‘I really think he is our Frankel. I’m not throwing this (comparison) away liberally. But believe me, this horse is special. No question. He is the real deal. Let’s hope he is as popular as Frankel was. He will only get that popularity as time goes on.’ Michael Tabor, Newmarket; October 14, 2023.
The key word was ‘our’ – Tabor, one of the Coolmore conglomerate, loves nothing more than seeing the horses he owns achieve significant success but he’s also a deeply respectful man.
But perhaps the sentence led wires to be crossed: ‘our’ being construed by some as ‘better than’.
As such, some critics have had Frankel’s name in mind with City Of Troy ever since that win in the Dewhurst Stakes last autumn and looked for any possible opportunity to pick holes in his achievements. We saw it at York again last week.
City Of Troy had smashed the course record set by the wondrous Sea The Stars by almost a second when bounding away with the Juddmonte International; the second and third placed horses, Calandagan and Ghostwriter, were also quicker than the time than John Oxx’s colt clocked in 2009.
City of Troy has continued to excel and comfortably win several races over recent months
Horse owner Michael Tabor tipped him for greatness last year and labelled him ‘the real deal’
Ryan Moore and Aiden O’Brien pose after winning the Betfred Derby with City of Troy in June
Immediately there were doubts. “Wind-assisted!” was the most notable argument and, yes, it is true a hefty tailwind was behind the runners as they made their way up the Knavesmire straight but it is nonsense to think that the 13 runners benefitted from helpful conditions all the way.
Some of the jockeys who rode in the race explained that much of the first six furlongs were spent running into a strong headwind and City Of Troy, who bounced out boldly to set his own pace, took the full brunt of it. This wasn’t like the Tour de France, with a domestique providing protection.
No. City Of Troy set out at a relentless gallop, hitting 20mph within 2.41 seconds of the stalls springing open. Put that into context. Imagine sitting at the wheel of your car and putting your foot on the accelerator – think of the force that would grip you.
Soon, City Of Troy was clocking speeds of beyond 35mph and maintaining it. Behind him, plenty of the riders thought their partners would have a chance to peg him back, up that long, unforgiving Knavesmire straight. One by one, their petrol gauges went red and lungs began to burn as the leader went clear.
‘It was an amazing spectacle – the strength in depth to the race was obvious all the way through,’ said Clive Cox, the trainer of Ghostwriter; he was thrilled with his improving colt’s performance and is adamant there is a big day in him somewhere down the line.
Ghostwriter has danced all the dances this year, running in the 2000 Guineas, the French Derby, the Coral Eclipse and then the Juddmonte. Form figures of 4,4,3,3 show his consistency and class but the last two occasions, despite career best efforts, haven’t been enough to trouble City Of Troy.
That is the indication we are dealing with something out of the ordinary – and those within the sport know it. City Of Troy won the Epsom Derby, coming from the off the pace down a left-handed helter-skelter track, then took the Eclipse when squelching through Sandown’s soggy right-handed terrain.
York was the latest example of his versatility, when making all and everyone who rode in the race were left in no doubt that they had come up against a freak of nature, with a stride that covers miles and engine that never stops purring.
But despite his impressive success, critics continue to claim that City of Troy isn’t that good
City of Troy’s (right) victory at the Juddmonte International was described as ‘wind-assisted’
‘But what about the 2000 Guineas?’ those who remain unconvinced about what they are seeing will argue. ‘Frankel won the 2000 Guineas by a street – City Of Troy came ninth!’
This is true but it is also true that nobody ever said he was better than Frankel.
Tabor, on that October day last year, stated his wish that City Of Troy might enter the realms were he could end up in a conversation with those whose names shimmer forever more. This correspondent knows exactly what he meant because he told it to me.
Everything we have seen this summer, tells you City Of Troy is there. If he becomes the first Epsom hero to win the Breeders Cup Classic on November 2, he will have a podium of his own. Tabor called it early when referring to this colt as “the real deal”. Now we know he was right.
Loughnane is a special talent
Outside the weighing room of Chester racecourse earlier this month, Billy Loughnane was talking about the European Championship, marvelling at Spain’s wonder boy Lamine Yamal and debating how life moves quickly for the teenage prodigies in sport.
Loughnane is one himself. He’s got plenty to learn, nobody knows this better than him, but don’t be in any doubt that this 18-year-old is ferociously determined to make headlines of his own. The day we spoke, he wondered whether it would be possible to finish third in the jockey’s championship.
Winning the title this year is out of the question, as Oisin Murphy is miles clear, but Loughnane is only a handful of winners behind second-placed Rossa Ryan. If he was to finish second in this table so soon after graduating from the apprentice ranks would be extraordinary. Don’t bet against him.
Billy Loughnane has had a very impressive season after graduating from the apprentice ranks
Dubai Millennium deservedly inducted into Hall of Fame
On the subject of all-time greats, Dubai Millennium has won a public vote and will be inducted to the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall Of Fame in October. He was pitted against other legends from the turn of the century Daylami, Montjeu and Giant’s Causeway but came out on top.
Dubai Millennium was a staggering racehorse for Godolphin, who won nine of his 10 races by an aggregate total of 47 lengths. His sole defeat was when failing to stay in the 1999 Epsom Derby and watching his victories back now, 25 years on, reminds you of his raw power.
One blemish on a CV doesn’t ruin a reputation: something to bear in mind with City Of Troy.
