he bounces out (to lead) and you can let him rock. He gets into a massive tempo, he’s very genuine and he’s got this huge stride.’
He used it to inflict maximum devastation. Moore, collecting the 201st Group One of his career, decided after the gates burst open to send City Of Troy into the lead and, immediately, you could feel the excitement build in the packed stands.
Many had flocked to this wonderful course in the hope of saying ‘they were there’ for a moment of sporting greatness and were happy to have their fivers and tenners on a colt who, remarkably, was allowed to go off as a somewhat generous 5-4 favourite.
Others were more certain about what would happen: one intrepid punter had £8,000 to win £11,000 with rails bookmaker Roy Christie just before the off — they never had a moment’s doubt.
Moore set a relentless tempo, one by one breaking the hearts of those who tried to get near him before repelling the last challenge of the French three-year-old Calandagan in the final furlong. Ghostwriter, at 33-1, was an excellent third. The official winning distance was a length, the same as it was in the Eclipse at Sandown last month. The reaction on this occasion, however, could not have been more different, as those who had been underwhelmed were now gasping.
It had been quite an afternoon for O’Brien and Moore, as they had taken the Acomb Stakes and Great Voltigeur with The Lion In Winter and Los Angeles respectively, both eye-catching in their own ways.
The Lion In Winter, a son of Sea The Stars, was given quotes for next year’s Epsom Derby and his future is full of possibilities. But the day, in reality, belonged to City Of Troy, whose ultimate target is the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The moment of greatness marked the 201st Group One win of Ryan Moore’s glittering career
If he was to win that gruelling contest, on the dirt in Del Mar, his legend would be secure. You suspect those closest to him think he might just do it.
‘Ryan would love to ride him in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe,’ said O’Brien, winning the Juddmonte for a record seventh time. ‘But he’s always been a special horse. What he did here? Just incredible.’
