Betfred Derby
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Group 1, Epsom Downs 13:30
£1,500,000 guaranteed
3yo only,
1m, 4f, 10y   
Saturday 1st June 2024

SureWIn

1 City Of Troy 3/1F
2 Ambiente Friendly 9/2
3 Los Angeles 6/1
16 ran Distances: 2¾l, 3¼l, 1½l
Time: 2m 38.32s (slow by 3.12s)

City Of Troy made a triumphant comeback, showcasing his brilliance in the Epsom classic. After a disappointing performance in the 2000 Guineas, this Justify colt, trained by Aidan O’Brien, proved his mettle.

Like his stablemate Auguste Rodin did a year earlier, City Of Troy silenced doubters with a dazzling display in the prestigious blue riband event.

Jockey Ryan Moore skillfully navigated through the field, securing victory by a commanding two and three-quarter lengths.

The win marked O’Brien’s 10th Derby triumph and Moore’s fourth victory in the race. 

O’Brien’s other charge, Los Angeles, finished third.

O’Brien said: “The exciting thing for us is Justify (his sire); he has looked very special all the way and the class that they have, speed as well as stamina, is amazing.

“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. There were stones I didn’t look under, he was too fresh, he was unprepared, he blew up, that’s the reality.

“But we learned from it and knew the ability he had – and since then everything has been beautiful.”

Coolmore partner Michael Tabor is one of those who never lost faith in City Of Troy.

He said: “It means everything, going forward with all the options we have with this horse, it’s just something to enjoy, that’s the main thing. Aidan said this is the best we’ve ever had and everything has come true.”

Asked if City Of Troy is the best Derby winner he has trained, O’Brien declared: “I’d say 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.”

Moore said: “I had a nice position, but then the horses in front of me weren’t the right ones to take me as far as I wanted to go so I had to find a little bit of room.

“The race opened up with the loose horse (Voyage unseated Pat Dobbs soon after the stalls opened) and I travelled well into the straight. He picked up and went to the front very easy and I felt he was still a little bit of inexperienced.

“With the loose horse in front of him I felt he didn’t know what to do, but he changed his leads near the line and went on again.”

He went on: “I’m just delighted as he showed so much as a two-year-old, but we got a few things wrong on the day in the Guineas. Aidan’s got him back, we didn’t loose faith in the horse and stuck to the plan and it’s paid off.

“We believed if he turned up like we thought he would he’d be too good for them and he was.

“I was always happy where I was, it’s never always going to be smooth with a field that size, but he took me there easily. He was in control a fair way out.”

As for future plans, O’Brien – who first won the Derby with Galileo in 2001 – reported that all options will be considered before mapping out the next stage of the horse’s development.

He added: “We had a plan, his first three races were the Guineas, the Derby and then Saratoga on dirt over 10 furlongs (for the Travers Stakes).

“The lads will talk about that and talk to Ryan and decide what they want to do. The only thing I’m not sure about is Ryan said he was very babyish today and whether he would be able to deal with a race like that straight away I’m not sure, but the lads will all talk and make that decision.

“Looking at him today, there doesn’t seem to be any end to his stamina and that’s a trait in all the Justifys, they just keep going.

“It will be a hard decision for the lads. If he doesn’t go (to America), there are races like the Eclipse and the King George to think of and later on the Arc, as we know he stays very well.”

BetGoodwin

Cazoo Derby (Group 1)
£1,500,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 4f 10y, Class 1
16 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    City Of Troy 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 3/1F
2 (6) 2¾ Ambiente Friendly 3 9-2 James Fanshawe Robert Havlin 9/2
3 (4) 3¼ Los Angeles 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 6/1
4 (14) 1½ Deira Mile 3 9-2 Owen Burrows Jim Crowley 25/1
5 (2) shd Sayedaty Sadaty 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Tom Marquand 50/1
6 (15) ¾ Dancing Gemini 3 9-2 Roger Teal Dylan Browne McMonagle 8/1
7 (12) 5 Bellum Justum 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 16/1
8 (11) 2¾ Ancient Wisdom 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 6/1
9 (9) ¾ Euphoric 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Declan McDonogh 33/1
10 (13) 2 Tabletalk 3 9-2 Tom Clover James Doyle 100/1
11 (3) 4¼ Kamboo 3 9-2 Richard Hughes Richard Kingscote 80/1
12 (10) 6 God's Window 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Kieran Shoemark 33/1
13 (8) nk Macduff 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 14/1
14 (7) 15 Dallas Star 3 9-2 2 Adrian Murray David Egan 33/1
15 (5) 49 Mr Hampstead 3 9-2 Dominic Ffrench Davis Sean Levey 80/1
UR (16) Voyage 3 9-2 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 28/1

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